Tonnerre sur Malte

Original title: Malta Story

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1942 and the island of Malta is battling for survival. The threat of invasion by Axis forces is increasing as air raids wear down its defence. Entering this maelstrom is Flight Lieutenant Pe... Read all1942 and the island of Malta is battling for survival. The threat of invasion by Axis forces is increasing as air raids wear down its defence. Entering this maelstrom is Flight Lieutenant Peter Ross, an RAF photo-reconnaissance pilot.1942 and the island of Malta is battling for survival. The threat of invasion by Axis forces is increasing as air raids wear down its defence. Entering this maelstrom is Flight Lieutenant Peter Ross, an RAF photo-reconnaissance pilot.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

2.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos29

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Top cast50

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Alec Guinness

Flight Lt. Peter Ross

Jack Hawkins

Air Commodore Frank

Anthony Steel

Wing Commander Bartlett

Muriel Pavlow

Maria Gonzar

Renée Asherson

Joan Rivers
(as Renee Asherson)

Hugh Burden

Major Eden

Nigel Stock

Giuseppe Gonzar aka Ricardi

Reginald Tate

Vice Admiral Payne

Ralph Truman

Vice Admiral Willie Banks

Flora Robson

Melita Gonzar - Maria's Mum

Manuel Bugeja

Maltese man riding horse and carriage
(voice)

Ronald Adam

Group Captain - Operations
(uncredited)

Jack Armstrong

Hudson Passenger
(uncredited)

Derek Aylward

Naval Cypher Office
(uncredited)

Peter Barkworth

Cypher Clerk
(uncredited)

Ivor Barnard

Old Man in Food Queue
(uncredited)

Peter Bull

Flying Officer
(uncredited)

Stuart Burge

Paolo Gonzar - Maria's Brother
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Benito Mussolini's decision not to attempt an invasion of Malta in June 1940, has been called the worst Axis mistake of World War II. Italian generals overestimated Malta's defenses. If the Italians had invaded the colony then, it would have been impossible for the Royal Navy to re-supply the garrison. Adolf Hitler was shocked that Mussolini had wasted time in formally declaring war on France and the British Empire on 10 June 1940, instead suggesting Mussolini should have invaded Malta after first launching a surprise attack on the British fleet at Alexandria.

Goofs
The continuity "goof" above is wrong. There are two arrivals of Spitfires. The one at 30 minutes is the one referred to, but they aren't allocated numbers. The allocation of numbers takes place on the second arrival of 60 Spitfires at about 60 minutes and all are allocated numbers with ground crew holding boards with the numbers on.

Quotes
Flight Lt. Peter Ross: Hello.
Maria Gonzar: Hello.
Flight Lt. Peter Ross: So... you weren't killed.
Maria Gonzar: No... I hardly ever am.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: MALTA 1942

Connections
Featured in Frances Farmer Presents: Malta Story (1959)

User reviews32

Featured review

7/10

A Mix of Cinematic Journalism and Romantic Love

Having just read "Tobruk" by Chester Wilmot, a journalist who spent time in the Tobruk siege and reported diligently about it, this piece informed me of another similar siege that I was unaware of. The use of archive footage is fascinating, mixed in with a simple story of love that feels lighter and without the moralising heaviness and embarrassing "post modern" pretensions of many modern day films ... especially war films. Very much a product of it's time ... they really don't make them like this anymore. Some of it feels like a War time moral raising film. I even thought it was made in the war until I found out the 1953 date. But memories were still strong in those days of course, so there is a flavour of a story burning to be told to the world before times move on.