It's in the Air


It’s in the Air is a 1938 British comedy film written and directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring George Formby, Polly Ward and Jack Hobbs. The film was released in the United States with the alternative title George Takes the Air in 1940. Although released in pre-war times, no mention of the imminent hostilities is in It's in the Air.

Plot

Policeman George Brown is rejected as an Air Raid Warden, but, subsequently, his dreams of flying would soon come true. When he dons his brother-in-law's Royal Air Force uniform, he realises that his brother-in-law, who had "signed up", has left behind some very important papers in the pockets. He delivers the despatches to a nearby RAF station, whereupon George is mistaken for a despatch rider from headquarters.
George soon becomes the butt of jokes from his corporal which ends up with him staying indefinitely at the RAF air base. George soon falls in love with the Sergeant Major's daughter, Peggy and when Corporal Craig who also fancies her, discovers his real identity, he threatens to report George.
On the day of an annual inspection, George attempts to escape the base and ends up in a Hawker Audax aircraft that is being readied for a test flight. While the inspector watches, George's aerial display is memorable and the inspector insists he should be commended in order to save their skins. George manages to land the aircraft and is accepted as a flyer by the RAF.

Cast

It’s in the Air was partly made at the former London Air Park in Feltham, Middlesex. The film's art direction is by Wilfred Shingleton. The scenes of the air-raid exercise at the opening of the film are taken from the scenes of an aerial attack in Alexander Korda's Things to Come.
The aircraft in It’s in the Air were:
Written by Harry Parr-Davies; performed by George Formby and the chorus
Written by George Formby, Harry Gifford & Fred E. Cliffe
Written by George Formby, Harry Gifford & Fred E. Cliffe; performed by George Formby
Music by A. Emmett Adams and lyrics by Douglas Furber; performed by an unidentified airman

Reception

The New York Times critic Bosley Crowther called It’s in the Air a "fast and crazy farce, typically British, typically slapstick. As a specimen of war-time culture it should not be overlooked".
Aviation film historian James H. Farmer in Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation considered It’s in the Air, " Fast-paced, typically British slapstick humour."

Citations