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Twelve O'Clock High (1949) 7.7
A hard-as-nails general takes over a bomber pilot unit suffering from low morale and whips them into fighting shape. Director:Henry King |
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Title: Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Gregory Peck | ... | ||
| Hugh Marlowe | ... | ||
| Gary Merrill | ... |
Col. Ernie Davenport
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| Millard Mitchell | ... |
Maj. Gen. Pat Pritchard
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| Dean Jagger | ... | ||
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Robert Arthur | ... | |
| Paul Stewart | ... | ||
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John Kellogg | ... |
Maj. Cobb
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Robert Patten | ... |
Lt. Bishop
(as Bob Patten)
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Lee MacGregor | ... | |
| Sam Edwards | ... | ||
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Roger Anderson | ... |
Interrogation Officer
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
In this story of the early days of daylight bombing raids over Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a "hard luck" bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a diciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over thier targets. Actual combat footage is used in this tense war drama. Written by KC Hunt <khunt@eng.morgan.edu>
Taglines:
A story of twelve men as their women never knew them...Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
13 February 1950 (Brazil) See more »Also Known As:
Un homme de fer See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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(uncredited)
Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Charles Tobias and Lew Brown
Sung at the officers' club
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This movie's opening prologue states: "The air battle scenes in this Motion Picture were photographed in actual combat by members of the United States Air Force and the German Luftwaffe." See more »Goofs
During the first attack on the ball bearing plant, when the bombs are released, you see two groups of bombs on the racks, one in front of the other. The B-17 carried all its bombs in one vertical stack. The American bomber in use at the time that would have had forward and aft stacks would be the B-24. The bomb bay doors on the B-24 roll up like garage doors, but you clearly see the doors hinged back, and the bombs have a round support around the fin. The American bombs of this time had a square support to the fins. The bomb release is shown from what appears to be an Avro Lancaster, a British bomber. See more »Quotes
Maj. Gen. Ben Pritchard: I believe that to a certain degree, a man makes his own luck.See more »
Soundtracks
"Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"(uncredited)
Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Charles Tobias and Lew Brown
Sung at the officers' club
See more »
Those who think that "Saving Private Ryan" was a great movie ought to watch this old black and white classic. In virtually every aspect except photography "Twelve O'Clock High" is superior. The script by Sy Bartlett in particular is vastly superior.
Spielberg's film focused on some of the command problems faced by Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks) in fulfilling his combat mission, but the treatment and development were almost high schoolish (if I may) compared to the enthralling delineation in "Twelve O'Clock High." The problems encountered by Gregory Peck as the bomber group commander were complex, subtle and psychologically demanding, while the resolution was filled with the kind of male social and political dynamics not much explored at the movies these days.
Director Henry King's clean, crisp, "invisible" direction was also superior to the uneven and far too showy pandering from Spielberg. Furthermore the acting, with Gary Merrill and Hugh Marlowe supporting Peck, was also better.
Ted Danson in his cameo and Matt Damon at times in "Saving Private Ryan" were almost laughable.
Comparing the two movies makes one wonder how much movies really have improved. Technically they have in every respect, but too often today's film-makers think they can get by with special effects and splashy sets. Pour a lot of blood, show a lot of skin, get people at each other's throat, and it will play, seems to be the attitude. What is often forgotten are the two most important aspects of film, namely, story and character development.
In this respect I don't think today's films have improved on the great classics of the past.
(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)