Strategic Air Command (1955)

An ex-pilot and current baseballer is recalled into the U.S. Air Force and assumes an increasingly important role in Cold War deterrence.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Valentine Davies (screenplay), Beirne Lay Jr. (screenplay)

Stars:

James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Lovejoy

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Stewart	...	Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' Holland
June Allyson	...	Sally Holland
Frank Lovejoy	...	Gen. Ennis C. Hawkes
Barry Sullivan	...	Lt. Col. Rocky Samford
Alex Nicol	...	Ike Knowland
Bruce Bennett	...	Gen. Espy
Jay C. Flippen	...	Tom Doyle
James Millican	...	Maj. Gen. 'Rusty' Castle
James Bell	...	Rev. Dr. Thorne
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Mrs. Thorne (as Rosemary De Camp)
Richard Shannon	...	Flight Instructor Pilot
John McKee	...	Capt. Symington (as John R. McKee)
Harry Morgan	...	Sgt. Bible - Flight Engineer (as Henry Morgan)

Storyline

An ex-pilot and current baseballer is recalled into the U.S. Air Force and assumes an increasingly important role in Cold War deterrence.

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Plot Keywords:

nuclear weapons | u.s. military | u.s. air force | b 47 stratojet | warplane | 

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Taglines:

Soar to New Heights of Adventure!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dutch tells Sally to book a room at the Blackstone Hotel. Built in 1929 and 282-feet-tall, the art deco structure was and continues to be the tallest hotel in Fort Worth. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, over the decades it hosted many presidents and international celebrities. It sat vacant after 1982 and was renovated and reopened in 1999 and is still operational as of 2021. During the filming of the Carswell scenes, the stars and crew stayed at the Blackstone, just as Sally does in the film.

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Goofs

When Ike is approached by Rusty outside the wing headquarters to be his navigator there are two WAF's walking up the sidewalk towards the building. In the next closeup, from the same angle, they do not walk by. .

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Quotes

Gen. Ennis C. Hawkes: Well, we've got a job to do Mrs. Holland, and getting men like your husband isn't easy.
Sally Holland: Don't tell me about your little problems General. I'm only interested in results!
Gen. Ennis C. Hawkes: Touche.

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Connections

Featured in Smother (2008)

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Soundtracks

The Air Force Takes Command
Music by Victor Young
Lyrics by Ned Washington and Major Tommy Thomson Jr.

User Reviews

A Long Time Ago

Next year, 2005, will be the 50th anniversary of the movie, "Strategic Air Command." Nearly all reviews of this movie are quite similar...a somewhat boring movie with unsurpassed aerial photography of the magnificent B-36. (One really needs to see the in-flight sequences...they are extraordinary!)

These valid comments really ignore the "larger picture." The B-36 (Peacemaker) stopped flying before the average person living today was born...it was a long time ago. This movie captures a time in America when the military...SAC with its aircraft...ADC (Air Defense Command) with its hundreds of radar sites nationwide...civilians in The Ground Observer Corps...were all involved in "watching the sky" in order to help protect and defend from possible attack by our cold war enemies.

It is difficult, understandably, for many today to comprehend the times and attitudes depicted in "Strategic Air Command." I was there...it did happen. This movie captures some of the dedication that was required. With that in mind, perhaps we can forgive a script and story line that is weak. More importantly, let's celebrate that, a half-century ago, many served and did their duty as the times required. That is the real message of this movie.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strategic Air Command

Filming Locations:

Al Lang Field - 180 2nd Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$6,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording) Perspecta Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1