Golden Boy Had Nine Black Sheep (18 Sep. 1964)

General Savage believes that Gallagher, part of a military family, is too quick to abort missions at the first sign of engine trouble. Savage rides Gallagher hard, assigning him a crew of ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Medford

Writers:

Al C. Ward, Beirne Lay Jr. (characters based on the novel),

Stars:

Robert Lansing, John Larkin, Frank Overton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Robert Lansing	...	Gen. Frank Savage
John Larkin	...	Maj. Gen. Wiley Crowe
Frank Overton	...	Maj. Harvey Stovall
Paul Burke	...	Capt. Gallagher
Joby Baker	...	Lt. Blake
Bruce Dern	...	Lt. Michaels
Paul Comi	...	Lt. Kelly
Burt Douglas	...	Lt. Crandall
Lew Gallo	...	Maj. Joseph Cobb

Storyline

General Savage believes that Gallagher, part of a military family, is too quick to abort missions at the first sign of engine trouble. Savage rides Gallagher hard, assigning him a crew of slackers and misfits and ordering Gallagher to paint the name "Leper Colony" on his plane. Gallagher turns his crew is to an efficient outfit but he despises Savage and wants to do anything to get a transfer.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1964 (USA)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Quinn Martin Productions (QM), Twentieth Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Good pilot-first episode that diverges just far enough from its namesake film

Slight spoilers below

This was the first episode of "12 O'Clock High," and I thought it would be full of the melodrama and stereotypes found in most episodes of 60s television - squadron bar brawls and created conflicts with superior officers. While there is conflict, it makes sense and is well acted by the principals - Paul Burke as Capt. Joe Gallagher and Robert Lansing as Brig. Gen. Frank Savage - and cleverly plotted with the real emphasis on the teamwork it takes to fly bomb missions. This episode zeros in on what was a "B," or side plot, of the 1949 film this television show was based on. Capt. Gallagher is unlucky with his aircraft and in danger of losing leadership capability due to fear and combat nerves. Savage give Gallagher the misfits in the wing and charges him with whipping them into shape. The flying scenes are realistic, the combat stock footage matches up with German aircraft attacking and allied aircraft defending (it wouldn't always in later episodes). Burke would return as Gallagher in a later episode and eventually take over the 918th Bomb Group later in the show's run. His performance is about 80 percent what is was in later episodes, and you can see Gallagher has some changes to undergo before leading the 918th.