Storyline: In 1942, Britain was clinging to the besieged island of Malta as it was critical to keeping the Allied supply lines open. The Axis also wanted it for a similar purpose. Against this background, a Royal Air Force reconnaissance photographer’s romance with a local girl is endangered as he tries to plot enemy movements.
NOTE: All the following photographs, in the possession of Brigitte, were taken by Ian Jeayes (1914 – 1992) with whom copyright may remain. Efforts have been made to contact those from whom permission to publish might now be sought, but without success. There is no intention to gratuitously ignore anyone’s legal rights and we will immediately withdraw any images should a justifiable claim be brought to our attention. In the meantime we display them for non commercial purposes purely in support of the understanding and enjoyment in the making of film.
A busload full of Maltese civilians is straffed by an enemy aircraft. Wing Commander Bartlett (Anthony Steel) and his fiancée Joan (Renee Asherson) run to see if they can give them any assistance. The scene was shot during the location.
Wing Commander Bartlett (Anthony Steel) and Flight Lt. Peter Ross (Alec Guiness) gaze with dejected horror at the mass of wrecked Spitfires which have just arrived to relieve Malta during the siege in 1942 and were bombed on the ground before they had a chance to go into action.
Malta at war. For recent scenes during the location on the film “Malta Story” one of the runways on the island was blown up by a stick of ‘bombs’. This scene shows an anxious moment when the one remaining steam roller, Millie, on the island is nearly wrecked, but fortunately it only suffers a small wound in the funnel.
Anthony Steel starring as Wing Commander Bartlett (Alec Guinness’s immediate superior officer) is seen before one of the Spitfires which were flown out to Malta from England specially for the film.
A scene of devastation as the dying and injured civilians of Malta are tended to by members of the Maltese St. John’s Ambulance Brigade when scenes of the bitter bombardment of the Island were re-enacted.
In front of the aircraft pens built at Safi Airstrip Anthony Steel and Alec Guinness enjoy a brief relaxing moment. In the background are two of the Spitfires flown our from England for the film.
Seen in a dghaisa, typical Maltese rowing craft, are Alec Guinness and Muriel Pavlow enjoying a break from filming.
Running out of the security of a shelter during an air raid, Maria (Muriel Pavlow) scurries through the bombed rubble on her way to the Ops. Room to report for duty.
In the casual rig-out of wartime pilots Alec Guinness as Flight Lt. Ross and Anthony Steel playing Wing Commander Bartlett go through their lines before a scene is filmed in front of one of the Spitfires flown out to the Island from England specifically for the film.
Starring in the role of Wing Commander Bartlett, Anthony Steel is pictured at Safi Airstrip in Malta during location filming.
A charming smile from Muriel Pavlow seated on the harbour wall in Valletta.
Alec Guinness and Muriel Pavlow presumably during a shooting scene.
