Appointment in London
Encyclopedia
Appointment in London (known as Raiders in the Sky in the US) is a 1952 war film
starring Dirk Bogarde
and set during World War II
. The film was directed by Philip Leacock
from a screenplay by John Wooldridge
and Robert Westerby
and based on an original story by Wooldridge. The film is set in an RAF Bomber Command
squadron during 1943 and tells of the Wing Commander's atttempt to finish his third and final 'tour' of thirty operations
.
Tim Mason ([Bogarde) is nearing the end of his third tour of operations, meaning he has flown nearly 90 missions over Germany. Having twice volunteered to continue operational flying, Mason is keen to make it a round 90 'ops', but when he is nearing the end of his tour he receives orders banning him from further flying. Meanwhile, losses are mounting and several raids are being seen as failures, so that some of the members of his crews, Brown (Kerr) and 'The Brat' Greeno (Forbes) among them, are thinking that there must be a 'jinx
' at work. Soon after 'The Brat' is then caught sending unauthorised telegrams off the station. These turn out to be written to his wife, Pam, rather than anything more sinister, however Mason reprimands Greeno for the lapse in security. Soon after, Greeno's aircraft fails to return from a raid and Mason agrees to meet Pam, who has asked to see him.
With only one more flight to go he accepts that the decision to ground him was for his own good, and he visits Brown's aircraft as Brown and his crew prepare to take off on a mission. As the crew board the Lancaster
the large 4000 lb 'Cookie'
bomb that is part of the bomber's load slips from the bomb shackles and injures one of the crew. With no time to obtain a replacement crew member, US Observer Mac Baker takes his place. Mason decides to go as well to reassure the crew's worries about the jinx, and the bomber takes off. The mission is flown and while the target is being attacked the Master Bomber is shot down, causing the remaining bombers to begin bombing inaccurately. Hearing and seeing this, Mason takes the Master Bomber's place on the radio, broadcasting corrections and accurate instructions, and the bombing becomes accurate again. Listening-in to the Master Bomber's broadcast back in England
Mason's Commanding Officer, Logan (Hunter) hears Mason's voice and realises that he's disobeyed orders and flown on the operation. However, owing to Mason's intervention the raid, which could have been a failure, has been a success, and on Mason's return Logan greets him at his aircraft.
At the end of the movie Mason, along with Brown, and Greeno's Wife, Pam, take a taxi to Buckingham Palace
to receive an award from the King - the so-called 'appointment' referred-to in the film's title.
A sub-plot involves Mason's relationship with Eve Canyon (Dinah Sheridan), a widowed Wren
whom American officer Mac is also insterested in. Mason finally succeeds in winning Eve over.
under his conduction.
The film was produced by Aubrey Baring and Maxwell Setton and shot at British Lion's
Shepperton Studios
and at RAF Upwood
.
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
starring Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor and novelist. Initially a matinee idol in such films as Doctor in the House and other Rank Organisation pictures, Bogarde later acted in art-house films such as Death in Venice...
and set during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The film was directed by Philip Leacock
Philip Leacock
Philip David Charles Leacock was an English television and film director and producer. His brother was documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock.-Career:...
from a screenplay by John Wooldridge
John Wooldridge
Wing Commander John De Lacy Wooldridge, DSO, DFC and Bar, DFM, was a British film composer.- Early life :Wooldridge was born in Yokohama, Japan and was educated at St Paul's School, London...
and Robert Westerby
Robert Westerby
Robert Westerby , was an author of novels and screenwriter for films and television....
and based on an original story by Wooldridge. The film is set in an RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
squadron during 1943 and tells of the Wing Commander's atttempt to finish his third and final 'tour' of thirty operations
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
.
Plot
Wing CommanderWing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Tim Mason ([Bogarde) is nearing the end of his third tour of operations, meaning he has flown nearly 90 missions over Germany. Having twice volunteered to continue operational flying, Mason is keen to make it a round 90 'ops', but when he is nearing the end of his tour he receives orders banning him from further flying. Meanwhile, losses are mounting and several raids are being seen as failures, so that some of the members of his crews, Brown (Kerr) and 'The Brat' Greeno (Forbes) among them, are thinking that there must be a 'jinx
Jinx
A jinx, in popular superstition and folklore, is:* A type of curse placed on a person that makes them prey to many minor misfortunes and other forms of bad luck;...
' at work. Soon after 'The Brat' is then caught sending unauthorised telegrams off the station. These turn out to be written to his wife, Pam, rather than anything more sinister, however Mason reprimands Greeno for the lapse in security. Soon after, Greeno's aircraft fails to return from a raid and Mason agrees to meet Pam, who has asked to see him.
With only one more flight to go he accepts that the decision to ground him was for his own good, and he visits Brown's aircraft as Brown and his crew prepare to take off on a mission. As the crew board the Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
the large 4000 lb 'Cookie'
Blockbuster bomb
Blockbuster or "cookie" was the name given to several of the largest conventional bombs used in World War II by the Royal Air Force...
bomb that is part of the bomber's load slips from the bomb shackles and injures one of the crew. With no time to obtain a replacement crew member, US Observer Mac Baker takes his place. Mason decides to go as well to reassure the crew's worries about the jinx, and the bomber takes off. The mission is flown and while the target is being attacked the Master Bomber is shot down, causing the remaining bombers to begin bombing inaccurately. Hearing and seeing this, Mason takes the Master Bomber's place on the radio, broadcasting corrections and accurate instructions, and the bombing becomes accurate again. Listening-in to the Master Bomber's broadcast back in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Mason's Commanding Officer, Logan (Hunter) hears Mason's voice and realises that he's disobeyed orders and flown on the operation. However, owing to Mason's intervention the raid, which could have been a failure, has been a success, and on Mason's return Logan greets him at his aircraft.
At the end of the movie Mason, along with Brown, and Greeno's Wife, Pam, take a taxi to Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
to receive an award from the King - the so-called 'appointment' referred-to in the film's title.
A sub-plot involves Mason's relationship with Eve Canyon (Dinah Sheridan), a widowed Wren
Women's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
whom American officer Mac is also insterested in. Mason finally succeeds in winning Eve over.
Cast
- Dirk BogardeDirk BogardeSir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor and novelist. Initially a matinee idol in such films as Doctor in the House and other Rank Organisation pictures, Bogarde later acted in art-house films such as Death in Venice...
as Wing Commander Tim Mason - Ian HunterIan Hunter (actor)Ian Hunter was a British character actor.Among dozens of film roles, his best-remembered appearances include That Certain Woman with Bette Davis, The Adventures of Robin Hood , The Little Princess and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
as Group Captain Logan - Dinah SheridanDinah SheridanDinah Sheridan is an English actress who appeared in the films 29 Acacia Avenue and Genevieve .She made her film debut in 1937, and has frequently appeared on television...
as Eve Canyon - Bryan ForbesBryan ForbesBryan Forbes, CBE is an English film director, actor and writer.-Career:Bryan Forbes was born John Theobald Clarke on 22 July 1926 in Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, West Ham, Essex , and grew up at 43 Cranmer Road, Forest Gate, West Ham, Essex .Forbes trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of...
as Pilot Officer Peter Greeno (The Brat) - Walter FitzgeraldWalter FitzgeraldWalter Fitzgerald was an English character actor.Born Walter Fitzgerald Bond in Keyham, Devon. Married 1st Rosalie Constance Grey in 1924.1s .2nd Angela Kirk in 1938. 3 sons 1 daughter....
as Dr. Mulvaney, Group Medical Officer - Bill KerrBill KerrWilliam 'Bill' Kerr is an Australian film and television actor. He was born into a performing arts family in Cape Town, South Africa, but grew up in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia....
as Flight Lieutenant Bill Brown - William SylvesterWilliam SylvesterWilliam Sylvester was an American television and film actor. His most famous film credit was Dr. Heywood Floyd in Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey...
as Mac - Anne Leon as Pam Greeno
- Charles VictorCharles VictorCharles Victor was a British actor who appeared in a number of films and television between 1938 and 1965.-Selected filmography:* Return of the Frog * Hell's Cargo * Contraband...
as Dobbie, The Innkeeper - Richard WattisRichard WattisRichard Cameron Wattis , was an English character actor.He attended King Edward's School, Birmingham and Bromsgrove School, after which he worked for the family electrical engineering firm before becoming a professional actor. After his debut with Croydon Repertory Theatre he made many stage...
as Pascal - Carl JaffeCarl JaffeCarl Jaffe was a German Jewish actor. Jaffe trained on the stage in his native Hamburg, Kassel and Wiesbaden before moving to Berlin, where his career took off....
as German General - Sam KyddSam KyddSam Kydd was an Ulster-born English actor. An army officer's son, he was born in Belfast, but moved to London, England when he was a child. He was educated at Dunstable Grammar School in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England....
as Ackroyd - Terence LongdonTerence LongdonTerence Longdon was an English actor. Longdon, born in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire was best known for his lead role in the 1950s-1960s British TV series Garry Halliday where he played a Biggles-like pilot who flew into various adventure situations. In film he was Drusus, Messala's personal...
as Dr. Buchanan - Michael RipperMichael RipperMichael Ripper was an English character actor born in Portsmouth.He began his film career in quota quickies in the 1930s and until the late 1950s was virtually unknown; he was seldom credited. He played one of the two murderers in Richard III. Ripper became a mainstay in Hammer Film Productions...
as Bomb Aimer - Campbell SingerCampbell SingerCampbell Singer was a British character actor who featured in a number of film and television roles during his long career....
as Flight Sergeant (Chief of Ground Crews) - Harold SiddonsHarold SiddonsHarold Siddons was a British film and television actor, appearing in Genevieve, The Dam Busters, Appointment in London, They Who Dare, The Purple Plain, Quatermass and the Pit, A Night To Remember and The Wrong Arm of the Law...
as Flight Lieutenant Saunders - Anthony Shaw as Smithy
- Anthony ForwoodAnthony ForwoodAnthony Forwood was an English actor.- Career :In 1949 Forwood gained his first acting role when he starred in Ralph Thomas' Traveller's Joy. That same year he appeared in the thriller Man in Black with Sid James...
as Sandy (Navigation Officer)
Production
The music was also written by Wooldridge and performed by the Philharmonia OrchestraPhilharmonia
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
under his conduction.
The film was produced by Aubrey Baring and Maxwell Setton and shot at British Lion's
British Lion Films
British Lion Films Corporation is a film production and distribution company active under several forms since 1919. Until 1976 they were also film distributors as British Lion Films Ltd, with a distributor filmography of 232 films. As a production company they are still active and have produced...
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
and at RAF Upwood
RAF Upwood
RAF Upwood was a United States Air Force installation adjacent to the village of Upwood, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom.It is a non-flying station which was under the control of the United States Air Force, and one of three RAF stations in Cambridgeshire currently used by the United States...
.