The Big Lift

19501950
ApprovedApproved
2h

The Big Lift (1950)

Experiences of two Air Force sergeants during the 1948 Berlin Airlift.Experiences of two Air Force sergeants during the 1948 Berlin Airlift.Experiences of two Air Force sergeants during the 1948 Berlin Airlift.

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Awards
- 1 nomination

The Big Lift (1950)

The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift, Paul Douglas, Cornell Borchers, and Bruni Löbel in The Big Lift (1950)

The Big Lift (1950)

The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift and Cornell Borchers in The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift in The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift and Cornell Borchers in The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift and O.E. Hasse in The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift in The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift in The Big Lift (1950)

Cornell Borchers in The Big Lift (1950)

Montgomery Clift

Danny MacCulloughas Danny MacCullough

Hank Kowalskias Hank Kowalski

Cornell Borchers

Frederica Burkhardtas Frederica Burkhardt

Gerdaas Gerda

Stieberas Stieber

Dante V. Morelas Dante V. Morel
(as Capt. Dante V. Morel)

John R. Masonas John R. Mason
(as Capt. John R. Mason)

Gail R. Plushas Gail R. Plush
(as Capt. Gail R. Plush)

Mack Blevinsas Mack Blevins
(as Capt. Mack Blevins)

William A. Stewart

William A. Stewartas William A. Stewart
(as Capt. William A. Stewart)

Alfred L. Freiburger

Alfred L. Freiburgeras Alfred L. Freiburger
(as 1st Lt. Alfred L. Freiburger)

Gerald Aronsas Gerald Arons
(as 1st Lt. Gerald Arons)

James Wilsonas James Wilson
(as 1st Lt. James Wilson)

Richard A. Kellogg

Richard A. Kelloggas Richard A. Kellogg
(as 1st Lt. Richard A. Kellogg)

Roy R. Steeleas Roy R. Steele
(as 1st Lt. Roy R. Steele)

James H. Blankenship

James H. Blankenshipas James H. Blankenship
(as S/Sgt. James H. Blankenship)

Harold E. Bamford

Harold E. Bamfordas Harold E. Bamford
(as S/Sgt. Harold E. Bamford)

D.R. Simmonsas D.R. Simmons
(as S/Sgt. D.R. Simmons)

See production, box office, & company info

Indiscretion of an American Wife

6.2

Indiscretion of an American Wife

The Defector

5.7

Lonelyhearts

6.7

7.8

Three Came Home

7.3

Three Came Home

Raintree County

6.4

Raintree County

It Grows on Trees

6.7

It Grows on Trees

A Stranger in Town

7.1

A Stranger in Town

Knight Without Armor

6.8

Knight Without Armor

Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman

6.4

Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman

Ivanhoe

6.8

Wild River

7.6

In 1948, the Soviet Union blockades the Allied sectors of Berlin to bring the entire city under their control. A semi-documentary about the resulting Berlin Airlift gives way to stories of two fictitious U.S. Air Force participants: Sgt. Hank Kowalski, whose hatred of Germans proves resistant to change, and Sgt. Danny McCullough, whose pursuit of an attractive German war widow gives him a crash course in the seamy side of occupied Berlin. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

west berlin west germany american abroad cold war era transport aircraft berlin airlift 43 more

Taglines
- From the Ruins came Hope and Despair
Genres
- Drama
- War
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
Even though this was only his fourth film, Montgomery Clift already had a reputation for being difficult on set. Paul Douglas arrived in Berlin having been told by John Wayne (who had worked with Clift on "Red River" (1949) that "this kid is a little shit." During the filming of their first scenes together, Douglas realized that Clift was deliberately leaning into the scene, hogging his space. He stamped on the younger actor's foot and said, "Do that again and I'll break your fucking foot." Douglas and Clift didn't speak to each other for the rest of the shoot.

Goofs
The "Russian fighter" that approaches one of the airlift C-54s is actually a US Air Force Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt."

Quotes
Frederica Burkhardt: When you live in a sewer, you soon discover that the sewer rats are best equipped to survive.

Crazy credits
At the end of the movie, the "Hollywood" stars (Clift, Douglas etc.), are not credited, however a panoramic coda does credit the principal military service members who portrayed themselves in the film. It shows them standing at attention in front of a C-54, with their names and ranks scrolling across.

Connections
Referenced in Woman on the Run (1950)

Soundtracks
Aloha Oe
(uncredited)
Music by Queen Liliuokalani
Played when leaving Honolulu

Top review

7/10

It's A Big Lift in Entertainment

Just saw The Big Lift. Bought the DVD for 3 dollars. Out-dated since it was filmed on location in Berlin in 1950 at the beginning of the Cold War. However, the camera work, the on-location shots, the use of real military people as actors, and the out-standing performances by Monty Clift and Paul Douglas make this an entertaining night at the movies.

The acting is so good, it doesn't seem like a film at all. Somewhat slow in parts, but overall pretty good. Even a surprise ending. Paul Douglas steals the movie & there is one very disturbing scene in the film in which he is fantastic. Also, you get to see how really handsome Monty Clift really was before the car accident and party-life style aged him way before his time.

helpful•36

13

angelsunchained
Mar 25, 2005

Release date
- July 14, 1950 (Mexico)
Country of origin
- United States
Languages
- English
- German
Also known as
- The Quartered City
Filming locations
- Airport, Tempelhof, Berlin, Germany
Production company
- Twentieth Century Fox
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross US & Canada
- $1,300,000

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 2h
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

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