Landfall *½ (1949, Michael Denison, Patricia Plunkett, Kathleen Harrison, David Tomlinson, Joan Dowling,) – Classic Movie Review 12,845

The 1949 British war film Landfall stars Michael Denison in a World War Two tale of British Coastal Command pilot who is blamed for the friendly-fire loss of a British submarine with all hands aboard.

‘Wars come, and all the world is shattered by their blast. But through it all young people meet, fall in love and marry. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 1940.’

In 1949 Ken Annakin made Landfall for Associated British, starring Michael Denison, Patricia Plunkett and Kathleen Harrison, based on the 1940 novel Landfall: A Channel Story written by Nevil Shute. It is one of two films Ken Annakin made on loan from his studio Gainsborough Pictures to Associated British, followed by Double Confession (1950). Annakin recalled: ‘Neither had very good scripts, nor exciting casting.’

Director Ken Annakin’s 1949 British war film Landfall stars Michael Denison in a rather dull World War Two tale of British Coastal Command pilot Rick (Denison), who thinks that he is to blame for the loss of a British submarine with all hands aboard, and a feisty young woman, his barmaid fiancée Mona (Plunkett), who sets out to prove that he is wrong.

A Navy enquiry has concluded that Rick mistakenly attacked the British submarine in the English Channel in a friendly-fire incident, believing it to be a German submarine. He is officially criticised for having failed to identify his target properly, though his commanding officer disagrees with the court’s finding.

Director Annakin does his best with the material, but the heavyweight cast is off form, while the screenplay is sluggish, and so Nevil Shute’s bestseller fails to translate into an exciting or involving film.

Ken Annakin also made Double Confession (1950) for Associated British, starring Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, William Hartnell, Peter Lorre and Kathleen Harrison.

It stars Michael Denison and Patricia Plunkett. Also in the cast are Kathleen Harrison, David Tomlinson, Joan Dowling, Edith Sharpe, Margaret Barton, Charles Victor, Denis O’Dea, Maurice Denham, A E Matthews, Margaretta Scott, Laurence Harvey, Sebastian Shaw, Frederick Leister, Nora Swinburme, Walter Hudd, Ivan Samson, James Carney, Paul Carpenter, Bryan Coleman, Moultrie Kelsall, and Stanley Rose.

Landfall is directed by Ken Annakin, runs 88 minutes, is made by Associated British Picture Corporation, is released by Associated British-Pathé, is written by Talbot Jennings (screenplay), Gilbert Gunn and Anne Burnaby (adaptation), based on the 1940 novel Landfall: A Channel Story by Nevil Shute, is shot in black and white by Wilkie Cooper, produced by Victor Skuzetzky, and is scored by Philip Green.

Release date: 27 October 1949 (UK).

Box office: £141,127 (UK).

Patricia Plunkett appeared in 12 films.

Patricia Plunkett (17 December 1926 – 13 October 1974) was born in Streatham, London, trained at RADA and appeared in 12 films up to The Singer Not the Song (1961). She was the female lead in both her 1949 films: Landfall and For Them That Trespass. Her best known film is her first, It Always Rains on Sunday (1947). She was married to actor Tim Turner.

The cast and characters are Michael Denison as Rick, Patricia Plunkett as Mona, Kathleen Harrison as Mona’s Mother, Denis O’Dea as Captain Burnaby, David Tomlinson as Binks, Charles Victor as Mona’s Father, Joan Dowling as barmaid Miriam, A E Matthews as Air Raid Warden, Maurice Denham as Wing Commander Hewitt, Margaretta Scott as Mrs Burnaby, Sebastian Shaw as Wing Commander Dickens, Nora Swinburne as Admiral’s Wife, Laurence Harvey as Petty Officer Hooper, Paul Carpenter as Petty Officer Morgan, Frederick Leister as Admiral Blackett, Hubert Gregg as Lieutenant Commander Dale, Walter Hudd as Professor Legge, Margaret Barton as Rick’s Sister Rosemary, Edith Sharpe as Rick’s Mother Mrs Chambers Ivan Samson as Commander Rutherford, James Carney, Bryan Coleman, Moultrie Kelsall, and Stanley Rose.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,845

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com