Landfall (1949 film)

Landfall

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1949
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	War film

Landfall is a British war movie from 1949, directed by Ken Annakin and featuring performances by Michael Denison, Patricia Plunkett, and Kathleen Harrison. The script, originally penned by Talbot Jennings, was adapted for the screen by Gilbert Gunn and Anne Burnaby, based on Nevil Shute's 1940 novel Landfall: A Channel Story.

Synopsis

During World War II near Portsmouth, Rick, a pilot serving with the British Coastal Command, believes he has destroyed a German submarine. Unbeknownst to him, a British submarine is also operating in the vicinity. After the British submarine is lost, a naval inquiry determines that Rick mistakenly attacked his own side in a friendly fire incident. While the submarine's captain is primarily blamed for navigational errors, Rick receives official reprimand for not correctly identifying his target. Although his superior officer supports him, Rick chooses to request a transfer.

Rick’s fiancée Mona comes across information suggesting that the British submarine was actually sunk by a German sub, which then assumed its position until Rick destroyed it. This revelation prompts the Navy to reopen the investigation, ultimately clearing Rick of any wrongdoing.

In the meantime, Rick is assigned to test a new guided bomb. After a crash leaves him seriously injured, he is informed by the naval captain that the reopened inquiry has officially exonerated him.

Cast

• Michael Denison as Rick
• Patricia Plunkett as Mona
• Kathleen Harrison as Mona's mother
• Denis O'Dea as Captain Burnaby
• David Tomlinson as Binks
• Charles Victor as Mona's father
• Joan Dowling as Miriam, the barmaid
• A. E. Matthews as air raid warden
• Maurice Denham as Wing Commander Hewitt
• Margaretta Scott as Mrs. Burnaby
• Sebastian Shaw as Wing Commander Dickens
• Nora Swinburne as Admiral's wife
• Laurence Harvey as Petty Officer Hooper
• Paul Carpenter as Flying Officer Morgan
• Frederick Leister as Admiral Blackett
• Hubert Gregg as Lieutenant Commander Dale
• Walter Hudd as Professor Legge
• Margaret Barton as Rosemary, Rick's sister
• Edith Sharpe as Mrs. Chambers, Rick's mother
• Ivan Samson as Commander Rutherford

Production

This film was one of two that Ken Annakin directed while on loan from Gainsborough Pictures to Associated British; the other being Double Confession (1950). Annakin later reflected that neither project featured particularly strong scripts or dynamic casts, although he noted Peter Lorre’s presence in Double Confession stood out.

Reception

According to The Monthly Film Bulletin, the movie presented a "competent but unexciting story" set against 1940 Coastal Command operations, combining elements of Air Force and Naval life with lighthearted domestic scenes starring Kathleen Harrison.

Variety criticized it for relying on familiar soap opera tropes that mixed wartime heroics with romance while attempting to address social class changes in England.

The Radio Times awarded it two out of five stars, describing it as a "delicate piece from a bygone era of British war films."

Similarly, TV Guide found the acting satisfactory but felt the narrative was burdened by overly melodramatic soap opera elements.