The Flying Missile

Paradoxically this early Cold War public information film masquerading as a feature would probably have worked better had less money been spent on it.The basic storyline about launching missiles from cruisers is absorbing enough without the lengthy romantic and melodramatic digressions inserted into it without adding much to the film other than it's running time while the casting of veteran character actors like John Qualen as Viveca Lindfors' 'comical' uncle and Henry O'Neill as her warm-hearted boss further heighten the old-fashioned feel of the piece.

I don't know about you, but I always found Glenn Ford a rather dull actor to watch. He wasn't bad, just unremarkable - and this maritime adventure sort of confirms that.

A determined sea captain uses unorthodox means to make possible his ideas of missiles being launched from submarines. I liked the naval part of the story with solid Glenn Ford as Captain Talbot and well chosen character actors in support as his loyal crew.

The film is worth watching for Viveca Lindfors, who plays the most important part, in cajoling a war invalid back to life. That's the only human part of this war chronicle.

Despite the presence of Glenn Ford, "The Flying Missile" is an awfully dull film. And, although the title makes it sound as if it's a sci- fi movie, it isn't.

Of course McHale's Navy didn't appear until over a decade after this movie was made, but there are elements of this movie that remind me of McHale's Navy...stealing supplies, crewmen horsing around.

When the Department of Defense signed on for cooperation in making The Flying Missile I'm not sure if anyone read the story. What Glenn Ford does in this film should have been a court martial offense and rated him being drummed out of the Navy.