Watch The Night My Number Came Up

The Night My Number Came Up is a British aviation drama from 1955 directed by Leslie Norman, starring Michael Redgrave, Sheila Sim, and Alexander Knox. The film is a fictionalized account of an actual incident that occurred in 1947 when a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flight crashed on a mountain in Egypt. The movie provides an interesting look at the lives of ordinary British people during the post-war era, as well as showcasing the dangers of air travel in the early days of commercial aviation.

The story begins with a flight from Bangkok to Tokyo, carrying several passengers who are mostly British military personnel returning home. Among the passengers is Air Vice-Marshall Hardie (played by Alexander Knox), who has just completed a diplomatic mission in the Far East. Hardie strikes up a conversation with a young Warrant Officer Hicks (played by Denholm Elliott), who is nervous about the flight. Hicks confides in Hardie that he had a dream where he saw the plane crash and believed that it was a sign of impending disaster.

As the flight progresses, the cabin crew notices that Hicks is becoming increasingly agitated and begins to feel sick. The pilot, Captain Peter Tory (played by Michael Redgrave), radios the control tower in Tokyo to request an emergency landing. However, the tower informs Captain Tory that the weather conditions are unsafe for landing and that they will have to fly to Saigon to refuel before attempting to land in Hong Kong.

During the flight to Saigon, Hicks becomes more and more convinced that the plane is going to crash. He confides in other passengers, including the wife of a diplomat, Mrs. Joan Whittaker (played by Sheila Sim), who is also on board. Before long, the passengers become increasingly nervous, and the tension in the cabin is palpable.

As the aircraft approaches Saigon, a terrible storm erupts over the city, causing Captain Tory to lose control of the plane. Due to the high winds, the aircraft is blown off course, and Captain Tory is forced to rely on his instincts to fly the plane through the storm. While flying blind, Captain Tory realizes that they are running out of fuel and that a crash is inevitable.

As the plane approaches an unknown destination, Air Vice Marshall Hardie takes charge and plots a course for the aircraft, using a pencil and a sheet of paper. Through great determination and navigational skill, Hardie is able to guide the plane through the storm and towards a rocky coastline. The passengers brace for the impact, but miraculously the plane manages to land safely on a deserted beach.

The film ends with the passengers being rescued by a British naval vessel, and Air Vice Marshall Hardie embracing Captain Tory in gratitude for his expertise.

Overall, The Night My Number Came Up is a thrilling and suspenseful drama that showcases the bravery and resourcefulness of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The performances by Michael Redgrave, Sheila Sim, and Alexander Knox are top-notch, and the film's depiction of post-war Britain and the hazards of early commercial air travel is both engaging and historically informative.

The Night My Number Came Up is a 1955 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.