Conflict of Wings [Fuss over Feathers] *** (1954, John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow, Kieron Moore) – Classic Movie Review 13,436

John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow and Kieron Moore star in the 1954 British film Conflict of Wings [Fuss over Feathers] in which Norfolk villagers rally to stop the RAF using a bird sanctuary island for rocket target practice. 

Director John Eldridge’s 1954 British Eastmancolor comedy drama film Conflict of Wings [Fuss over Feathers] is based on a novel by Don Sharp, in which Norfolk villagers rally to stop the RAF using a bird sanctuary island for rocket target practice. It stars John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow, Kieron Moore, Niall MacGinnis, Guy Middleton, Sheila Sweet, and Harry Fowler. 

Conflict of Wings  is a gentle but diverting 50s British comedy about the conflict between English South-East Coast locals and the RAF over a missile-firing base that threatens a bird sanctuary on a waste land called the Island of Children. Protests don’t help, but a historian who finds out that the land really belongs to the Church does.

Ealing Studios might have provided a touch more satirical edge to the comedy, and maybe some more laughs too, but the genial, good-hearted story with enough drama and the amiable leads and character actors keep it flying.

It was shot at Beaconsfield Film Studios, on location in Norfolk and in East Yorkshire at the Central Gunnery School, RAF Leconfield. It is nice to have it in colour too.

It is a produced by Group 3 Films, with backing from the National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC), and distributed by British Lion Films.

The sets are designed by art director Ray Simm.

It is unusual as a British aviation film of the period focusing on the ground crew.

Conflict of Wings was released in London on 30 March 1954 and on 26 December 1954 in the US as Fuss Over Feathers.

Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 1921 – 14 December 2011)

Australian Don Sharp, who later became a noted film director, had written a number of films for 3 Films, and was inspired to write the story by thinking of the conflict between airlines and the local area while walking around Norfolk. He pitched the idea for the film to Group Three, and wrote as a novel, and then as a screenplay with John Pudney.

His 1960s Hammer films as director include Kiss of the Vampire (1963), Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966), The Face of Fu Manchu (1965 ) and its sequel The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966).

The cast

The cast are John Gregson as Cpl Bill Morris, Muriel Pavlow as Sally, Kieron Moore as Sqn Ldr Parsons, Niall MacGinnis as Harry Tilney, Harry Fowler as L.A.C. Buster, Guy Middleton as The Adjutant, Sheila Sweet as Fanny Bates, Campbell Singer as Flt Sgt Campbell, Frederick Piper as Joe Bates., Russell Napier as Wing Cdr Rogers, Bartlett Mullins as Soapy, Edwin Richfield as Smother Brooks, Margaret Withers as Mrs Tilney, Howard Connell as F/O Flying Control, Beryl Cooke as Miss Nelson, Tony Doonan as Range Cpl John Gale as Range L.A.C, Brian Harding as 1st Pilot, Barbara Hicks as Mrs Thompson, Humphrey Lestocq as Sqn. Ldr. Davidson, Charles Lloyd-Pack as Bookie, William Mervyn as Wentworth, Brian Moorehead as 3rd Pilot, Hugh Moxey as Mr Ruddle, Dorothea Rundle as Mrs Trotter, Harold Siddons as Flt Lt Edwards, David Spenser as Cpl Flying Control, Peter Swanwick as Sgt Working Party, Guy Verney as 2nd Pilot, Gwenda Wilson as Miss Flew, and George Woodbridge as ‘Old Circular’.

Conflict of Wings [Fuss over Feathers] is directed by John Eldridge, runs 84 minutes, is made by Group 3 Films, is released by British Lion Films, is written by Don Sharp and John Pudney, is shot in Eastmancolor by Arthur Grant and Martin Curtis, is produced by Herbert Mason, is scored by Philip Green, and is designed by Ray Simm.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,436

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