Lean Quest! The Sound Barrier

Composer Malcolm Arnold figures that David won't realize he made a lousy film if the music is really, really loud (and sappy).

Okay, illness, busy-ness, and being home for the weekend have prevented me from blogging in the last few weeks. I hope my three regular readers, and whoever may stumble across the page via Facebook, will forgive me for that. Now, back with the program...

I continued my Lean quest on Thursday with The Sound Barrier (1952). This was the last movie he did with his third wife, the lovely, luminous Ann Todd, and the cast also includes Sir Ralph Richardson, Nigel Patrick, and a young Denholm Elliot (that Indiana Jones' boss to you, sir or madam).

You may never hear me say this about a David Lean film, ever again, especially if I'm successful in my plan to never think about this film, but here it is...

This movie sucks.

Now that you've picked your jaw up off the floor, perhaps I should get around to the review proper? Very well, I'm at work and have nothing better to do, so let's get cracking.

The film's plot revolves around a family in wartime Britain. Tony Garwaithe (Nigel Patrick) is a chipper, can-do ace pilot who falls in love with Susan Ridgefield (Ann Todd), the daughter of an aviation pioneer turned airplane designer (Ralph Richardson). The Ridgefield family is decidedly strained, as John can't connect with his daughter, and has a difficult relationship with his son Christopher (Denholm Elliot), who is afraid of flying. After Christopher dies in a plane crash, Susan becomes horrified when Tony is promoted to head test pilot for John's firm, who is experimented with jet technology to break the sound barrier (title alert). Can Susan live? Will John realize that there are more important things than work? Will family friends the Peels be important to the plot or contribute superfluous chatter? Will something bad befall our brave hero? Will Susan and her father reconcile by the end? Will the Sound Barrier be broken?

Well, what do we have here? I could and probably should dispatch with this film in a few terse sentences, but I'm me and you know that ain't gonna happen. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that I will probably never, ever, ever give a bad review to a David Lean film ever again.

This movie can be described very simply as a turgid, stiff and dull melodrama. With airplanes. Lots of air planes. Now, I should be fair; what else can you expect from a movie with this title? That's something of a defense, but it doesn't ignore the fact that this is a David Lean movie. This movie's melodrama is poorly constructed, clunky, cliched and dull. It's handled at a distance, with kid gloves, because Lean seems overwhelmed by the technology at hand and not really concerned with the story. The characters are predictable archetypes without any real character development (except Susan and maybe her dad); they serve simply to propel the plot forward and pad the run time when the planes are grounded. Rest assured though: Lots of planes fly in this movie, and not just breaking the sound barrier or crashing either. We have plane vacations to the Middle East, and a fighter pilot flying a plane around during the war just to show off. And a plane ride back to England. And in case you're bored with the stiff human characters in the foreground... MORE PLANES!

And of course, everyone is oh so British, a complaint I'd hardly make if something else was in this movie. Even an Anglophile like me can get irritated by the never-ending parade of stiff-upper-lippedness and cheerios if there's nothing else going on. And there isn't really much else going on - except lots of planes. Alright, cool David, you've got access to the RAF. Good show. Now make an interesting movie about it, for Christ's sake.

The movie has a few saving graces. Todd as always is gorgeous and as usual gives a solid, dignified performance in rather a weak role (although she's still behind Kay Walsh as my favorite Mrs. Lean - and I quite Lady Sandra, I must admit). The movie has a few moments of dramatic spark, namely the final two confrontations between Todd and Richardson - stuff the movie more or less skirted through most of its length. The art direction is good, and there are a few affecting moments - like when Tony opens up an unfortunately-headlined newspaper after converting his wife to the joys of flying. But, alas, the whole is completely dull and unmemorable. Even the direction and cinematography (save for the gorgeous aerial photography) is merely competent; and saying that about a David Lean movie is like saying that an Andy Warhol painting is a little weird, or Christopher Hitchens is a bit of a jerk, or Franklin Pierce was a disappointing President.

Seriously, read that sentence again: The cinematography is merely competent. I think the Universe just imploded.

Oh well, I made it through 15 Lean films before finding a bad one. There had to be one rotten apple in the bushel, and now it's disposed of. Even Hitchcock made Torn Curtain, so I shouldn't be surprised. All that's left on Lean quest is Hobson's Choice - stay tuned. If you're really good, you may get a bonus review for the bargain!

Rating: 5/10 - Mediocre