The population of the small Norfolk (UK) village of Saltingsby battle the Royal Air Force which intends to use the small “Island of Children” in the Norfolk Broads as a firing range to train pilots using the Vampire jets based at the local (fictional) Fallowfield RAF base.
One of the locals discovers an ancient act in which Henry VIII had given the island – which is now a bird sanctuary – to the church in gratitude for the town helping to quell a long-forgotten rebellion. While the claims are being investigated, the RAF decides to continue the exercise anyway.
The residents take to their small boats and ‘occupy’ the island to deter the live-firing exercise. unfortunately, they accidentally damage the field telephone link used by an RAF spotter on the island, who is then unable to warn the RAF base to abort the exercise.
The low cloud cover means the approaching aircraft don’t see the ground until the last seconds. The occupiers wave frantically, and just as the order is given to fire the missiles, the lead pilot spots the danger and aborts the exercise.
The Air Force sequences were shot at RAF Leconsfield, a gunnery school in Yorkshire, and the Norfolk Broads made a picturesque location when filmed in glorious Technicolor.
The film was released in the US as Fuss over Feathers.
Cpl. Bill Morris
John Gregson Sqn. Ldr. Parsons
Kieron Moore L.A.C. ‘Buster’
Harry Fowler Adjutant
Guy Middleton Flt. Sgt. Campbell
Campbell Singer Wg. Cmr. Rogers
Russell Napier Sqd. Ldr. Davidson
Humphrey Lestocq Flt. Lt. Edwards
Harold Siddons Sally
Muriel Pavlow Harry Tilney
Niall MacGinnis ‘Old Circular’
George Woodbridge Joe Bates
Frederick Piper Soapy
Bartlett Mullins ‘Smother’ Brooks
Edwin Richfield Fanny Bates
Sheila Sweet Mrs Tilney
Margaret Withers Mr Wentworth/Col. Wentworth
William Mervyn Mrs Thompson
Barbara Hicks ‘Bookie’
Charles Lloyd Pack Mr Ruddle
Hugh Moxey Mrs Trotter
Dorothea Rundle Miss Flew
Gwenda Wilson Miss Nelson
Beryl Cooke
Director
John Eldridge
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The low cloud cover means the approaching aircraft don’t see the ground until the last seconds. The occupiers wave frantically, and just as the order is given to fire the missiles, the lead pilot spots the danger and aborts the exercise.
