Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes (1965) User Reviews (72)

"Up, Down, Flying Around, Looping The Loop And Defying The Ground"

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 10 October 2007]

I'm one of the biggest fans of old newsreels and I don't think there are too many of us who haven't seen some of that ancient footage with all those odd contraptions showing man's attempt to fly in the early 20th century. I guess it was only a matter of time before someone got the bright idea to do a comedy from those attempts.

Some of them weren't all that funny, people did in fact get killed, a lot of them in trying to master the air. But by 1910 there were all kinds of airplanes and even some early helicopters and a lot are shown in Those Magnificent Men.

The plot centers about an international race from London to Paris sponsored by one of the English press lords played in true John Bull style by Robert Morley. He's got a spirited suffragette daughter in Sarah Miles and a most proper member of the King's Coldstream Guards in James Fox courting her.

But along comes another flier, an American cowboy, Stuart Whitman who becomes Fox's air and romantic rival. But the film's got more than that. It's got Italian hopeful Alberto Sordi who can impregnate his wife with a dirty look. It's got Frenchman Jean Pierre-Cassel who keeps running into Irina Demick every place he goes. It's even got another English contestant in Terry-Thomas who's busy trying to sabotage everyone else.

However my favorite is the German entry, Gert Frobe. Poor Frobe has to pinch hit for the original German flier who partied too hardy. But as he tries to prove as long as you follow the instruction book, the German Army can accomplish anything. Seeing him try to fly his airplane while reading the instruction book is my favorite memory of Those Magnificent Men.

That and that incredibly catchy title song. I defy anyone to watch this film and not come away humming that tune for weeks. It will embed itself in your subconscious forever.

Those Magnificent Men is good entertainment and a gentle tribute to those early air pioneers.

Up We Go!

[skallisjr · 8/10 · 6 May 2005]

An interesting collection of early aircraft in a lighthearted comedy. Set in the early 1900s, an "international" air race, from England to France, and of course across the English Channel, was proposed, ostensibly to advance aviation. Naturally, the film presents cultural/national stereotypes, but not maliciously.

Spoilers in the following.

One stereotype is the German team leader, played be Gert Frobe, who is so systematized that when his pilot is sick, feels that simply following the instruction books would enable him to fly the German entry. And it works, for a while. (Aside: taking off and guiding such ragwings could possibly work, but textbooks or no, the landings probably would be worth watching on something like America's Funniest Home Videos.) His antics, as his aircraft gets into trouble, thumbing frantically through his manuals, is classic.

The very end of the film (not counting the Red Skelton epilogue)is amusing. When it was filmed, the contrast of the early aircraft with modern jets was rather neat, but watching those antique jets now is rather quaint.

A Comedy for the Ages; Farce, Beauty Aloft, Humorous Types Below

[silverscreen888 · 7/10 · 28 June 2005]

"Those Magnificent Men" probably looked on story boards like merely a colorful, often humorous and very enactable satire of an era, of its nations and of the early days of manned flight. Its plot line involved an international air race, from England to Paris, for whose prizes competitors in home-made aircraft from all over the world would journey to compete. The racers included Stuart Whitman aided by his brother Sam Wanamaker (Wilbur and Orville) from the U.S., James Fox of England, Albert Sordi from Italy, Gert Frobe and his team from Germany, Jean-Pierre Cassell and his ebullient hard-drinking group from France, plus a Scotsman and his dog, the villainous Sir Percy and his henchman, Terry-Thomas and Eric Sykes, a Japanese entrant and many others. Others in the large cast of the ensuing film also included Robert Morely as the wealthy patrician organizer of the race, a rather weak Sarah Miles as his daughter, beautiful Irina Demick who keeps turning up in every locale (in a new persona) and many more. But what the film's makers forgot was that the bravery and beauty of these canvas-winged and wooden primitive aircraft taking off and actually achieving flight would upstage even the often-hilarious comedy of the well-written proceedings. Using Red Skelton as "every man who has ever dreamed of flight", the producers prepared for the race, staged the race, and awarded the prizes--the climax being the arrival of the racers and what happened near the finish line, plus a justly happy ending. The film was written by Ken Annakin with Jack Davies, and Annakin directed it very competently also. Ron Goodwin's music and title song are well-remembered treats too. Others in the large, attractive cast include narrator James Robertson Justice, Gordon Jackson, Zena Marshall, Karl Michael Vogler, Yujiro Ishihara, Benny Hill, Flora Robson and Jeremy Lloyd. The film's pace is beautifully varied and consistently-maintained; the action includes acts of sabotage by the villains, practice flights gone wrong, low-comedy, a duel between the dour Frobe and devil-may-care Cassell conducted in hot air balloons, national humor at the expense of all concerned and incidents before and during the race. This is a very well-acted film; but the fine technical achievements and subordinate arts here had to take a back seat to the flight of the many wonderful "early birds", who outshone even the amusing national types who flew them. A much-imitated and superior comedy classic of its sort.

What I like to call just a "Fun Movie".

[k_rkeplar · 29 August 2004]

I think everyone has a few old movies stashed away in their brains that for some reason or another are a part of their lives. Our personal soundtrack if you will. This film is one of mine. I know I saw it at a drive-in when it came out but can't recall which one. My older brother still recalls this one fondly also. It was gut busting funny at the time but hasn't aged that well due to the general public's far more sophisticated mindset these days. But it's still funny. Anyone who is a fan of flying or the history of traditional European nationalistic rivalry will still howl at this clever and at times very sharp satire. We see some of the attitudes that would help fuel the violent world wars that would erupt soon after 1910. The vintage aircraft, some authentic, some not, are sure to excite aircraft fans. The footage of the genuine planes actually flying across the English countryside is genuinely MAGNIFICENT. Many running gags through the length of the movie. My favorite is the obvious one...the redhead. I caught this on our PBS station just last night and as always I was hooked again and had to watch till two in the morning. There's something about most English movies from the 60's that is just magical. Even the bad ones like "Casino Royale" are still fascinating to watch. Great international casts, clever scripts, funny situations, sight gags...whole packages. Fun Movies, plain and simple. "Those Magnificent Men..." isn't a great film or even a great comedy. But it's still a genuine Fun Movie and well worth at least a rental fee. Now that I've seen it again for the zillonth time my brother and I will be talking about it and laughing out butts off the next time I see him. For us it's one of those kind of movies.

It Was The Machines That Were Magnificent

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 28 August 2006]

This was a fairly long but interesting story of an early 20th century airplane race taking place between London and Paris. The actual race only takes place for the last 45 minutes, and that's fun to watch. The terrain also is nice to view.

Before that, you get profiles of the competitors of the race. You really get the typical stereotypes of movies: the French men woo all the women; the Germans are make to look too militaristic and stupid; the English are portrayed as very stiff upper-lipped and the Italians are all too emotional, etc.

Stuart Whitman and James Fox both battle for Sarah Miles' affections and Terry Thomas has some funny lines as a villain.

I loved the airplanes in this film - really cool "flying machines," as they are labeled here. They came in all sizes and shapes. In the very beginning of the movie, they show actual footage of early flight failures and they are familiar but still fascinating. Interspiced in the actual footage are closeups of Red Skelton playing the part of some of those unsuccessful fliers. Since he had no lines, Skelton reminded me of some of the great silent film comedians.

Fun even if it is a bit too long

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 19 December 2011]

I first watched this film on television as a child in the 1970s but didn't remember much apart from the fact that it featured several rather implausible aircraft crashing in hilarious fashion; mostly before the opening credits! Watching it again I can see why they were the most memorable scenes for a child however there is more to the film than that. Set in 1910 in the early days of aviation a news paper proprietor offers a prize of £10,000 for the winner of an air race from London to Paris. The first half of the film introduces us to the various competitors who come from a variety of countries including America, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and of course England and with the exception of the Japanese pilot they live up to their national stereotypes; thankfully this is done in playful rather than an offensive way. Once in England they get to practice their flying and get into various scrapes... many of which leave the poor pilots splashing into the sewage works next to the aerodrome. While this is going on a romantic subplot develops involving the proprietor's daughter Patricia who is being courted English pilot, Richard Mays, but she takes a shine to the American Orvil Newton. The race takes place in the second half of the film and somewhat inevitably the main competition seems to be between the Newton and Mays; although one can't count out the Italian.

This film is a bit too long but contains some good laughs and fine performances; often from the secondary characters; personal favourites being Gert 'Goldfinger' Fröbe who plays the by-the-book German and Terry Thomas who plays the cheating Sir Percy Ware-Armitage. One will also spot several well known comic actors of the time including Benny Hill, Eric Sykes and Tony Hancock all putting in amusing performances. The flying sequences are impressive and while some stunts were obviously blue screen others looked surprisingly realistic. As well as the various amusing problems with the planes there are a couple of nice running gags; Patricia ends up losing her skirt the first couple of times she meets Newton and the French pilot keeps bumping into women who look identical... and are indeed played by the same actress. Overall this film is good innocent fun; there is nothing that one wouldn't want a child to see.

fun flick for young kids and parents

[tpfaff100 · 7/10 · 12 December 2004]

Fox played this movie today and I watched it. Preceding the movie was a collection of scary, gory clips that I couldn't show my kids. So when I channel-flipped back to it I was doubly shocked at how enjoyable this film was. This is one of many films that America is incapable of producing due to it's optimism, emphasis on living and view of the future. It is just a fun movie so perhaps I shouldn't make it sound so serious. There are plenty of disasters but all seem done in fun and humor. The race is started by a bunch of people who [by and large] want to win at any cost. In the end... the moral of the story seems to be that those who live with honor win in the end. It's a sort of reminder about points like this. It is refreshing to see a film like this once in awhile. It is long... but make sure and watch at least half of it. Especially if you have kids. Oh- it is also somewhat funny. I would say that it's a comedy but contains neither slapstick nor 'sophisticated' humor. Little things such as seeing the dog flying shotgun in the back seat of an old plane with the sign saying something like 'I am the first dog ever to fly in an airplane' or so are typical of the silly going ons.

If you've seen + liked films such as 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' or 'It's a Mad Mad Mad World' then know this film is different but you may like it.

Slapstick on an airy level

[tord-1 · 9/10 · 26 August 2002]

Few films there are ineed that I would be willing to pay a lot to have on DVD, but this certainly is!

In my book it rates with Tati's best, and he's tops!

The idea of making a film about aircraft was not new, I guess, but to do it such manner is still unique! Who would make a film

about an air-race between London and Paris, and do it as a comedy, with almost perfect dialogue, details and acting, but the British?

A number of vintage aircraft (circa 1909) were repaired/constructed

and flown for the flight sequencies, from the minuscle Demoiselle (the replica too small to have a male pilot!) via big, boxkite-like Cody's, inspired by Farmans to the Antoinette, which was 100% original!

As in any slapstick film there are villains (Terry Thomas, and Eric Sykes), pompous Germans, elegant Italians, flirting Frenchmen and the honest guy, of course!

Liking both British humour and aircraft, plus the good acting, the clever and exciting cinematography, and the excellent directing from Mr Annikin I can't but smile!

9/10, easily!

A big fun film.

[alembic · 7/10 · 6 January 2002]

One or two spoilers: I have to confess a slight forgiving fondness for this type of big 60's comedy film. Sometimes this one is downright corny and in places it wears a bit thin but somehow it manages to capture your affection. Sure most of the characters are one-dimensional stereotypical cartoon cutouts , but the film never pretends to be anything deep and meaningful. It pokes fun at the "stiff upperlipped British" , the "formal and pompous Germans" and the "amorous French" etc with a few crazy Italians thrown in and no-one is else spared either. This is how it plays on your preconceived ideas of those "blasted foreigners". Part slapstick with Benny Hill's Keystone Cop like firemen and part heroic adventure with Stuart Whitmans good-guy cowboy role to save the day and everyone a good sport except the fabulously funny villain Terry Thomas. The thing to remember is that they just don't make films like this anymore. Watch a parade of notable English comics pass by intermingled with the other international cast members. English M'Lord Rawnsley of a very large English newspaper is inspired ( of course it was his idea or so he claims ) by his liberated and unruly daughter to put up ten thousand pounds in prize money for the first pilot to fly the English channel , because "Brittania rules the waves so by George she ought to rule the skies as well ". So the scene is set for a motley crew to fly their vintage and unreliable and downright dangerous aircraft across the channel. Along the way, nasty Sir Percy ( Terry Thomas ) aided by slightly sneaky and not too loyal Courtney ( Eric Sykes ) does his villainous best to sabotage the other aircraft but he gets his comeuppance in the end. Stuart Whitman in Levis gets to challenge James Fox the very sportsmanlike Englishman for Sarah Miles affections. A lot of fun and great to look at. Enjoy.

Set against an old-time air-race, this is a charming spoof of national characteristics.

[WeeWilly-2 · 10/10 · 1 March 1999]

Centred around a London-to-Paris air race early in the 1900's, this is a wonderful English comedy spoofing national characteristics! You know the sort of thing, the expansive American hero, the fair-playing Englishman, the great French lover, the emotional Italian count, the enigmatic Japanese, the humourless pomp-loving German, and so on.

The casting is interesting, for this light-hearted movie's principal roles are filled by actors who are far more familiar playing the heavy: Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, James Fox, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and Gert Frobe. And make no mistake, they are superb at it!

Offending no-one of any age, this movie plays out against the back-drop of the air race, with a fantastic array of primitive aircraft. It is fun and full of life, tripping along easily and smoothly from one delightful absurdity to another. The English have made this movie, and while they have considerable fun at the expense of the Frenchman and the German, they cannot resist poking the bulk of the fun at themselves. They do so by augmenting the cast with the shifty Englishman (Terry-Thomas), the confidence man (Tony Hancock), and the foreigner-distrusting representative of the upper crust (Robert Morley).

This movie is a must see for anyone with any pretense to a sense of humour!

"The trouble with these international events is that they attract foreigners."

[richardchatten · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

After a black & white prologue with Red Skelton (who somehow missed being in 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World') the only other Hollywood actor involved in the proceedings is Stuart Whitman - who looks as if he wandered in off the set of a completely different film (while in the case of James Fox & Sarah Miles we know that the other film was 'The Servant').

As the opening credits unfurl all the other major Continental markets are ticked off by the announcement of Jean-Pierre Cassel, Gert Fröbe and Alberto Sordi; and even Japan gets a look-in in the form of pop idol Yujiro Ishihara (best known to Western connoisseurs of Japanese film as the lead in Ichikawa's 'Alone in the Pacific', whose few lines here are bizarrely dubbed by James Villiers).

The only cast member from 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World' to appear is ironically the one Brit, Terry-Thomas (functioning as the Dick Dastardly character) and the film is throughout enlivened by familiar British faces - often in tiny parts - ranging from Flora Robson to Tony Hancock.

The film unfortunately rambles badly for most of the first two thirds of it's running time (NOT helped by Ron Goodwin's over-emphatic score constantly prodding us in the ribs to remind us how hilarious this all is; particularly when the Germans are crashing about onscreen) before the race itself finally begins and Don Sharp's magnificent second unit work finally provides the thrills and spectacle we've been waiting for (although somewhat marred by the cutaways to obvious process shots and studio inserts); while Ronald Searle's wonderful caricatures at the end are rather wasted since they literally fly by so quickly.

Competition and "Good Sportsmanship" on the Verge of World War I

[theowinthrop · 10/10 · 28 October 2006]

I saw this film in a Queens movie theater in 1965 and always enjoyed it, both for it's humor, it's wonderful use of 1910 aircraft, and it's underlying reality in the nationalistic tensions of the day.

James Fox has been romancing Sarah Miles. He is a British Naval officer who has been one of the early experts on heavier than air flight. Miles is a suffragette type, the daughter of Press lord Robert Morley. Fox not only wants to marry Miles, but he wants to push for more government interest in aviation. Miles arranges for him to have lunch with her and her father, and Fox hits a nerve saying that while England rules the seas with it's great fleets, it does not rule the air. In his best blimpish manner, Morley looks straight ahead and says, "England should rule the air". He decides to set up a 10,000 pound prize for the first successful air flight between the world's two leading cities: London to Paris.

Actually no such flight race occurred in 1910, but it could easily have. Morley's Lord Rawnsley is modeled a little on the real life Lord Northcliffe, owner of the Times of London and also a booster of British supremacy. He frequently offered prizes for "firsts" (as did his American counterpart, William Randolph Hearst - whose 1910 prize for the first coast-to-coast flight spurred on Cal P. Roger's series of flights in the Viz Fin Flyer from the Atlantic to the Pacific). In 1909 a Northcliffe prize for the first plane to fly the English Channel was won by Louis Bleriot of France - an event that plays a small role in the Joan Fontaine melodrama IVY.

Soon the competitors show up. America is represented by Stuart Whitman (and his partner Sam Wanamaker). Fox is annoyed, after awhile, by Whitman's romancing Miles - and allowing her a plane ride (something her father had forbidden Fox to give her). Jean Pierre Cassels represents France. His time is spent preparing for the race and romancing a variety of young woman in France and England (all played by Irina Dimmick) who resemble each other and confuse him. Soon he is also involved with avenging the loss of Alsace Lorraine. The Kaiser has sent Gert Frobe and Karl Michael Vogler to win for the Fatherland. Cassels does everything he can think of to humiliate the Hun, and succeeds admirably. Alberto Sordi appears as an Italian nobleman (who is loyal to his wife - they have many children), who spends money on new aircraft. He is constantly buying experimental aircraft from a mad inventor (Tony Hancock). In one case his new plane is destroyed when it flies into the path of a pair of duelists aiming at each other. Japan is represented by Yujiro Ishihara (his name is Yamamoto, which suggests far ahead coming events). And Fox is not the only English contestant. Gordon Jackson is another, but worse is Terry-Thomas.

Usually playing the comic "bounder" part, Terry-Thomas had his best bounder in this film and it's sequel MONTE CARLO OR BUST, which deals with the first Monte Carlo Rally in 1923. Here he plays Sir Percy Ware-Armitage, a manufacturer of dubious reputation, but great wealth, who is interested in the glory of winning the prize (not so much for his county but for himself). In the sequel he was Ware-Armitage's son Cuthbert, who was equally a bounder but interested in automobile development. Ware-Armitage constantly forces his valet - all purpose servant (Erik Sykes) to do his bidding by blackmail in sabotaging all the other competitors.

We watch all these characters collide with each other and other secondary characters (such as Benny Hill, as the head of the fire department that is taking care of disasters on the aviation field the race is to start from). And we are aware of the limitations of each pilot, and their aircraft, until they take off on their flight. Who will win, and why? I won't go into it, but the results are comical and the film seems to hint at the set up for 1919. It is a comical gem, even using Red Skelton at the start as a historical wing flapper who keeps meeting disasters from the stone age to the Wright Brothers, but still is considering his options in the age of supersonic jets.

Good escapist movie

[rothwelltj · 7/10 · 27 April 2017]

"Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" is one of many mid- 60's chase movies that were popular. They all had an international cast, and lots of money was spent on making them as spectacular as possible, I guess to draw people away from their television sets.

Stuart Whitman plays the American pilot from Arizona, and does it fairly well. I liked seeing Benny Hill as the fireman, and there is one scene where the Monty Python's Flying Circus theme can be heard in the background.

I think Hannah-Barbera must have got their inspiration for the Dick Dastardly character from the part Terry-Thomas plays in this movie. He was in a lot of these chase movies at the time, such as "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad,Mad World" , and "Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies", which I have not seen, but it has the same director and some of the same actors (Gert Frobe, Eric Sykes.)

While not a classic, it is a fun movie to see, and has a catchy theme song that will get stuck in your head.

Amusing and Watchable

[Maxi-14 · 5/10 · 24 August 2000]

This movie was full of physical humor. If old slap stick routines amuse you then this movie might be for you. Sarah Miles offers up a fine performance of an independent minded English daughter in the early 1900's. The machines themselves were interesting. This movie is not intellectual fare but it is a pleasant way to pass the time.

lengthy and funny piece

[didi-5 · 7 April 2004]

One of the numerous comedy epics of the 1960s (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Monte Carlo or Bust being others), this movie is very funny and memorably so. The tale of several flyers from different nationalities (British, America, French, Italian, German, etc.) piloting their planes across the Channel from London to Paris - and the vintage model planes are fabulous - takes the form of a number of different interwoven stories leading up to the race in the last part of the movie.

The cast includes Terry-Thomas as Sir Percy, the cheating upper-class Englishman; James Fox as the irritating fop Richard; Stuart Whitman as Orvil the American nice guy; Jean-Pierre Cassell as the randy Frenchman; and Gert Frobe as the blustering German officer. Cameos a-plenty, from Benny Hill, Tony Hancock, William Rushton, Eric Sykes, Fred Emney, and so on. Irina Demick (in multiple roles), and Sarah Miles play what love interest the film has.

Highly recommended if you fancy a laugh. And a fantastic and memorable theme song as well.

Jolly good time!

[proaditya95 · 7/10 · 28 May 2021]

A really good film from the 1960s that has funny scenes and characters that perfectly fit the stereotype associated with their nation. My favourite were Gov Percy (Terry Thomas) and the German Colonel (forgot his name). Thomas could have been used more. His mere presence in the scene guarantees a laugh. The theme song is catchy too.

The thing that could have been done away with is the love triangle which hampers the overall structure. It's not funny and it just doesn't fit into the film.

Overall a jolly good time (mostly).

Stereotypes galore, slapstick, and loads of sugar.

[Doctor_Dexter · 6/10 · 17 April 2020]

In this 20th Century Fox crowd pleaser Americans are (obviously) handsome, down to earth romantic heroes. Europeans at the other hand, are but comedic cardboard figures, strictly along the stereotypes of the day. The English are stuffy prudes, Germans are humourless militarists, Italians have lots and lots of children, French are... you've guessed it. Oh, and (English) women - no matter how much they like aeroplanes and motorcycles - remain helpless little creatures in the end, who yearn for a strong, handsome man to fix a wing or two mid-flight - and their life. Fortunately she's worth it, as she's so pretty and her daddy is fabulously rich.

The story, if we may call it that, is wafer thin. No prizes for guessing the plot or the outcome here either. It's all pretty predictable.

If you're willing and able to look past all that, and you happen to be in the mood for over two hours (!) of slapstick in the laugh or I'll shoot category, this will probably fit the bill. Benny Hill is in there too, which might be a pretty good indicator of what you're on for. And yes, between the obviousness, there is some good fun to be had too.

Last but not least, it is a genuine joy to watch all those antique flying machines, cars and motorcycles.

Entertaining and fun movie in which a London publisher organizes an international air race across the English Channel,

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 11 September 2023]

An amusing and attractive film being competently directed by Ken Annakin with great cast, such as: Stuart Withman , Sarah Miles , Get Frobe , Terry Thomas , Red Skelton, Irene Demick, among others. European co-production with all-star-cast, funny sequences , spectacular aerial races and amusement. Set circa 1910- an era of early airplanes (in fact the aircrafts used in this movie were replicas built using the authentic materials of the originals, but with slightly more powerful engines) in which the aviation career was in its starts. Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley), owner of the Daily Post newspaper, organizes a London, England to Paris, France flying race in order to boost circulation and show Britain's superiority. The publisher hopes to push Britain to the forefront of aviation, but he must contend with two entrants (Stuart Whitman, James Fox) vying for his daughter (Sarah Miles). As daring young men take part in the dangerous, adventurous race. Contestants come from all over the world from Norway , Italy , America and other countries . Things are complicated by shenanigans, hijinks , double-crosses , honor, and love at first sight ; all of them are founded along the route . With a motley and misfit group of outlandish characters: dastardly villain (Terry Thomas), the typical stiff-upper-lip German officer (Gert Frobe), an American hero (Stuart Whitman), a downtrodden manservant (Eric Sykes), a British gentleman (James Fox) are among the competitors. Meanwhile, the usual villain (Terry-Thomas) carries out cheatings and has sabotaged planes that start coming apart here, there and everywhere . Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes. 20th Century-Fox Presents The Motion Picture That Sets Comedy Ahead 100 Years!

Plane race in an uproarious European tour completed with crashes, strange inventions, as well as national rivalries and cheating. These spectacular old planes race provides the most side-splitting moments in a picture whose greatest assets are the animated Ronald Searle cartoons and the beginning and ending. Benny Hill and Alberto Sordi have various fun moments, along with sympathetic final appearance from Red Skelton, while Gert Frobe and Terry Thomas are greats as astute villains. There's rather too much romance between Stuart Whitman and Sarah Miles, as well as between Jean-Pierre Cassel and Irene Demick. Special mention for Terry Thomas again in dastardly form as a British nasty who plans to sabotage all his rivals. This¨Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes¨forms a dypyic with ¨Montecarlo or bust¨, both had the same director (Ken Annakin), writers (Jack Davies and Annakin), composer (Ron Goodwin), and five actors. Terry-Thomas played the son of his character in the earlier movie, and Eric Sykes' character was again an employee of Terry-Thomas'. Gert Fröbe, William Rushton, and Michael Trubshawe played unrelated roles. It displays lively and jolly musical score by Ron Goodwin and catching theme song. Colorful and evocative cinematography by Christopher Challis.

¨Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris (1965) belongs to a trilogy in which old machines such as cars and planes participate into spectacular races across Europe : the first was ¨The great race¨ by Blake Edwards with Tony Curtis , Natalie Wood , Ross Martin , Arthur O'Connell ; the second was ¨Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes¨ (1965) in which a wealthy newspaper publisher is persuaded to sponsor an air race from London a Paris . And followed by ¨Montecarlo or bust¨ as the US title would indicate this is a sort of sequel to ¨Those magnificent men in their flying machines¨ (1965) dealing with an international car rally, circa 1920, competitors must travel from various points in Europe to Monte Carlo, then race their cars, a noise slow cars trek 1500 miles across nation in the twenties race.

This motion pictue was professionally directed by Ken Annakin , though being very funny and overly long. Ken was an expert on Adventure genre as ¨The new adventures of Pippi Longstockings¨, ¨Pirate movie¨ , ¨Paper tiger¨, ¨The fifth Musketeer¨ , ¨Call of wild¨, ¨The Swiss family Robinson¨, ¨Land of fury¨, ¨The Sword and the Rose¨, ¨The story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men¨, ¨Third man on the mountain¨ and Wartime genre as ¨Battle of the Bulge¨, and ¨The Longest day¨. Rating: 7.5/10. Better than average.

a high flying classic!

[Little-Mikey · 10/10 · 5 September 2009]

I remember seeing this movie in December 1965 with my dad and my brother and this was one film that had all of us stitches. It was hilarious! The movie began with an equally entertaining beginning. Being a 20th Century Fox movie, instead of that majestic intro, the intro, same music, was played on a miss-tuned upright piano.

Then came the opening theme with the corny cartoon of the old time airplanes flying slowly across the screen with the opening credits following as the opening theme played with the lyrics on the lower half and a bouncing ball so the audience could sing along.

This movie had all the tell tale signs of a Blake Edwards movie. I was surprised to learn that Blake Edwards had nothing to do with this movie, except, perhaps set an example of how great films are made with his many hit movies, like THE PINK PANTHER, for example, with an opening theme that was so popular that they had to make a cartoon series out of that silly pink feline. Back to the movie.

Terry Thoman made such a delightfully sinister villain that even though we were not supposed to like him, neither did we want him to get his just desserts too soon in the movie.

Alberto Sordi played the Italian perfectly. Maybe his being a real Italian with a long list of Italian comedies, always funny, but never typecast.

Ethnic stereotypes were played out throughout the movie. But considering that they were played by an international cast, an Italian actor playing the Italian pilot, a German actor playing the German pilot, etc... Nobody could or should've taken offense. The whole movie was done in fun the way a good comedy should be done.

I was surprised to find this movie on a discounted DVD. It cost less than $9.00. Even in the $18.00 price range, this movie would've been worth its price. I was also surprised to find that I enjoy this movie just as much today as I did when I saw it in 1965. One may call it "second childhood". I call it an excellent movie.

Buy it, don't rent it. That way, you will be able to enjoy this movie over and over again. I know I have.

Plane crazy.

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 24 June 2018]

In 1908, Samuel Franklin Cody was recorded as piloting the first official British flight of a heavier-than-air machine, just a stone's throw from where I grew up. Set primarily in the South of England, just a couple of years later, Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines is an affectionate madcap comedy that celebrates the bravery and determination of such international pioneers of early flight - men who risked their lives to take to the skies.

Stuart Whitman heads a stellar line-up, as American pilot Orvil Newton, one of a group of aircraft enthusiasts competing for a prize of £10,000 in a daring race from London to Paris. Others signed up to take part include plucky Brit Richard Mays (James Fox), pompous German Manfred Von Holstein (Gert Fröbe), womanising Frenchman Pierre Dubois (Jean-Pierre Cassel) filthy rich Italian Count Emilio Ponticelli (Alberto Sordi), and Japanese flyer Yamamoto (Yûjirô Ishihara), with Terry Thomas as slimy cheat Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (aided by his crony Courtney, played by Eric Sykes).

Rounding out the cast of familiar faces are Sarah Miles as plucky love interest Patricia Rawnsley, Robert Morley as her father Lord Rawnsley, Benny Hill as Fire Chief Perkins, gorgeous Bond girl Zena Marshall as Countess Sophia Ponticelli, Gordon Jackson as Scot MacDougal, William Rushton as Tremayne Gascoyne, and Tony Hancock as airplane salesman Harry Popperwell.

Director Ken Annakin has assembled a magnificent cast, to be sure, but the real stars of his film are the flying machines, beautifully reconstructed early aircraft ranging from the ingenious to the utterly wacky, and the best bits of the film are those that show these inventions in flight. The pre-race slapstick nonsense offers a few fun scenes featuring the crazy creations in motion, but it's not until the race itself that one can fully appreciate the aircraft in all their glory as their pilots battle it out to be the first to cross the channel. With the competitors not leaving for Paris until well over an hour and a half has passed, the film is arguably overlong (I believe that several scenes could have easily been excised without any real loss), but it's still worth the wait for anyone with an interest in the history of flight: they might have been potential death traps, but the planes are marvellous to behold.

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

A Magnificent film!

[Dejael · 10/10 · 31 August 2003]

One of the best films of 1965, and a spectacular wide-screen Stereorama epic of a fictional 1910 air race held in Merrie Olde England, TMMITFM is an unqualified success in all departments. Excellent in every way! Released circa late June 1965 at the same time as its similar-themed colorful competitor, Blake Edwards' boffo comedy The GREAT RACE, this pair of old-time era comedies were highlights of the international cinema experience in the summer of 1965 with the exception of The Beatles' brilliant farce HELP! and Michael Caine's first appearance as Harry Palmer in The IPCRESS FILE. Originally presented in 70mm Todd-AO Wide Screen 2:20:1 and 6-Track Magnetic Stereo, filmed in 65mm Todd-AO, this superb film features awesome DeLuxe Color cinematography, surround sound Stereo, a fine cast of dramatic and comic performers, a marvelously rousing music-hall style vocal theme song and brilliant vintage music and symphonic orchestral soundtrack score by Ron Goodwin (The BATTLE OF Britain), and a dozen or so absolutely meticulously maintained vintage aircraft from the early days of aviation, along with period costumes, makeup and antique automobiles including a marvelous Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Also over-the-top is the cleverly-done vintage sepiatone nickelodeon-newsreel style film intro prologue featuring Red Skelton as comical characters seeking to fly and hilariously flopping. Brilliantly conceived and directed by British director Ken Annakin. Production Design and Art Direction are flawlessly crafted. Acting kudos to lovely British ingenue Sarah Miles, with the proper Edward Fox, American cowboy Stuart Whitman, stuff-shirt Robert Morley, dastardly Terry-Thomas and bombastic Gert Frobe (GOLDFINGER) heading a sparkling cast of internationals. Fox wisely released this blockbuster comedy available on Wide-Screen surround-sound Stereo DVD in 2003, and it should still be available. (The flat-ratio VHS tape just doesn't do it justice. We want to see ALL the picture!!!) Absolutely highly recommended for ALL ages! A Magnificent film!

Still flying high..

[FilmFlaneur · 7/10 · 29 July 2004]

Annakin's film, a favourite from my youth, still looks good today, standing up well in this age of overdone special effects and during a time when Hollywood seems to have forgotten how to inject charm into adventure projects. It's a film in the which the various entertaining episodes make the comparatively long running time fly by - (pun intended) - even if ultimately they add up to less the sum of their parts. Oddly, the final race, which occupies the last third of the narrative is curiously unexciting, if involving - it's a victim of the earlier distracting intrigues, as the colourful and varied activities of different characters overshadow the drama which initially drove them on. (Or as my second paragraph suggests, the real 'interest' is really elsewhere.) Standouts include Gert Frobe as the Colonel Van Holstein, the comic impact of which equals if not surpasses his appearance in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang of three years later. Dastardly Terry Thomas and Eric Sykes make an inspired pair of lightweight villains, and only the minor involvement of the great Tony Hancock as a batty aero-inventor and the mugging of an unfunny Red Skleton makes one wish that the casting could have been shuffle some more.

To innocent eyes much of the film was great fun at the time and so it remains. In my jaded years a re-viewing has brought out a surprising sub text which I don't think has been addressed here yet. Besides being the account of the preparation and running of a great aeronautical race, TMMITFM also offers a parallel, adult narrative, mainly through puns, and visual suggestion - namely the fulfillment of Patricia Rawnsley (Sarah Miles). Patricia's first words (the first of the film) 'when are you going to take me up, Richard?' have a second meaning: as raunchy slang common in England, the fact of which cannot have escaped the scriptwriters. Its a hidden sense which, once started, can be carried on though the narrative. Naturally the fact that her skirt is accidentally removed twice - and almost again a third time - by Newton provokes suitable embarrassment on screen, and seaside-saucy laughs amongst the audience. But the less explicit sexual innuendo is carried on up to new heights when she is shortly taken aloft by the American (where, this time very aptly, his own pants come off) and squeals with the danger, handling that old phallic standby, the joy stick. In contrast to the virile American, Richard never 'takes her up'. Elsewhere the most overt sexuality of the film is part and parcel of the national characteristics of others, its offensiveness diffused by stereotyping: the Frenchman Dubois, whose multiple liaisons with the same woman is a charming way of representing lighthearted promiscuity and the Italian Count Emilio Ponticelli, whose marital fecundity shows the natural results of such unbridled reproductive activity.

Clearly the act of flying is to be taken literally and metaphorically in the film, as is the whole apparatus and ritual of going aloft, arguably right down to the Freudian appearance of a sewage farm next the 'field of pleasure' and the bright red firemen directed from a tower... For a closing confirmation of this, we have the almost final very suitable, line: Orville's disarming 'I need to have a look at my undercarriage, which has taken some beating..'. Such words easily indicate the dire results of the two competing sets of frustration which he currently faces...

one of those films.that cheers you up

[marktayloruk · 9/10 · 16 April 2020]

Should have been nominated for Best Picture- seriously. All stereotypes, I say to the PC brigade, are founded.in reality. This film passed the comic test - it made me laugh.A lot! Result was rather diplomatic and ironically Sarah Miles ' taste offscreen seems to have been different from onscreen!

Interesting, though the humor is occasionally VERY broad.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 4 January 2012]

In 1910, the Brit, Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley), announces that there will be a race from London to Paris. So, amateur pilots from various nations arrive in order to try to claim the prize--flying the very slow and flimsy planes of the day. Much of the film simply consists of the things leading up to the race itself--and the race doesn't even begin until 97 minutes into the movie! The film is meant to be a comedy. Some of it is quite funny (such as Gert Fröbe making march music as he walks about trying to be a VERY German officer) and much of it is very broad (the chase scene with the runaway plane). During all this, Terry-Thomas plays a Dick Dartardly or Professor Fate sort of jerk--cheating and sabotaging his way towards the prize. For me, the best thing about the film are the wonderful old planes they recreated for the film--and with such slow planes, the mid-air sequences were exciting to watch. But as for the humor and plot, they were only mildly diverting.

My advice is to skip this film and watch a similar but MUCH better film that came out only about two weeks after this film. "The Great Race" was simply funnier and the plot worked much better--whereas "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" was very uneven and episodic. Not bad--but not great either.

By the way, if you do watch it, look for the scene where Terry-Thomas' plan is stuck on a train. If you look behind him, you'll see a VERY modern power plant--and it appears to be a nuclear one...in 1910 France!!

Not as funny as I remember

[andy-cippico · 4/10 · 25 April 2023]

Ok, I was 6 when this came out and I haven't seen it since. Of course, it was immensely funny at the time, but having seen it recently, I was inevitably disappointed.

The film is woeful in character development, thin on script, thin on plot, and peppered with dreadful slapstick, not to mention the occasional bawdy 'Carry On' moments.

Unlike others, I didn't struggle with the international stereotypes, but with the lack of a cohesive and fluent script. Themes and scenes were barely fleshed out, and left me feeling that I could have stopped watching at any point without missing anything or caring what happened at the end.

Sadly it was only interesting to me as a period piece of the mid 60s.