A Korean War fighter pilot hero returns home to test fly the new Sabre jets despite his wife's uneasiness regarding his job.A Korean War fighter pilot hero returns home to test fly the new Sabre jets despite his wife's uneasiness regarding his job.A Korean War fighter pilot hero returns home to test fly the new Sabre jets despite his wife's uneasiness regarding his job.
Murray Alper
- Sergeant
- (uncredited)
John Alvin
- Johnny - Flyer Escort
- (uncredited)
Gene Ardell
- Bomber Crewman
- (uncredited)
Sammy Armaro
- Pilot
- (uncredited)
Ralph Barbe
- Pilot
- (uncredited)
Baynes Barron
- Co-Pilot
- (uncredited)
Paul Baxley
- Pilot
- (uncredited)
Richard Bender
- Cadet
- (uncredited)
John Beradino
- Engineer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAs of 2021 Capt. McConnell is still the U.S. Air Force's top jet ace - a triple ace, in fact - with 16 confirmed kills.
- GoofsDuring 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.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Broadway by Light (1958)
- SoundtracksThe Army Air Corps Song
(uncredited)
Music by Robert Crawford
Played during the opening and end credits
Played often in the score
Featured review
flat ground story with some flying footage
It's WWII. Army private Joseph "Mac" McConnell, Jr. (Alan Ladd) goes AWOL to learn to fly and escapes from the MPs. He gets a ride from teenager Bob Brown and falls for Bob's sister Pearl (June Allyson) whom he calls Butch. He becomes a gunner in a bomber. Next he becomes a jet test pilot. During the Korean war, he becomes a flying ace.
It's a silly start to a serious biopic of a war hero. It can't be the truth although maybe it is. The light tone is just accentuating the blandness of the story. It's old fashion and lacking in drama. I don't mind the romantic pairing but a little massaging could generate a better meet-cute. Why can't she be the one who picks him up after the parachute? Are they strictly keeping to the real history? I doubt it. The war fighting in the first hour is not the best but it's still better than the ground level story. At least, it has some real flying footage and that saves this relatively flat war biopic. After the first hour, the fighting becomes some nice jet dogfights. It's great to see these old jets up close and in combat. It's really the only truly compelling aspect of this film.
It's a silly start to a serious biopic of a war hero. It can't be the truth although maybe it is. The light tone is just accentuating the blandness of the story. It's old fashion and lacking in drama. I don't mind the romantic pairing but a little massaging could generate a better meet-cute. Why can't she be the one who picks him up after the parachute? Are they strictly keeping to the real history? I doubt it. The war fighting in the first hour is not the best but it's still better than the ground level story. At least, it has some real flying footage and that saves this relatively flat war biopic. After the first hour, the fighting becomes some nice jet dogfights. It's great to see these old jets up close and in combat. It's really the only truly compelling aspect of this film.
helpful•40
- SnoopyStyle
- Sep 4, 2021
- How long is The McConnell Story?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,500,000
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1
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