The Net (1953 film)
| The Net | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover | |
| Directed by | Anthony Asquith |
| Written by | William Fairchild John Pudney (novel) |
| Produced by | Anthony Darnborough |
| Starring | James Donald Phyllis Calvert Robert Beatty Herbert Lom |
| Cinematography | Desmond Dickinson |
| Edited by | Frederick Wilson |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
Production company | |
Release dates | 10 February 1953 (UK) 5 November 1953 (U.S.) |
Running time | 86 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Net (U.S. Project M7) is a 1953 British film made by Two Cities Films, directed by Anthony Asquith and starring James Donald, Phyllis Calvert, Robert Beatty and Herbert Lom. The film is set in the world of aviation research and was based on the novel of the same name by John Pudney.
Plot
At a secret aviation research station in the English countryside, an international group of scientists are working on the prototype of a revolutionary new aircraft, known as the M7, capable of flying at up to 2,000 miles per hour. The atmosphere is competitive rather than co-operative, with fierce rivalry between the various scientists. The project leader Michael Heathley (Donald) is so wrapped up with the M7 that his wife Lydia (Calvert) feels neglected and that she is being sidelined in favour of her husband's work. At a social gathering she strikes up a conversation with Heathley's colleague Alex Leon (Lom), and the pair are soon circling one another. Meanwhile, Heathley is desperate to test the M7, but is continually stonewalled by facility director Carrington (Maurice Denham).
Matters take a sinister turn when Carrington is killed, and the project members realise there is a spy in their midst. The M7 is finally given its first tense test flight, and emerges intact. The group continue to work on modifications to iron out minor problems identified on the test flight. The finished version then takes to the sky, but this time the spy shows his hand and tries to hijack the aircraft.
Cast
- James Donald as Michael Heathley
- Phyllis Calvert as Lydia Heathley
- Robert Beatty as Sam Seagram
- Herbert Lom as Alex Leon
- Noel Willman as Dennis Bord
- Maurice Denham as Carrington
- Muriel Pavlow as Caroline Cartier
- Walter Fitzgerald as Sir Charles Craddock
- Patric Doonan as Brian Jackson
- Marjorie Fielding as Mother Heathley
- Herbert Lomas as George Jackson
- Cyril Chamberlain as Inspector Carter
- Marianne Stone as Maisie
References
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