The Man in the Sky (1957): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1957, The Man in the Sky is a drama film directed by Charles Crichton, running about 87 minutes. “Dare-devil test pilot takes you on a nerve-tingling adventure!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. The efforts of test pilot John Mitchell to make a better life for his wife Mary and their two children seem doomed to failure and he blames himself. At the Conway Aero-Manufacturing Company of Wolverhampton, Mitchell is to take the company's new rocket-propulsion transport plane up for tests, fully loaded and carrying two important passengers - Ministry official Crabtree and buyer's representative Ashmore. Mitchell learns from his boss, Reg Conway, that if Ashmore does not recommend the plane, the company will be out of business and Mitchell out of a job, since the plane is not even insured as the firm's entire capital is tied up in the plane. Aloft, an engine catches fire and the passengers and other crew bail out, but Mitchell refuses to obey orders to jettison the plane in the Irish Sea.

Who’s in it. The Man in the Sky stars Jack Hawkins as John Mitchell, Elizabeth Sellars as Mary Mitchell, Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Snowden and Donald Pleasence as Crabtree, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, The Man in the Sky has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Man in the Sky page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Man in the Sky tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.