The Man in the Sky (1957): Cast & Plot
The Man in the Sky is a 1957 drama directed by Charles Crichton, starring Jack Hawkins as John Mitchell, Gerard Lohan and Jeremy Bodkin. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 27m (87 min)
- Director
- Charles Crichton
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Ealing Studios
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Man in the Sky About?
The premise of The Man in the Sky without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Test pilot John Mitchell flies a rocket‑propelled transport plane for a struggling maker, so the flight secures his family's future. The aircraft carries Ministry official Crabtree and buyer’s rep Ashmore, whose endorsement is crucial. When an engine catches fire, passengers and crew bail out, but Mitchell refuses to jettison the plane over the sea.
The Man in the Sky Themes & Keywords
· 19 tags- aircraft cockpit
- test pilot
- pilot
- aviation
- flight
- risky
- children
- wife
- failure
- reporter
- parachuting
- husband wife relationship
+7 more Show fewer
- fire engine
- crash landing
- cargo plane
- business deal
- airfield
- aircraft
- wolverhampton
The Man in the Sky Cast & Characters
Jack Hawkins leads the cast as John Mitchell, with Gerard Lohan as Philip Mitchell and Jeremy Bodkin as Nicholas Mitchell. Directed by Charles Crichton; 18 actors are credited in all.
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Director Charles Crichton
-
Jack Hawkins as John Mitchell - Gerard Lohan as Philip Mitchell
- Jeremy Bodkin as Nicholas Mitchell
-
Donald Pleasence as Crabtree
Also Starring in The Man in the Sky
· 14 more- Eddie Byrne Ashmore
- Elizabeth Sellars Mary Mitchell
- Walter Fitzgerald Reginald Conway
- Megs Jenkins Mrs. Snowden
- Lionel Jeffries Keith
- Ernest Clark Maine
- Russell Waters Sim
- Victor Maddern Joe Biggs
- Howard Marion-Crawford Ingrams
- Catherine Lacey Mary's mother
- John Stratton Peter Hook
- Mary Mackenzie
- Raymond Francis
- John Baddeley
More from Charles Crichton
More films directed by Charles Crichton, best-rated first: The Lavender Hill Mob, A Fish Called Wanda, Birdman of Alcatraz and Cosmic Princess.
The Man in the Sky Plot Summary
What happens in The Man in the Sky from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film centers on John Mitchell, a skilled test pilot who is married, has two young sons, and lives in a rented semi-detached house on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. His wife, Mary Mitchell, wishes to push their home purchase to £4,000, not realizing that the aircraft manufacturing company he works for is in desperate financial straits and perilously close to collapse. The tension at home mirrors the pressure at the factory: owner Reginald Conway must persuade buyer Ashmore to place a deal before the company runs out of time, or the entire operation will go under.
Full summary
The whole story of The Man in the Sky, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Man in the Sky?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of the main character, John Mitchell?
Cars in The Man in the Sky
12 cars on screen, including the 1945 Standard Twelve Drophead Coupé and the 1939 Bedford M-Type.
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1945 Standard Twelve Drophead Coupé Important role -
1939 Bedford M-Type Minor role -
1953 Bedford S-Type Minor role -
Crossley IGL 3 Minor role
Seen The Man in the Sky?
Movies Like The Man in the Sky
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sky Giant, Airliner Sky Battle and Skyjacked.
The Man in the Sky FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Man in the Sky, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Man in the Sky?
The Man in the Sky runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).
When was The Man in the Sky released?
The Man in the Sky was released on January 24, 1957.
Who directed The Man in the Sky?
The Man in the Sky was directed by Charles Crichton.
More films by Charles Crichton Who is in the cast of The Man in the Sky?
The Man in the Sky stars Jack Hawkins as John Mitchell, Gerard Lohan as Philip Mitchell and Jeremy Bodkin as Nicholas Mitchell, among 18 credited actors.
Does The Man in the Sky have a post-credit scene?
No. The Man in the Sky has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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