Battle Taxi (1955)

Capt. Russ Edwards commands a helicopter rescue unit that fly wounded soldiers out of battle areas and rescue pilots who have to ditch their aircraft. He has a problem with one of his men, ... See full summary »

Director:

Herbert L. Strock

Writers:

Art Arthur (story), Malvin Wald (screenplay),

Stars:

Sterling Hayden, Arthur Franz, Marshall Thompson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sterling Hayden	...	Capt. Russ Edwards
Arthur Franz	...	Lt. Pete Stacy
Marshall Thompson	...	2nd Lt. Tim Vernon
Leo Needham	...	SSgt. 'Slats' Klein
Jay Barney	...	Lt. Col. Stoneham
John Dennis	...	MSgt. Joe Murdock
Michael Colgan	...	Medic Capt. Larsen
Andy Andrews	...	Lazy Joker Two
Dale Hutchinson	...	Blue Boy Three-Gene

Storyline

Capt. Russ Edwards commands a helicopter rescue unit that fly wounded soldiers out of battle areas and rescue pilots who have to ditch their aircraft. He has a problem with one of his men, former fighter pilot Lt. Pete Stacey, who takes unnecessary risks with his helicopter. Stacey is frustrated at having to fly helicopters pilots instead of jets and wants out. Helicopter pilots are in short supply however meaning he has no chance of being transferred. Under pressure from his squadron commander to reduce the number of helicopters out of commission for repairs, Edwards does his best to get Stacey on side. He eventually comes around.

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Plot Keywords:

helicopter | korean war | korea

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Operation Air Rescue

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ivan Tors Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was showing on the screen as photographer O. Winston Link snapped his iconic photo of a Norfolk and Western freight train passing an Iaeger, West Virginia drive-in theater, titled "NW1103 Hot Shot Eastbound". According Smithsonian Magazine: "The explosion of light washed out what was on the movie screen at the moment; he had to print the image of the plane from a negative he'd made separately of that night's showing."

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Goofs

Stock footage of the pilots from the right side of the chopper as they fly it was reused in nearly every flying scene, and was stock footage of the choppers in flight. It is especially telling when you notice that the closeup of the pilots always shows a window with a unique bullet hole it in, and even when that particular chopper is supposedly shot down and lost that chopper and window with a bullet hole shows up again.

User Reviews

Great Movie

A very good movie for all the aviation buffs : it can easily be considered as the "Sikorsky H-19 " helicopter definitive film. Then , there are a lot of good old Sabres and Shooting Stars, some S-51 Hely and other USAF stuff of the period(F-51 , B-45, B-29, Hu-16) . Haiden was a super actor and Franz did his best. A must for all the Hely lovers and aviation fans. Typical production of the early fifties, mainly done to promote Air Force and to give an idea of the hard work usually done by the Air Rescue Service men. The aviation movies regarding the Korean conflict are usually full of North American F-86 Sabres and are the vehicle for daring and handsome Fighter Pilots. This B movie is an honest one mainly produced to inform people of the obscure and dangerous work the SAR people performed and still do in saving life of pilots.