I knew this was a romantic movie upfront, but the WW2 stuff seemed interesting enough to take a look. I must say that I watched the whole thing through, and it kept my interest. Its pretty predictable, but the characters stay rather true to themselves, and although the ending is predictable, its not necessarily obvious. I will give credit for the locations/effects. The film never looks cheesy, and you can tell that effort was made to be authentic. It certainly is a war movie, there is blood and gore aplenty, not Saving Private Ryan gory, but enough to remind you this is war. The movie has 2 parts, the romantic story in England, and then the adventure part in France. This split makes the movie go by rather quickly, I was kinda surprised this was not one of those WW2 miniseries that were so popular at the time. I can't say that I would overwhelmingly recommend this movie, but if something about it strikes your interest, one of the actors perhaps, or in my case the setting of WW2, then I would check it out.

One of my female friends once told she hated "Memphis Belle but she liked this film. It is not hard to see why. It is more of a Barbara Cartland style romance than an action adventure movie. One interesting point is that former RAF /USAAF airfield at Bovingdon was used for filming. It was previously used as the location for a number of air movies such as "633 Squadron","Mosquito Squadron" and "The War Lover". By the time "Hanover Street" started filming in 1978 it was disused and derelict so the aircraft were only filmed with very long lenses to avoid showing the background clearly. The film suffers from too many historical and technical errors to be taken seriously by WW2 buffs. For example there is a discussion about "light " and "heavy flak" which makes it clear that writer/director Peter Hyams thinks these terms refer to the number of guns employed whereas in fact they refer to the calibre of the weapons. For example a target defended by 100 x 20 mm guns is defended by "light" flak while a target defended by a single 88mm gun is defended by "heavy" flak. There is also a scene where the two heroes are pursued by a Hetzer tank destroyer,a vehicle whose only role is the destruction of enemy armour and would be singularly unsuited to the task of pursuing enemy agents. On the credit side John Barry delivers his usual excellent score.

This is a strange film... There's a gripping story in there, and the dramatic bones of a great film are all present. SPOILERS!! It's the story of a fearless WW-II B-25 pilot (Ford). Fearless, we learn, because he has nothing to lose, and nobody in his life. Eventually, he becomes involved with Lesley Anne Downe, a British nurse. Suddenly, his life is worth more to him, and he starts to crack under the pressure of being a bomber pilot. Lesley for her part loves her husband, Christopher Plummer, but is bored by his reliable consistency, and ends up in the affair. The twist: Plummer is actually a British agent. The second twist: Ford is selected to pilot Plummer behind enemy lines and drop him and his partner into occupied France. (Ford is selected for this mission as punishment for his earlier cowardice and belligerence toward a superior officer). The mission goes badly, and the two leads are the only survivors of the shot down aircraft. They complete the mission together, becoming friends. Naturally, when Plummer talks about his wife, Ford realizes she's the same girl he's been seeing. After some action, they escape, and Ford sends Downe back to her husband. Bittersweet ending, fade to black. Like I said, the bones of the story make for a classic love triangle with plenty of WW2 action thrown in for good measure. There's a fair amount of innovation in the script, as all 3 parties in the triangle are likable, and either way it went, there would be no happy ending. The mission is exciting too. The problem is the script itself. The dialogue tends to be bad, and that hurts the film badly. A few cliches don't help either (look for the Catch 22 inspired characters in Ford's plane.) Personally, I feel that this film could have been one of the all time greats if only a little more work had gone into a script polish. I can definitely see why all the talented people involved said yes to it. Unfortunately, it never quite lives up to it's potential.

The story. The acting. The romanticism in the war time. And the sacrifice. Pillars of a classic about choices, friendship, honor, love and importance of meetings. Theoretical, a war film. In essence, only romance using the war as clothes. Its seduction force - to remind old things who define an universe of world out ordinary rules. Its virtue - to mix in coherent manner different stories who becomes one with many sides. A beautiful film for the admirable performances. And for the art of detail. For a form of heroism who remains noble and impressive and touching, remembering the Medieval stories. And for the atmosphere who defines in brilliant manner the drama of the lead characters. It could be discovered as classic romance or as war story. In essence, it is an admirable story about values.

I remember seeing this when I was a kid, and the adventure/action part was quite appealing then. However, seeing it again, the only good thing about this movie is Christopher Plummer. Harrison Ford has to be the most limited actor-superstar since John Wayne, although unlike John Wayne, he can sometimes be at least funny. As for Lesley-Ann Down, her bad acting is * movie level (at least they don't pretend in * movies). The action is full of dumb Germans and an inventive American that outwits them all. The English (Plummer) is wounded and helpless, but at least Plummer (as always) saves the day. I do not recommend this movie to children, cuz it distorts the real atmosphere of WWII and thus history. I do not recommend this to couples, unless you're a guy trying to impress a brainless female date.And if you are an adult and you happen to like this, you are probably the kind of person that keep Disney Land from bankrupcy and make "Pearl Harbour" and "Top Gun" type of productions in the top of the box-office. Avoid.

This love story is set during Europe during World War Two. Harrison Ford plays an American pilot who falls for a nurse played by Lesley-Anne Down. Eventually the miltary send Ford on a spy mission with Christpher Plummer. The wife must decide what to do with her love life. It is average melodrama set during World War 2. This movie is OK if you love Harrison Ford, but I will pass and watch one of his better movies!!If you like love stories set during this era of history check it out !!Otherwise, avoid this love story mess!!!But if you are a least bit curious check it out at the library or the video store!!!

A late 70s throwback to a 40s war melodrama..........and what a dog of a movie it turned out to be. It is plodding. It is badly acted. It is absolutely ridiculous. At times, it almost plays as a parody of an earlier genre. At least Harrison Ford is in his prime....whats-her-name in the lead had on enough eye make-up to choke a horse. All in all, an orgy of excess.

Apart from the brief appearance by the great Max Wall this is a truly abysmal film. It is unclear whether the makers wanted to remake Brief Encounter or Guns of Navarone.So they make a totally unsatisfactory hybrid. The anachronisms abound.70s hairdos being the least of it.There is no way Ford would be chosen to pilot for a night drop.He would have to be trained for weeks before.

A soldier is put into the position of accompanying his lover's husband on a dangerous mission in "Hanover Street," starting Harrison Ford and Lesley-Anne Down. This film was done at the beginning of Harrison Ford's career as a star, and the results are disappointing. It plays more as a made-for-TV movie, especially with the casting of some actors mainly known for television work, including Down and Richard Masur. The object, it seems, was to recreate the '40s World War II film, and in this, it is partially successful. There are some exciting scenes, particularly toward the end. However, the film takes about an hour to get going, and in the slow first hour, we don't get much back story. What, for instance, is the problem with Down's marriage to Christopher Plummer? I know there's a war on, but Down and Ford seem to fall for one another immediately, and we really don't get to see the love story develop. Before we know it, there are lines like "I don't know where you leave off and I begin." Lesley-Anne Down, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful women ever on TV or film - those eyes, her coloring - she's gorgeous. She's not particularly made up or photographed to advantage in this, but she's still amazing. Her acting is very good, particularly in scenes with her daughter. Christopher Plummer, as a man who feels he's not exciting enough for his wife, is its usual excellent self in a part that isn't really fleshed out. He and Ford do an excellent job in their scenes together. Harrison Ford is Harrison Ford, his star persona established early on - he's very natural, jaunty, and macho. His casting is perfection - a true movie star in the fashion of Hollywood's golden era in an old-fashioned romance. I just wish the movie had been better. And by the way, the last action scene in the film is ridiculous.

While the story is set in the context of world war 2, what it's really about is the difference between men who are now called 'alpha' and 'beta.' One is a brash, self-confident, risk-taking narcissist; the other is a high-achieving, highly educated, planner. Women often wish to marry the latter, and make love with the former. Ms. Down faces this issue. Overall, an excellent discussion, and depiction, of this particular kind of dilemma. The movie begins in London, with the American pilot (alpha) and the British nurse conning each other, trying to fake each other out for a place on a bus. This game is interrupted by v-2 rocket bombing, and a real, and intense, emotional bonding. Much later, the nurse's husband (beta) is introduced, and we discover he is a high-ranking official with the British military. The story develops from there, with a somewhat improbable pairing, and a spy mission. It is suspenseful, but is really a romantic drama.