Neither its vague British title nor its more ominous American release title (Clouds Over Europe) convey what a romp this espionage comedy-drama is. Clearly, the filmmakers wanted to suggest the looming possibility of war, as their story centers around re-armament and the theft of military aviation equipment by unidentified saboteurs (some of whom talk with slightly Germanic accents). But the tone is so light-hearted that it's hard to believe this was released the year Britain did go to war with Germany. Ralph Richardson is a marvel as Major Charles Hammond, who comes off as a cross between Jacques Tati's M. Hulot (with his omnipresent umbrella) and Peter Falk's Columbo (with his befuddled demeanor disguising the mind of a brilliant detective). Valerie Hobson, as newspaper reporter Kay Lawrence, is also a delight; when an editor hugs her over a scoop, she squeals, "Less enthusiasm! This is Britain!" Laurence Olivier has the less colorful role of the stolid test pilot Tony McVane, though he does have one lovely scene with Hobson in the kitchen of the flat she and Richardson share. There's also a wonderful running gag involving Hammond phoning his girlfriend to put off one social engagement after another, which provides the film with a predictable but still amusing final scene. Hammond would have made a splendid subject for a series of these kind of films, but the war (and presumably, Richardson's interest in other projects) sadly prevented that.
by Tom Wiener
review
