No Highway in the Sky Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

No Highway in the Sky Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 28, 2017

Based on a novel by Nevil Schute, 1951’s “No Highway in the Sky” is a bizarre combination of drama and disaster movie, enjoying the tension of potential airplane disasters and long debates on the science of airplane design. It’s not easy to figure out what this effort is trying to be, but it does enjoy the services of stars James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich, who act up a storm trying to make the milder moments of “No Highway in the Sky” feel significant. The feature isn’t quite the roller coaster ride it initially promises to be, but the performances are terrific, communicating intensity the rest of the film often lacks.

Stewart portrays an airplane engineer, or “boffin,” assigned to pinpoint flaws in a certain airplane design, only to end up on one of the suspected aircraft during its possible point of destruction, leading to panic and pleading in mid-air, which riles up crew members and passengers (including Dietrich). While it takes time to get Stewart in the air, “No Highway in the Sky” actually achieves a wonderful fever pitch, challenging the star to come up with varied ways to communicate utter distress. Stewart’s also committed to clumsiness, keeping his character absent-minded and accident-prone, adding layers to the characterization that are fascinating to watch. Adding support is Dietrich, who manages a more subdued arc of unraveling, showing surprising chemistry with Stewart.

No Highway in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't riddled with damage, but faint scratching runs though large sections of the movie, highlighting wear and tear that also includes some mild speckling. Detail is acceptable with cinematographic limitations, pulling out textures on set decoration and costuming, while Stewart's facial particulars are always interesting to study. Dietrich is covered only in soft glamour focus. Delineation is secure.

No Highway in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a satisfactory listening event with obvious age-related limitations. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, maintaining emotional extremes as Stewart's performance touches on hysteria at times. Highs are a little crispy, but not excessively so. Scoring is supportive, offering compelling instrumentation. Sound effects are strong, with heavier airplane engines and testing range winds. Hiss is mild.

No Highway in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Jeremy Arnold and Bob Koster.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:09, SD) is included.

No Highway in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Thrills and chills are only a small part of "No Highway in the Sky," which is a bit of a disappointment. The rest of the film highlights conversations about air safety and the sanity of Stewart's character, making the effort more procedural, inching away from its air panic centerpiece. "No Highway in the Sky" sags a bit when away from testing grounds and argumentative behavior, but when all else fails, there's Stewart, acting his heart out, bringing wonderful dimension to his role.