Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines -or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours and 11 Minutes
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKen Annakin
Written byKen Annakin
Jack Davies
Produced byStan Margulies
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Challis
Edited byGordon Stone
Anne V. Coates
Music byRon Goodwin
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • 16 June 1965 (1965-06-16)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom[1]
LanguagesEnglish
Italian
German
French
Budget$6.5 million[2]
Box office$31 million[3]

Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours and 11 Minutes is a 1965 British epic period comedy film that satirises the early years of aviation. Directed and co-written by Ken Annakin, the film stars an international ensemble cast, including Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Robert Morley, Terry-Thomas, James Fox, Red Skelton, Benny Hill, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Gert Fröbe and Alberto Sordi.[4]

Set in the year 1910, the film follows a fictitious air race from London to Paris, with a £10,000 (equivalent to £1,300,000 in 2023[5]) prize, intended to prove that Britain is "number one in the air".[6] The film is noted for its spectacular flying scenes, featuring dozens of period accurate, life-size working aeroplanes.[7] It was shot in 65mm Todd-AO by cinematographer Christopher Challis, and features a film score composed by Ron Goodwin.

Released in the United Kingdom by 20th Century Fox on 16 June 1965, the film was both a widespread critical and commercial success. It was nominated for three BAFTA Awards, winning for Best British Costume Design – Colour, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The film also received three Golden Globe Award nomination, including for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

  1. ^ a b "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes (1965)". BFI Film Forever. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. ^ Solomon (1989), p. 254.
  3. ^ "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Box Office Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  5. ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Review: 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines'". Britmovie.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference brook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).