The Night My Number Came Up

The story begins to draw you in as commander Lindsay (Michael Hordern) relates a recent dream he has had about an air crash involving certain members of a dinner party he has cordially been invited to.Gradually, his dream starts to turn to a nightmarish reality as events start coming true. Even the Air Marshall played by Michael Redgrave, usually in control, finds his "stiff upper lip" starting to quiver as the dreaded dream of an air disaster looks like becoming a reality.Mr Robertson (Alexander Knox)gives a convincing performance as a man terrified of flying but more afraid of being seen to let his fear override his ideas of being dominated by superstition.This gripping story makes comparisons between the Eastern beliefs in dreams and omens and the Western culture's dismissive attitude to the same."There is no effect without cause" and this clever film has a way of persuading you that you are flying on the ill-fated Dakota instead of sitting comfortably in your armchair. An array of different characters and a fantastic supporting cast including the late Alfie Bass. Great story, superb direction from Leslie Norman, wonderful atmospheric music. In fact the perfect ingredients for a British classic thriller. Unforgettable film, a definite must watch. 10 stars. from Meryl Heasman (songwriter) CATFLAP MUSIC Kent England.

The seediness of the post-war colonial Far East and that rather morbid fascination with death and fate that pervades the consciousness of people who have been through a world-shattering conflict flavours this film. A great script (by RC Sherriff of 'Journeys End' fame) and a great cast - headed by that master of actorly understatement, Micheal Redgrave - slowly build the story, bit by bit. The exotic setting, where strange things could happen. The drab ordinariness of military outposts - which hightens the surreality of the events. A sense of a military and aristocratic world giving way with poor grace to the brash 'modern' future - epitomised by the crass Brummagem scrap dealer (accompanied by his effete elderly public-school personal assistant). The sense of dread is created by the pure spoken word and performance - of a good tale well-told. MR James in the age of Dakotas.

I saw this movie in 1955, when I was 35 and not so long after my time in the Air Force in WWII, so the RAF flight in the Dakota (same as our USAF C47 and the civilian DC3) resonated for me. But it was really the extraordinary level of suspense that made it so memorable. It starts with a dream of a Dakota lost in a storm and crashing onto a rocky beach. Crucial is the exact number on board. As the real trip progresses in stages, passengers get on and off. Just as it seems the fatal number has been circumvented, something happens to re-institute it. The way this was done was so believable and artfully handled. I particularly remember an episode with someone pointing out that telling the pilot the dream is not such a good idea; after all, he needs his skills to fly the plane safely, and if he takes the dream seriously and it makes him nervous...I have used this idea the rest of my life when directing hundreds of people. It touches on a profound bit of philosophy: when is deception justified? A great movie: if you get the chance, don't miss it.

Commander Michael Hordern has a detailed dream of 8 people in a plane crash which he relays to a group of travellers....due to fly the next day.

Interesting notion around whether destiny is preordained. A fine British cast deliver quite a theatrical piece with Redgrave, Knox and Elliott on fine form throughout this will they won't they fulfill the dream

Although it may not have the same notoriety as some others produced by Ealing Studios under the benevolent leadership of Sir Michael Balcon this one is certainly one of the most intriguing. That it is based on a dramatic incident in the life of Air Marshall Sir Vincent Goddard who happened to be a spiritualist with an interest in paranormal activity, makes it even more intriguing.

Eight passengers and five crew members take off on a routine flight from Hong Kong to Japan. Unfortunately, the night before, three of the passengers have a dream recounted to them by a fellow dinner guest in which their plane crash lands. As the flight progresses the coincidences start piling up and what seemed a dream fast becomes a terrifying reality........

This film really works because of its excellent, tightly knit construction, literate script by R. C. Sheriff, ominous score by Malcolm Arnold and restrained direction by Leslie Norman.

Superlative Michael Redgrave plays the Air Marshall and heads a first rate cast whose understated performances give the film its dramatic intensity. This is probably the finest hour of actor Nigel Stock as the pilot who inadvertently hears about the dream and wishes he hadn't!

The ancients set great store by the prophetic power of dreams. Those who staunchly advocate 'free will' as opposed to 'predestination' will no doubt find the plot to be a load of tosh but 'there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy'!