User reviews

The basis of this film is the true story of Walker "Bud" Mahurin, an Air Force double ace (WW II and Korea) who was shot down in Korea and while in a POW camp, was tortured into signing bogus confessions of war crimes. When he was released, he was instrumental in changing content of AF survival courses to reflect this mistreatment.

This movie has some beautiful flying scenes, but it is more than just another flying movie. William Holden is excellent as the emotionally shattered pilot attempting a comeback from disgrace. The supporting cast is pretty fair, with the exception of L.Q. Jones in a thankless comic relief part (not to cast aspersions on him as an actor, the part really bites). The aviation content is generally accurate, with some rare footage of the Bell X-2 and a failed bomber, the Martin B-51, marked in the movie as the Gilbert XF-120. If this came out on DVD, I'd sure buy it in a hot second!

Regarding Txgmajor's comment below on the XB-51- one of the main reasons this plane wasn't built was the fact that Glenn Martin, owner of Martin Aircraft and maker of the B-51, sided with the Navy regarding the political dogfight over control of Naval aviation and the merits of the Air Force's pet bomber project at the time, the B-36, featured in Jimmy Stewart's "Strategic Air Command". Martin did build the Canberra bomber for the USAF under license, but never again was able to sell an original design to the Air Force. Old grudges die hard.

"The Right Stuff" tried hard to capture the feel of Edwards and the 'golden age' of flight testing - but "Toward the Unknown" outdoes the later film in spades. In spite of the cut-n-pasted love story with the wooden Virginia Leith, this film catches the flavor of USAF flight testing with William Holden's credible performance as a previously up-and-coming aviator tries to regain his stature following a tormented experience as a POW during the Korean War. The "pilot speak" is dumbed down just enough for the civilian audience, and the flying sequences are well done - no models here. As a footnote, Holden is a composite of real-life test pilot Pete Everest (with whom Holden developed a fast friendship during filming) and Walker "Bud" Mahurin, whose Korean War POW experiences were woven into the script (although Mahurin never attempted suicide). In fact, there are striking similarities (surely purposeful) in appearance between the leading actors and their real-life counterparts: Stand Holden next to Everest, and Lloyd Nolan next to General Al Boyd, and you'll see what I mean.

I have a VHS copy I had made from a deteriorating 16mm print of the film which I picked up off eBay (the friend who made the tape said the emulsion was chipping off the celluloid as he taped it, it was in such poor condition), so I'll have to live with that until a DVD becomes available - which, according to a credible source, won't happen until the Holden estate reaches an agreement with the production company. I do know a print of the film was furnished to the Edwards AFB theater recently for a showing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original premier of "Toward The Unknown."

The one and only film that William Holden produced as well as starred in is this great tribute to the test pilots of the United States Air Force who were breaking all kinds of flying speed records in the Fifties, the new age of jet and rocket propulsion. Toward The Unknown is about as authentic as you can get in a film about flying, being shot at Edwards Air Force Base as it was.

Holden plays an Air Force pilot who was a POW in Korea and was tortured and broke under it. For that reason General Lloyd Nolan is reluctant to give him a chance at test flying the latest jets and even more so with the untried rocket technology of the X-2. Pulling for him is Nolan's second in command at Edwards, Charles McGraw, and Virginia Leith who is Nolan's secretary. In fact Nolan and Holden are both out courting her as well which puts another dimension to the situation.

This film is an absolute must for aviation buffs just like Jet Pilot, the Howard Hughes produced film that starred John Wayne and Janet Leigh. Unlike that film, the story plot is reasonable and coherent in Toward The Unknown.

James Garner has a small part in this film as another test pilot in one of his earliest feature roles. So does Murray Hamilton who has a drinking problem and a real dislike for Holden whom he sees as a rival.

Toward The Unknown, fine product that it was, was the last film that William Holden was involved on the production end with. He found he did not like being involved in all the aspects of production as it were as so many of his other contemporaries enjoyed.

Still as a producer Holden batted 1.000. Toward The Unknown is a fine production and should be required viewing for aviation buffs.

This is an excellent film. Most people know Mervyn Leroy as a great director, but they may not recognize Beirne Lay, Jr. Lay was a B-17 pilot in the 100th Bomb Group, 8th AAF in WW II, and the co-author of the book "12 O'Clock High", from which the academy award movie of the same name was made.

Many aspects of this film are great: its desert scenery, aerial photography and accuracy of detail in regard to flight test during the 1950s are all top notch. The cast ,as played by such great character actors as Lloyd Nolan and an up and coming James Garner (a Korean War infantryman), are sincere and believable.

What impressed me most then and more so now, is the way the film approached the issue of a Korean War POW who had "cracked". Remember, this picture came out more than 10 years before Americans saw the results of North Vietnamese treatment of our downed air crews. In the 1950s POWs were expected to give only name, rank and serial number if captured. Those that failed to stand fast, to what is now recognized as an unattainable standard, were shunned. Brainwashing and emotional torture weren't understood until years later.

But this film used a very strong leading man (Holden) to focus on the sensitive issue of a "broken" pilot who tried to make his way back into American society and regain his dignity in the hardest court of opinion, the ranks of the active Air Force. Everything gels in this movie. It makes a good point many years ahead of its time. Under the same circumstances who knows how he'd survive being a POW? And ultimately we all can fail and redeem ourselves.

I agree, they need to put this one out on DVD or VHS, so we can see it more than just on an occasional late night TV movie.

This is one good film, with great performances by William Holden and Lloyd Nolan. Also James Garner's film debut. It seems to have disappeared here in the US, although I understand it's shown occasionally in Britain. Filmed at a real airbase, it looks authentic enough that you can almost smell the jet fuel. Great history lesson on the beginning of rocket flight. The only knock is Virginia Leith, who must be one of the most untalented actresses in Hollywood history. Even scene she's in brings the film down. But Holden is, as always, great.

Toward the Unknown (1956)

In some ways this is fascinating stuff—you get a glimpse of mid-50s American military aeronautics, and a specific mention (and micro-glimpse) of the rocket efforts marking early space technology. William Holden plays a troubled test pilot who leads us through the different planes and testing efforts via his own return and rise through the system. It's not bad.

However.

You can't quite call this a formula film—maybe a genre film if there is a genre called test pilots in trouble—but there is a canned quality to this whole thing that holds it back unreasonably. There is the woman from his past who loves him but also has an affair going with the general (the likable Lloyd Nolan) on the base (Edwards Air Force Base). There are the competing test pilots (all good actors known mostly for television). It makes for a good group that is forced into a thin plot about rivalry and camaraderie.

The really best part of the plot (and the reason I watched the movie at first) is that Holden is a man who was in a Korean War prison camp, where he was abused and tortured and "brainwashed." It's this last thing that was so talked about at the time, and which was used to make some really terrific movies like "The Manchurian Candidate," and I wanted to see where it would go here. Well, a heads up, it goes nowhere. His prison camp experience causes a pivotal scene in the movie on the base, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with brainwashing.

Too bad on that.

Holden by this point in his career is not the leading man he once was, though this is just five years after his terrific comeback year with "Union Station" and "Sunset Blvd." But he's really good, holding his scenes together with the woman (Virginia Leith) who has the eyes (blue) and lips (red) to pop on the WarnerColor screen, but who can't act very well.

Obviously if you like airplanes and the air force, this is a movie to definitely see. Some great footage of test aircraft in flight (real footage from the military). And of course the whole supersonic flying experiments were a big deal at the time. If all of this seems a bore and too historical for a good movie, you're partly right. It's not a great plot or drama. But it's not a terrible movie by any means. Director Mervyn LeRoy, rightfully a legend by now, and cinematographer Harold Rossen, equally a legend, together made sure that it held water and survives it's own flaws very well.

Set at the dawn of the supersonic flight , here Holden is a Korean veteran pilot who broke under brainwashing and who's expected to grin and bear a desk jockey posting to Edward Air Base . But then Major Lincoln Bond (William Holden who produced too) itches to test new new X-2 rocket plane , as he subsequently will retrieve his self-respect , while falling in love for a beautiful clerk , Connie Mitchell (Virginia Leith) , who at the same time results to be sweetheart of his superior General , Banner (Lloyd Nolan) . Major Lincoln is testing the new experimental aircraft Gilbert XF-120 fighter when some of his pals begin suspecting he's imagining strange things because of his disturning mental condition dating back to his imprisonment in the Korean POW camp where he was mistreated and tortured by the Chinese and Korean soldiers . Rocket ship pilots USA .! So you're going to show the world...by flying right out of it! The screen has never shown what you'll see in Toward the Unknown !. This is the Story of Link Bond, Hottest of 'Em All... But So Hot He Burned Nearly Everyone He Touched...!.They called him coward - and he was going to show the world - by roaring right out of it!.The Deeply Personal Story of Link Bond, Rocket Pilot, U. S. A.

A big-bugeted movie based on a true story with full of thrills and romance , adding emotion , breathtaking aerial scenes and agreeable finale. This is the screen's first story of man-piloted rocket ships hurtling across the heavens at 95.000 feet , a thrillling adventure in somewhere at a secluded U. S. Air Force Base lives a picked handful of very special men , they are the rocket pilots of outer space and the eerie experimental craft that rule the skies beyond the sky. There are great moments in this story of the first American pilots and let that not be forgotten . Quasi-documentary re-creation of the important happenings , being shot with much intrigue, tension and suspense . The special effects , stock-footage , aerial scenes work enough and colorful photography by Harold Rosson , could hardly be bettered . An enjoyable retelling commingling of both fatigue and mental . Creditable interpretations from a long star cast bolster a movie of enough inspired sequences to make it linger in the memory . One of the main entertainments of this stunning picture is to discover the list of notorious secondaries appearing here and there that include the following ones : Charles McGraw of Spartacus , Murray Hamilton of Jaws , Paul Fix of John Wayne films , James Garner who makes his screen debut here only a year earlier the first Maverick , L. Q. Jones still playing at ninety , Karen Steel , Bartlett Robinson, Malcolm Atterbury, Ralph Moody, Richard Cutting, among others.

Stolidly made by previous Warners contractee Mervyn LeRoy in his men-in-uniform period , between the army farce No Time for Sergeants , naval comedy Mr Roberts and plainclothes hymn The FBI Story . This attractive motion picture was competently directed by Hollywood filmmaker Mervyn LeRoy . He was a typical craftsman who often used big budgets and directed a lot of lavish and successful movies, such as : Gold Diggers 1933 , Little Caesar , I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang , Waterloo Bridge , Anthony Adverse , Devil at 4 O'Clock , Quo Vadis , Gypsy , Million Dollar Mermaid , Without Reservations , Little Women that won Academy Award : Oscar 1949 Art Direction/Set Decoration, and the big hit Thirty seconds over Tokyo . The flick will appeal to William Holden fans and airplane aficionados . Rating : 6.5/10. Above average . Worthwhile seeing.

USAF Major Lincoln Bond (William Holden) was captured during the Korean War. The fighter pilot was tortured and eventually signed a confession. After he was released back to America, he is not trusted by his superior. He gets skipped over for the test pilot program, but he manages to stay in the periphery.

I love the planes. It seems that the film had plenty of help from the Air Force. There is so much cool real world footage. The story is rather take-it-or-leave-it. It may be reality adjacent, but it's not the most compelling. The actors are solid and it does have James Garner in a supporting role.

This film has excellent performances by Holden and some of the other actors, but the real stars are the extraordinary research airplanes of the Air Force Flight Test Center in 1955-56, when the film was made. There is superb inflight footage of the Martin XB-51 (which is painted up as the "F-120" fighter), and outstanding footage of the Bell X-2 rocket research airplane, as well as footage of the rare TF-86 (only two were made), a two-seat version of the famed F-86 Sabre jet fighter. For "real" the X-2 in 1956 reached an altitude of 126,200 feet flown by Captain Iven "Kinch" Kincheloe, and Mach 3.2 (2,196 mph) by Captain Milburn "Mel" Apt. Both were advisers on the film. Apt died in the crash of the X-2 on 27 Sept. 1956, the same flight on which he reached M = 3.2, Kincheloe was selected as lead AF pilot on the hypersonic X-15 program, but was killed in 1958 in the crash of a Lockheed F-104. Incidentally, Holden was flown in a high-performance airplane for familiarization purposes at Edwards for the film...not sure if it was a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star trainer (most likely), though there is a curious photo I have seen of him in front of the TF-86, suggesting that, possibly, he was one of the (very) few non-Sabre pilots to have flown this machine...and if he did, it is possible as well that he flew faster than Mach 1, the speed of sound, as the TF-86 could clearly do so. A great film, not to be missed.

Solid if unexceptional aerial melodrama with William Holden playing a troubled Air Force Major hoping to get into the test pilot program at Edwards Air Force Base, but finding his recent past (which includes a suicide attempt) causing doubt and concern among his superiors. Holden's crack-up is left relatively ambiguous, yet all the harping from his fellow officers seems to equate a mental breakdown (or depression) with psychotic behavior. Ditto General Lloyd Nolan's 'advanced' age, which is brought up so often it's no wonder the man is having dizzy spells! Holden's Toluca Films (the company's one and only offering) ensured a quality production (with minimal rear projection and stock footage), however the aerial action is far more exciting than anything happening on the ground. Paul Baron's emotive score and Hal Rosson's cinematography are both first-rate, while Holden's effortless star appeal helps to override the military and romantic clichés. ** from ****

William Holden emotes every aspect of his character so well that you forget he is 10 years too old for the role. With its focus on the rigors and emotions of test pilots, this would make an interesting companion piece for the right stuff. The military aspect of its time is well-conveyed and the supporting cast is strong. Worth watching.

Released from capture while serving in the Korean War, test pilot William Holden (as Lincoln "Linc" Bond) wants his military job back. Since he cracked while being tortured, there are trepidations about Mr. Holden's character and ability to carry out dangerous flight tests, but Edwards Air Force Base test center leader Lloyd Nolan (as William "Bill" Banner) decides to give Holden a chance. An even older man, Mr. Nolan has some retirement issues of his own. Also, Nolan is dating nicely figured young secretary Virginia Leith (as Connie Mitchell), who used to hang with Holden...

Holden produced "Toward the Unknown" for himself, and it is not surprisingly a routine and unremarkable star vehicle. Given Holden's age, it might have been more interesting to make his character a World War II veteran with added back-story about the intervening years. Nolan is always good, here with a role that unfortunately leaves blanks in both his physical ailments and relationship with an amusing L.Q. Jones (as Sweeney). Trouble-maker Murray Hamilton (as Bromo) livens up his scenes. In his first appearance, future TV super-star James Garner plays a sympathetic part.

***** Toward the Unknown (9/27/56) Mervyn LeRoy ~ William Holden, Lloyd Nolan, Virginia Leith, Charles McGraw

Why "Toward The Unknown" is not on VHS or DVD astounds me! The cast is top notch, the filming on Edwards AFB has great historical significance, the director was no other than Mervyn LeRoy, and William Holden was at the peak of his career. The faddish and superficial "Top Gun" pales in comparison to the factual importance of this landmark work. As a flight instructor, I routinely show this film during breaks in my flying academic classes. It is always met with genuine enthusiasm and great curiosity from the young military pilots. The popularity of this film has inspired several websites devoted to it. "Toward The Unknown" is a must for DVD. Why hasn't some company done it?

This movie is seldom shown, but it's one of William Holden's most underrated pictures. The flying sequences are excellent, and well integrated into the overall story (much more so than many other movies about flying/test pilots). Holden gives a fine performance as a former test pilot who cracked under torture as a North Korean prisoner, and is searching for redemption from his peers and from himself. Highly recommended if you like this sort of film.

I have no idea why this is being called Brink of Hell... it's true title, as seen in theatres in 1956 is "Toward the Unknown"... I know... I was there.

I've read several of the reviews of this movie and you can certainly ascertain the age of some reviewers. I lived this period of time growing up as an Air Force kid and being around these planes and pilots and the politics of the day. So let me address a couple of points...

First, what makes this movie so good is the fact the "acting" does not seem like acting at all. For instance, Virginia Leith's performance as the love interest to William Holden is very much how real life actually is.

Why is this not on DVD? ... because the Holden family, after his death felt this movie did not uphold his image properly due to him playing someone who signed a confession as a North Korean POW. Small minded morons as this is one of Holden's very best and most accurate performances. Lloyd Nolan's performance as the commanding General of the flight test centre is spot on.

Having lived in my early teens during this golden age of aviation I can tell you this is the most accurate aviation movie I have ever seen and with the most accurately portrayed people (aside from the General's aide which was just a tad too silly). This movie is how flying was and still is in many cases. No huge explosions or shoot em ups... no super heroes.

I'm an ex military pilot and have seen just about every aviation movie made... Top Gun is a joke... the Right Stuff is a cartoon and a total injustice to the book.

This movie is how it was... a true time capsule.

Paint-by-numbers Air Force recruiting film piloted by paint-by-numbers hack Mervin LeRoy. There's something about agnoidal Lloyd Nolan delivering cliched lines that just adds up to docu-snooze. The visit by the Senator so the base chief can over-explain what goes on at Edwards Air Force Base is particularly galling. And having an affair with the dish behind the desk? He's old enough to be her grandfather. I can see why flying geeks like this movie, though. It's cool to see all the old planes America put to use pointlessly dropping bombs in various world sh**h*les. Bill Holden is believable as the tortured former Korean POW. Is there anything that man couldn't make you believe? No wonder he absolutely owned the 50s. One other note - the musical cues are as obvious as the plotting and dialogue. Maybe it was subbed out to an intern. If you have a b*ner for vintage fighter planes or peak Holden, this movie is worth watching once.

As a life-long military aviation buff,this is one of my favorite movies. Other reviewers here have mentioned that it contains a few technical inaccuracies and some formulaic characters and plot devices.This is true, but it is a piece of '50s film-making and some of that is to be expected.It has also been mentioned as a great companion piece to "The Right Stuff", with which I wholly agree. In 1984, when seeing TRS for the first time, I thought "The folks who made this obviously saw "Toward the Unknown" and copied some of its style", especially in the scenes where aircraft are shown from above climbing towards the camera with the desert in the background. One reviewer refers to the "fictitious bomber" in the movie. The bomber was quite real, being the XB-51, which was tested but never adopted for service. I've always been a fan of the "X" series of rocket planes and the pilots who flew them, and the inclusion of the beautiful, dart-like Bell X-2 in this film is one of its highlights for me. About fifteen years ago I had a taped from TV copy of this movie that I got off of TBS or TNT, but it is long since bit the dust. I'd dearly love to have it on DVD.

I saw this film the year it came out in theaters and again two years later at my school. It has always been dear to me. Two years ago, I bought a video of it (in the original box)from a friend. We are about the same age and have been crazy about airplanes most of our lives.

What to say about this film: 1/The cinematography is great and 2/the music is enjoyable. 3/Bill Holden is really good in this film, but 4/sexy Virginia Leith takes your breath away in several scenes, especially if you're a 100% guy.

If you are interested in this film, it will probably have something to do with a consuming interest in aviation in the 1950's. If that is true, then there are several things to watch for:

1/ The airplane in which Lloyd Nolan survives a desert crash, is the hulk of the only Convair XF-91 ever built to completion. The XF-91 interceptor would have been "something else" with a more power. It was buikt as a light ewight aircraft and with enough power, it would have been a precursor of the Mirage. All of the research from the XF-91 it was incorporated in the development of the later F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors.

2/ The large three-engined jet aircraft (called the Gilbert ?) was actually the prototype of the Martin XB-51 Jet Bomber/Attack aircraft. The XB-51 was tragically underpowered. With that imopediment, the aircraft still met or exceeded almost all of the requirements set for it by USAF. But our Government, and several other contractors, was against it. Years later, in Tulsa in the 1960's, I heard that North American Aviation (in Los Angeles) spent big bucks with Lobbyists in Washington to have the plane, and its production, cancelled.

So, instead of buying the "B-51", the US Government incredibly chose the British "Canberra" aircraft, which served the USAF well as the "B-57" throughout the fifties and through Vietnam. However, with more powerful engines, the B-51 would have been the better plane.

3/ The Convair T-29 transport was a workhorse for USAF and was flown into the 1970's. A friend who served in USAF at the time to me that, in 1968, two of these aircraft were modified by USAF as "Special Projects" aircraft for use over Vietnam and Laos "in foul weather".

If you like this film, you need to see 1/ Strategic Air Command, 2/Men of the Fighting Lady, 3/ Sabre Jet, 4/ Dragonfly Squadron (evidently not available on video) and 5/ The Bridges at Toko-Ri.

Happy Contrails.....

Ehhh, a bit slow and overly dramatic. The backdrop is good, and flying scenes somewhat make up for the weak main plot and the cringe inducing secondary "romance" thread.

William Holden kind of phones in his performance, playing his usual brooding self. Oh, he injects the typical level of melodrama that is his trademark. Don't get me wrong; I like Holden in a lot of movies he did. But if you watch enough of them it becomes rather clear the the breadth of his range is no match for the depth of emotion he thinks he's delivering.

There are decent performances from several supporting players, Lloyd Nolan for example. But Virginia Leith as the "love interest" is glaringly bad. Pretty enough, but her talent for delivering lines is middling at best. The worst of it from her, though, is her voice. It's hard to imagine how she ever found success in Hollywood with that droning, almost masculine voice. Thankfully, there's no room for her in the cockpit, so we get some brief respite from her during the flying scenes.

But those moments are brief. I'm sorry to say, Toward the Unknown plays out less like an action movie with a side of romance, and more like a soap opera shoehorned into an adventurous setting. YMMV.

I agree with orexis. The acting is good and the flying is integrated into the story line very well; unlike a lot of movies where it's a story line with some flying scenes thrown haphazardly in because it's a "flying movie". One of Holden's better performances and a movie I thoroughly enjoy watching every time I am able to catch it. The rest of the actors also deliver a good performance and the movies maintains a good enough pace to keep it interesting.

If you enjoy watching entertaining movies with a military and historical flavor then this movie will definitely interest you. The glimpse into America's early attempts at faster than sound flight are good and the flight sequences are entertaining enough to hold your attention.

I think this is one of the best films on the gritty business of flight testing--back in the days before a bad airplane could be tested inside a computer program.

In several respects, it is a film of its time, with a young L.Q. Jones as a bumbling staff officer, a "love interest" and a sub-plot showing the protagonist, played by Bill Holden, as an agonized alumni of a Korean POW camp. In one of several galling items, he has made an attempt on his own life before the action began, but he is accepted as a test pilot anyway--which is absolutely bogus. Aircraft manufacturers are portrayed badly--which, in the main, the relevant history doesn't support. Disregard of orders is treated with unrealistic indulgence by a commander.

Read Scott Crossfield's autobiography for some corrects on this.

On the other hand, some of the action is simply great. A mythical bomber develops a metal fatigue problem in the air, which another pilot cannot duplicate. Several weeks later, the plane's wing once again fails and this time it costs a third pilot his life. (My personal take on this--there's a big difference between "fixing" the blame and fixing the problem.)

At this point and at several others, the film is a worthy complement to the Edwards AFB scenes of "The Right Stuff". The photography is simply stunning.