Nuvens Sobre a Europa

... instead it is a fun little espionage piece with a witty script with its tongue placed firmly in its cheek. Set during the tense years preceding the outbreak of WWII, the Brits are losing experimental aircraft (the titular Q Planes) in mysterious circumstances, and Ralph Richardson's character is head of a government agency out to discover whats really going on, whilst Valerie Hobson is seemingly a spy for a foreign power, trying none-too-subtly to extract information from a bemused, cynical test pilot played by Laurence Olivier just before he headed off to bigger things.

The tone of the film is set from the initial scene, which opens with a composed, but confused Richardson trying to work out what he's doing in a trashed room, why he's surrounded by police, and what the heck his own name is.

Aside from a fun plot & great cast, there are some neat period aircraft up for viewing, for those with an interest in such things. Some other interesting tidbits that Wikipedia turned up are that airfield shots in the film were filmed at Brooklands (an early center of aviation & motor racing) and that the film was apparently based off actual events where the British government believed that the Germans were behind the downing of an experimental plane over the English Channel, so they helped fund this movie to let the Germans know that they were on to them, without any messy diplomatic unpleasantness being needed.

Experimental craft are disappearing. Why? Because villain uses a ray to disable the craft, then captures craft and crew intact. There must be half a dozen Bond films with this plot. The villian's henchmen are also very much in the Bond mold - running all over the ship like so many ants in an ant colony. Only difference is that these henchmen are more realistic; they are harder to kill, and are better shots.

Policemen raid an apartment to find the place generally ransacked and a Devil-may-care man who claims to have no memory. He's actually wacky British Secret Agent Major Hammond (Ralph Richardson) who is investigating plane manufacturers and possible espionage. He is assisted by his sister Kay and ace pilot Tony McVane (Laurence Olivier).

This delivers some light fun with espionage. It's a little surprising considering the state of the world during that time. The whole place is about to explode into world war in a few months. It's not unforeseen at that time. The subject matter is hitting something real and yet the characters are cracking jokes. I do like the joking aspect but I also wonder if the audience of its day was in the mood.

The young Oliver and Richardson -- especially Richardson -- are obviously having a ball in this mix of spies, high adventure, and tongue in cheek comedy According to Michael Powell, the two stars tore up the script, and devised their own scenes, and the pleasure they have in sending up the material, and in each other's work, shines through. (In fact, once or twice, Oliver seems to be trying not to crack up at Richardson's antics.) Patrick Macnee says he based The Avengers' John Steed on Richardson's character in this film, and that, too, shows. Thrills, spills,secret rays, gags and eccentric British characters, and villains from a country suspiciously reminiscent of Germany, but not named in 1938.

When newly developed planes being disappearing during testing with no trace a police Inspector and a test pilot begin to look into the possibility of espionage within the company.

Wartime dramas are very much of a standard affair – feel good affairs where we beat the Germans. This is very much one of those – the story is very flimsy and unlikely but it manages to have plenty to commend it. The story is carry by the comedy and the characters that make you overlook the sheer unlikely way in which the planes vanish. The story progresses to the inevitable shootout between the Brits and the Germans but on the way there's plenty to enjoy.

The film is mainly saved by a wonderful performance by Ralph Richardson as the inspector – he is funny from the first scene and his character is wonderfully charming and forgetful. Olivier is also good, but it's not his best! The supporting cast of sassy women and foolish businessmen also add to the mix to make for an enjoyable romp.

Overall this isn't a classic but the comedy and a superb Richardson makes this better than the sum of it's parts.