The McConnell Story (1955)

A Korean War fighter pilot hero returns home to test fly the new Sabre jets despite his wife's uneasiness regarding his job.

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (screenplay), Sam Rolfe (screenplay)

Stars:

Alan Ladd, June Allyson, James Whitmore

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Alan Ladd	...	Capt. Joseph C.'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
June Allyson	...	Pearl 'Butch' Brown
James Whitmore	...	SSgt. / Maj. / Col. Ty 'Dad' Whitman
Frank Faylen	...	Sfc. Sykes
Robert Ellis	...	Bob Brown
Willis Bouchey	...	Newton Bass
Sarah Selby	...	Mrs. Brown
Gregory Walcott	...	1st Military Policeman
Frank Ferguson	...	Mechanic

Storyline

Mac's plans to settle down and raise a family are upset by the Korean War. He goes as a fighter pilot and returns a hero, the first triple ace of the war. His neighbors have built a home for Mac and his devoted wife and their three children. Now he has an offer to test pilot new Sabre Jets. His wife is uneasy but knows she cannot ground her man.

---

Plot Keywords:

test pilot | korean war | tragic ending | death of title character | death of protagonist | 

---

Taglines:

The real thing! The true story of America's first triple jet ace!

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 1955 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Wolkenstürmer

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,500,000, 31 December 1955

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound System) (magnetic prints) Mono (optical prints)

Color:

Color (WarnerColor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The black and white dress June Allyson wears at the 4th of July party was previously worn by Judy Garland in the "Born in a Trunk" sequence of A Star Is Born (1954) where she sings "You Took Advantage of Me".

---

Goofs

When Pvt McConnell is flying with the instructor in the Cub, the sticks are at chest height - in a Cub, the sticks are about waist high or about a foot shorter than shown in the movie. Also, later when McConnell is flying the F86H just before his crash, the stick is again shown as much taller than in the actual airplane.

---

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in Broadway by Light (1958)

---

Soundtracks

Five O'Clock Whistle
(uncredited)
Music by Josef Myrow
Played when Mac and Butch first enter the room in Texas

User Reviews

Our first jet war ace

Joseph J. McConnell, Jr. was America's first triple jet ace in what was the first war fought with jets by both sides. Since World War I, one became an ace as a pilot when one had confirmed downings of five of the enemy. Mr. McConnell had nineteen to his credit when he was taken out of combat in Korea and given a stateside assignment.

The McConnell Story is about his life and Alan Ladd does a good job in portraying the man as he meets and marries the woman of his dreams and struggles to become a pilot in the military. The woman of his dreams in this case is June Allyson who played more devoted wives and girls next door than anyone else in Hollywood in her time. Usually Allyson worked with either James Stewart or Van Johnson as her leading men over at MGM. She and Ladd had a good chemistry here.

The chemistry may have been partly fueled by rumors of an affair on set. Allyson had a few of them in her day, but this was the only time it was ever rumored about Ladd according to his biographer Beverly Linet. Ladd worked hard to keep a wholesome image before the public and that might have been the reason he and Allyson never worked together again.

And The McConnell Story is one wholesome picture. If it weren't for the Army/Air Force scenes you might think you were watching Ward and June Cleaver. But that's how America likes its heroes and Hollywood was obeying the box office.

It should also be remembered that Korea was also the first war of the newly formed United States Air Force. Whereas most country's had a separate air service during World War I or set them up shortly thereafter, America waited until 1947 when the Army Air Corps was separated and became a separate service. The Defense Department in both the Truman and Eisenhower eras wanted to popularize the new service and encouraged Hollywood to make pictures to do so.

The McConnell Story is nice entertainment. It's one of Alan Ladd's best post Paramount films.