I always thought Alec Guinness was mis-cast in his role as a fighter pilot (far too "wet"!). And this scene of cod archaeology wasn't too convincing either.

Agreed Ivan. I was never happy with Muriel Pavlov and Flora Robson pretending to be Maltese...and as for Nigel Stock well !!! More ham than Sainsbury's.

Yes, lots of weaknesses in the film, but the shots of the Spitfires arriving and the Ohio final getting through always bring s tears to my eyes (which I guess is what was intended). There is also a rare shot, used twice, of the Italian bomber Savoia Marchetti Spaviero. Never seen one in flight before. When I was in the Military Bookshop recently taking photos of The Pit entrance I bought a copy of "Air Battle of Malta" (Anthony Rogers). This more than anything else I have seen or read emphasises how desperate was the 1940/42 siege.

Shame no-one has made another film in all this time. Couple of documentaries only, most recent is by James Holland who wrote Fortress Malta.

For anyone who reads this in time, and who may be interested in the film, I see it is listed to be shown again at 02.10 (set the recorder. I think...!) on Tuesday, January 14, on Talking Pictures TV. UK Freeview Channel 81.