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The High and the Mighty ()


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When a commercial airliner develops engine problems on a trans-Pacific flight and the pilot loses his nerve, it is up to the washed-up co-pilot Dan Roman to bring the plane in safely.

Director:
Awards:
  • Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations.
  • See more »
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Complete, Cast awaiting verification

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Dan Roman
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May Holst
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Lydia Rice
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John Sullivan
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Sally McKee
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Ed Joseph
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Gustave Pardee
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Ken Childs
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Donald Flaherty
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Humphrey Agnew
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Lillian Pardee
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Gonzales (as Gonzalez Gonzalez)
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Howard Rice
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Lenny Wilby, navigator
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Hobie Wheeler
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Clara Joseph
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Jose Locota
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Frank Briscoe
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Ben Sneed
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Dorothy Chen
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Toby Field
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Alsop
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Tim Garfield
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Ensign Keim (as Carl Switzer)
Robert Keys ...
Lieutenant Mowbray
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Roy (as William Dewolf Hopper)
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Dispatcher
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Susie Wilby
Doe Avedon ...
Miss Spalding
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Nell Buck
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Milo Buck
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Coast Guard Navigator (uncredited)
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Mechanic (uncredited)
James Conaty ...
Mrs. Joseph's Doctor (uncredited)
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Cargo Clerk (uncredited)
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Mrs. Wilson (uncredited)
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San Francisco Ground Crewman (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Radar Operator (uncredited)
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Boyd, Public Relations (uncredited)
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Scientist (uncredited)
Al Murphy ...
Lighthouse Dispatcher (uncredited)
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Restaurant Cook (uncredited)
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Mr. Field (uncredited)
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Mr. Wilson (uncredited)

Directed by

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William A. Wellman

Written by

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Ernest K. Gann ... (screenplay)
 
Ernest K. Gann ... (novel "The High and the Mighty")

Produced by

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Robert Fellows ... producer (uncredited)
John Wayne ... producer (uncredited)

Music by

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Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by

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Archie Stout ... (photographed by)

Editing by

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Ralph Dawson

Art Direction by

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Alfred Ybarra ... (as Al Ybarra)

Set Decoration by

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Ralph S. Hurst ... (set decorations) (as Ralph Hurst)

Makeup Department

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Loren Cosand ... makeup artist
Margaret Donovan ... hair stylist
Web Overlander ... makeup artist

Production Management

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Nate H. Edwards ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Andrew V. McLaglen ... assistant director (as Andrew McLaglen)

Art Department

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Joe LaBella ... property man (as Joseph La Bella)
Patrick Wayne ... props assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department

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John K. Kean ... sound recordist

Special Effects by

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Robert A. Mattey ... special effects (as Robert Mattey)

Stunts

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Tom Hennesy ... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Keating ... DC-4 stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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William H. Clothier ... aerial photography (as William Clothier)
Robert E. 'Bobby' Jones ... gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Gwen Wakeling ... wardrobe designer
Joan Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Dimitri Tiomkin ... conductor
Manuel Emanuel ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell ... orchestrator (uncredited)
George Parrish ... orchestrator (uncredited)
John Qualen ... composer: additional music (uncredited)
David Tamkin ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert Taylor ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Dimitri Tiomkin ... music arranger: "Aloha Oe", "Kaua I Ka Hua Hua'i" and "The Barber of Seville" (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Sam Freedle ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Wm. H. Benge ... technical advisor
Robert C. Cannom ... technical advisor: U.S.C.G. (as Lt. Commander Robert M. Cannom)
Al Murphy ... production assistant
Loren Riebe ... camera plane pilot
Muzzy Marcellino ... whistler: dubbing for John Wayne (uncredited)

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

On a flight from Hawaii to California, the engine dies on the plane Dan is flying. As he prepares for a crash landing, the passengers reassess their lives. The template for disaster movies with an Oscar-winning score and a cast list that reads like a who's who of 1950s film. Written by Jwelch5742

Plot Keywords
Taglines The 2-year best seller blasts to the screen with every kind of love there is! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • William A. Wellman's The High and the Mighty (United States)
  • William A. Wellman's The High and the Mighty (United Kingdom)
  • Écrit dans le ciel (France)
  • Escrito en el cielo (Spain)
  • A gőgös (Hungary)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 147 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,470,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Ernest Gann's novel clearly indicates that the character of Sally McKee has resorted to prostitution in order to survive. The film version, made at the height of Hollywood censorship, was unable to explicitly state this; however, Gann slyly managed to insinuate the information during Sally's entrance, wherein two sailors at the Honolulu airport recognize her and pointedly remark, "Hey, look! Remember?" See more »
Goofs Near the end of the film, Air Traffic Control clears the aircraft to land on "runway 39" This is impossible. Runways are numbered are within 10 degrees of their actual magnetic heading, and since there are only 360 degrees on the compass, the highest runway number possible is "runway 36". See more »
Movie Connections Edited into The FBI Story (1959). See more »
Soundtracks The High and the Mighty See more »
Quotes Alsop: She may be put together with paste and flour, but that woman has something. What would you say it was?
Miss Spalding: Practice. Plenty of practice.
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