IMDb > The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955)

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   720 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Writers:
Milton Sperling (story) and
Emmet Lavery (story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
31 December 1955 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
He defied the army and navy . . . and they gave him a Court Martial!
Plot:
A dramatization of the American general and his court martial for publically complaining about High Command's dismissal and neglect of the aerial fighting forces. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83
 (From WENN. 27 February 2006)

Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83
 (From WENN. 24 February 2006)

User Comments:
Excellent Production more (23 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gary Cooper ... Col. Billy Mitchell
Charles Bickford ... Gen. Jimmy Guthrie
Ralph Bellamy ... Congressman Frank R. Reid

Rod Steiger ... Maj. Allan Guillion

Elizabeth Montgomery ... Margaret Lansdowne
Fred Clark ... Col. Moreland
James Daly ... Lt. Col. Herbert White

Jack Lord ... Lt. Cmdr. Zachary 'Zack' Lansdowne
Peter Graves ... Capt. Bob Elliott

Darren McGavin ... Capt. Russ Peters
Robert F. Simon ... Adm. Gage (as Robert Simon)
Charles Dingle ... Sen. Fullerton
Dayton Lummis ... General Douglas MacArthur
Tom McKee ... Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker

Stephen Roberts ... Major Carl Spaatz (as Steve Roberts)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
One Man Mutiny (UK)
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Runtime:
100 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Warnercolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.55 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording) (magnetic prints)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Although he had said long ago that he would make no more biopics, he signed for The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955). It was a poor Otto Preminger film and even Billy Mitchell's widow expressed disappointment with Cooper's performance. Possibly the story had appealed to Cooper on political grounds and Mitchell may have been a hero of his - the general who accused the government of neglecting military needs. Cooper went on Ed Sullivan's TV show to promote the film and home viewers were quite disappointed - David Shipman referred to Cooper's "effeminate mannerisms in his TV interviews". more
Quotes:
Admiral William S. Sims: Just because you read a lot of books about golf, doesn't make you a good golfer. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
The U.S. Air Force more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
11 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Excellent Production, 13 September 2002
9/10
Author: drdyer from Los Angeles, California

Too add to the comments already made in this database I would like to point out that viewers seem to forget that the testimony in the film by Major Hap Arnold, Captain Eddie Rickenbaker, Major Karl Spatz and Fiorello LaGuardia substantiated Colonel Mitchell's facts.

As for whether the court-martial did what it intended to do, obviously it did not in Pearl Harbor's case, however, it may have helped development of better aircraft and aircraft carriers during the 30's, especially when one considers this was during a depression.

What could have been brought to light was the complacency of the public at the time, roaring 20's, etc.. Also the public's isolationist outlook.

At any rate, General Mitchell will always be a hero to airmen, along with General Hap Arnold and others.

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