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poster of Twelve O'Clock High
Rating: 7.094/10 by 143 users

Twelve O'Clock High (1949)

In the early days of daylight bombing raids over Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a 'hard luck' bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets.

Directing:
  • Henry King
Writing:
  • Sy Bartlett
  • Beirne Lay Jr.
  • Beirne Lay Jr.
  • Sy Bartlett
Stars:
Release Date: Wed, Dec 21, 1949

Rating: 7.094/10 by 143 users

Alternative Title:
Přímo nad hlavou - CZ

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 02 hour 12 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $3,225,000

Plot Keyword: based on novel or book, nazi, world war ii, u.s. air force, military base, air raid, bomber pilot, 1940s

Gregory Peck
Brigadier General Frank Savage
Hugh Marlowe
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Gately
Gary Merrill
Colonel Keith Davenport
Millard Mitchell
Major General Patrick Pritchard
Dean Jagger
Major / Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Stovall
Robert Arthur
Sergeant McIllhenny
Paul Stewart
Major "Doc" Kaiser (flight surgeon)
John Kellogg
Major Cobb
Robert Patten
Lieutenant Bishop
Lee MacGregor
Lieutenant Zimmerman
Sam Edwards
Lieutenant Birdwell
Roger Anderson
Interrogation Officer
Lawrence Dobkin
Captain Twombley, group chaplain
Paul Picerni
Bombardier
Harry Lauter
Radio officer
Barry Jones
Lord Haw-Haw, German radio commentator (voice)
Don Gordon
First patient in base hospital
Kenneth Tobey
Sgt. Keller
Peter Ortiz
Weather Observer

John Chard

Under Pressure. Twelve O'Clock High features one of Gregory Peck's best performances as Brigadier General Frank Savage, a tough no nonsense martinet brought in to shake up a World War II Bomber Squadron. The men are shattered emotionally and after it's deemed that their previous commander (Gary Merrill) has been soft with them, there is no chance of that happening with Savage - but is he himself taking too much on? Split into two parts, the first half of pic deals with how a group of men in war time can reach their lowest ebb. Fear of the jinx, fear of cracking under the strain, these men are by definition demoralised. Things are further compounded by the appointment of Savage, who drags the group further down the battered emotional scale. Second half softens things for a short while as Savage's methods begin take a hold, then there's the missions, which in turn builds to the film's revelation, which as it happens lets Peck become a revelation as well. Director Henry King is on form, showcasing the skill of directing an ensemble cast, which sees Dean Jagger add mighty heft to the work of Peck, Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, Paul Stewart and Millard Mitchell. The flying sequences are expertly photographed (Leon Shamroy), with the real footage splicing very effective, while the writing allows the piece to exude a realism factor, which then offers up a more humane war film that is delving into psychological stings. 8/10

CinemaSerf

Gregory Peck is on top form in this gritty, authentic looking recounting of the actions of a battle-weary USAF squadron during WWII. Peck is "Gen. Savage" drafted into replace an extremely popular, but no longer effective squadron commander. Initially, his hard-nosed approach to them, their training and their attitudes engenders hostility, but over a period of time - and with the assistance of the intelligent camp adjutant/chief administrator "Maj. Stowell" (Dean Jagger) he sets about trying to change these opinions (and some of his own) before his entire squad transfers out. Henry King has managed to create a film that unsentimentally encapsulates some of the senses of frustration, fear, low morale and trauma that went with the relentlessness of constant missions - regardless of rank - not knowing who might return. The supporting cast - featuring Hugh Marlowe and Gary Merrill compliment the star well; some excellent original aerial battle cinematography and the Sy Bartlett screenplay has pace and detail enough to make this 2¼ hour assessment of leadership under enormous pressure a thoroughly entertaining and at times thought-provoking watch.


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