This episode is based on a real event, the first shuttle raid from England to Russia and back, bombing Germany on both fronts. That raid was led by Lt. General Archie Olds, who plays himself in this episode. He later confirmed that that the tension between the Americans and Russians, our erstwhile allies, was very real. This Russian set episode must have had a deja vu sense for Frank Overton since his first two acting jobs were also set in Russia. The first was the Broadway play COUNTERATTACK, the other as a voice actor in the dubbing of the realistic Russian war movie NO GREATER LOVE. That is still available on DVD. This is the second time Frank worked with Kevin McCarthy, the first was in the Broadway play Truckline Cafe. It was a big flop, and out of the huge cast of 16 only 4 went on to have significant careers- Frank,Kevin, Karl Malden and Marlon Brando. Frank Overton is less remembered today, not because he was a lesser actor, but because the others outlived him by 40+ years.
2 Reviews
With friends like this, who needs an enemy?!
planktonrules10 November 2021
While the 918th came into contact with the Russians several times during the course of "12 O'Clock High", such contacts were HIGHLY unlikely if not impossible. In this case, a group of shot up bombers are forced to land in Soviet territory but getting cooperation with these allies isn't easy for multiple reasons. A big reason is one of the bombers shot down a Russian fighter, though this was NOT done by any of Colonel Gallagher's men but by a Soviet officer who was aboard one of the planes. The other problem is that these 'friends' are amazingly paranoid and getting cooperation from the local commander isn't easy.
This episode is one that shows a foreshadowing of the post-war problems between the USA and USSR...and that makes it interesting. In fact, it's a very good episode except for a common problem with this show...the use of stock footage is shoddy. In one scene, for example, a German Bf-109 fighter becomes a British Spitfire in mid-flight...and then is a Ju-87 dive bomber as it flies away! Sloppy.
This episode is one that shows a foreshadowing of the post-war problems between the USA and USSR...and that makes it interesting. In fact, it's a very good episode except for a common problem with this show...the use of stock footage is shoddy. In one scene, for example, a German Bf-109 fighter becomes a British Spitfire in mid-flight...and then is a Ju-87 dive bomber as it flies away! Sloppy.
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