All the reviewers recognise this as great story telling with lots of snippets all over the place to add interest: the framing of the story between Michael Hordern's first arrival at air traffic control, and his chilling final remarks to the controller; Denholm Elliott's background as the Battle of Britain ace who cracked, Alexander Knox's unpleasant internment in Hong Kong during the war, the jokes about officers and civilians between the squaddies, Alfie Bass and Bill Kerr (Hancock's famous sidekick).
But a practical reason to keep coming back to this film is the early shot of making the approach to Kai Tak (once the world's greatest real-life white knuckle ride) in the days before the surrounding hills were covered with high rise apartments which you looked up to as you banked to starboard on finals.
But a practical reason to keep coming back to this film is the early shot of making the approach to Kai Tak (once the world's greatest real-life white knuckle ride) in the days before the surrounding hills were covered with high rise apartments which you looked up to as you banked to starboard on finals.