The McConnell Story (1955)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Sam Rolfe (writer)
Ted Sherdeman (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 December 1955 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mac's plans to settle down and raise a family are upset by the Korean War. He goes as a fighter pilot and returns a hero...

Plot Keywords:

Test Pilot | Korean War | Loyalty | Worried Wife | Archival Footage

Cast

Alan Ladd	...	Capt. Joseph C.'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
June Allyson	...	Pearl 'Butch' Brown
James Whitmore	...	SSgt. / Maj. / Col. Ty 'Dad' Whitman
Frank Faylen	...	Sfc. Sykes
Robert Ellis	...	Bob Brown (Pearl's brother)
Willis Bouchey	...	Newton Bass (Apple Valley realtor)
Sarah Selby	...	Mrs. Brown
Gregory Walcott	...	1st MP
Frank Ferguson	...	Mike (mechanic at Fitchburgh Airport)
Perry Lopez	...	Red
John Pickard	...	2nd MP
Dabbs Greer	...	Pilot instructor
Edward Platt	...	Medical Corps Instructor
Vera Marshe	...	Blonde Woman
James Dobson	...	Lt. Roy Singer

Also Known As:

Tiger in the Sky (UK)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound System) (magnetic prints) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During World War II, a character disembarks from a C-47 transport that is clearly marked USAF. The United States Air Force was not created until 1947, two years after the war ended.

Quotes:

Capt. Joseph C.'Mac' McConnell, Jr.: I think I'm going to call you 'Butch'
Pearl 'Butch' Brown: Why?
Capt. Joseph C.'Mac' McConnell, Jr.: Because when I look at you, you cut me into pieces.

Soundtrack:

Get Happy

Real Life Intruded

Not a GREAT film, but certainly watchable. You could easily swap June Allyson's "stalwart wife" performance here with her roles in STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND and THE GLENN MILLER STORY. Alan Ladd was an excellent choice for the title role as you can see at this site: www.acepilots.com/korea_mcconnell.html. Sadly, the ending of the film had to be re-written when Captain McConnell was killed during a test flight of an F86 at Edwards AFB in May of 1954 while the film was still in production. Of Note: McConnell was indeed shot down himself, but he managed to not only nurse his plane to where he could eject and be rescued at sea ("I barely got wet"), he also shot down the Mig (piloted by a Russian "Ace") that had gotten him! He last three kills came on his final day of combat missions whereupon his commanding General ordered his top ACE home.