Gable, who had served in the USAAF during World War II, played a similar role in the 1948 film Command Decision. The squadron is performing badly (planes are being lost and experienced pilots are losing their lives). Certificate: Passed Available on. Twelve O'Clock High is a high-stakes, high-tension war drama powered by great, well-written characters. It was required viewing at all the U.S. service academies, college/university Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachments, Air Force Officer Training School, the U.S. Navy's former Aviation Officer Candidate School, and the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School, where it was used as a teaching example for the Situational leadership theory, although not currently used by the USAF. 143. Colonel Keith Davenport was based on the first commander of the 306th Bomb Group, Colonel Charles B. Overacker, nicknamed 'Chip'. After a particularly disastrous mission, group commander Colonel Keith Davenport appears exhausted and demoralized. Darryl Zanuck was apparently convinced to pay this high price when he heard that William Wyler was interested in purchasing it for Paramount. Based on the novel Twelve O'Clock High by Beirne Lay, Jr. and Sy Bartlett (New York, 1948). Both films deal with the realities of daylight precision bombing without fighter escort, the basic Army Air Forces doctrine at the start of World War II (prior to the arrival of long range Allied fighter aircraft like the P-51 Mustang). 6 talking about this. It is patterned after the events which actually occurred at the 306th Bomb Group in England in 1943. TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH is a gripping action-drama that focuses on the psychological effects of war. Actual combat footage is used in this tense war drama. [7], Major General Pritchard was modeled on that of the VIII Bomber Command's first commander, Major General Ira C. Rife with action and intercut with actual wartime footage, the skirmishes between the 918th's behemoth B-17 Flying Fortresses and German dogfighters have a riveting realism that was seldom matched on TV. Gregory Peck received a Best Actor Oscar® nomination for his powerful performance in this thrilling war drama. Bevan had received publicity as a 'stowaway gunner' (similar to McIllhenny in the film), even though in reality he had been invited to fly missions. Towards the end of the film, the near-catatonic battle fatigue that General Savage suffered and the harrowing missions that led up to it were inspired by the experiences of Brigadier General Newton Longfellow. Savage takes a harsh approach to restoring the group's discipline and morale. ", "Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress", "Hooray for Hollywood - Librarian Names 25 More Films to National Registry. I went down to the shop down the street. Twelve O'Clock High, based on the novel by Sy Bartlett 9 out of 10 This motion picture is one of the rare productions, even more difficult to find in the age of Avengers, Fast and the Furious 23, wherein the public can find meaning, values and role models. Savage assigns Gately only the most incompetent crewmen, ordering him to paint the name 'Leper Colony' on his airplane. a 1949 film about the United States Army's Eighth Air Force crews who flew daylight bombing missions against Germany and occupied France during World War II. Sergeant McIllhenny was drawn from a member of the 306th Bomb Group, Sgt Donald Bevan,[8] a qualified gunner who was assigned ground jobs including part-time driver for the commander of his squadron. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Savage conducts a series of training missions and waits for an opportunity to restore the group's pride in its abilities. Directed by Henry King. The assessment of these failures by the … [3] In 1998, Twelve O'Clock High was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".[4][5]. His defeatist attitude spreads to other senior leaders of the group, including his Air Exec, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Gately. [25] The Times picked Twelve O'Clock High as one of the 10 Best Films of 1949 and, in later years, it rated the film as one of the "Best 1000" of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. John Stryker is hated and feared by his men, who see him as a cold-hearted sadist. Ordered to return to the same target after a particularly brutal raid on a ball bearing factory, Savage finds himself physically unable to haul himself up into his B-17. Rough-and-ready Major Cobb impresses Savage with his independent spirit and replaces Gately as Air Exec. Randy specializes in custom / personalized individual model orders. 12 O'Clock High is an American military drama television series set in World War II. Upset by the contrast of Savage's stern leadership with Davenport's easygoing ways, all of the Squadron’s pilots apply for transfers. [8], Twelve O'Clock High was in production from late April to early July 1949. 30 of 35 people found this review helpful. TCM goes to war on Memorial Day: But thorny issues mostly avoided, Favorite General Officers – Military Rank. Morale is a disaster. While waiting for the group’s return, Savage becomes catatonic. [8][19] The film's technical advisor, Colonel John deRussy, was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama at the time, and suggested Ozark Army Air Field near Daleville, Alabama (now known as Cairns Army Airfield, adjacent to Fort Rucker). View production, box office, & company info. (1949). The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two: Dean Jagger for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Thomas T. Moulton for Best Sound Recording. For the television series, see, Tibbetts was also the pilot of the B-29 ', This allegation is at odds with both 20th Century-Fox press releases made during production and with research done by Duffin and Matheis for. I've seen it several times before. Pritchard tries to get Savage to return to a staff job at VIII Bomber Command but Savage feels that the 918th is not yet ready to stand up without him. Many viewers will at first find this film to be just another good vintage war movie. [12], Screenwriters Bartlett and Lay drew on their own wartime experiences with Eighth Air Force bomber units. He noted that the film focused more on the human element than the aircraft or machinery of war. [Note 2], Clark Gable was interested in the lead role of General Frank Savage. Tookey, Christopher (London, 1994), "The Film Critics’ Film Guide", Boxtree Limited. 3, better known as Duke Field, where the mock installation with 15 buildings (including a World War II control tower) were constructed to simulate RAF Archbury. The reason Peck changed his mind was because he was impressed with director Henry King, finding his empathy with the material and the cast and crew appealing. But when their boots hit the beaches, they begin to understand the reason for Stryker's rigid form of discipline. His models are hand carved and hand painted from Philippine mahogany wood. [11] A good deal of the production was filmed on Eglin Air Force Base and its associated auxiliary fields near Fort Walton, Florida. Twelve o'Clock High Gregory Peck (Wing Commander) and the US Air Force Commanding General tries to find the breaking point of overworked airmen during WWII. The film's 918th Bomber Group was modeled primarily on the 306th because that group remained a significant part of the Eighth Air Force throughout the war in Europe. Twelve O'Clock High 2nd Lieutenant Jesse Bishop, who belly lands in the B-17 next to the runway at the beginning of the film and was nominated for the Medal of Honor, had his true life counterpart in Second Lieutenant John C. Morgan. Brigadier General Frank Savage was created as a composite of several group commanders but the primary inspiration was Colonel Frank A. Armstrong, who commanded the 306th Bomb Group on which the 918th was modeled. 1 product rating - Twelve O'Clock High DVD 12 1949 World War II Pilot Film Classic w/ Gregory Peck $14.44 Trending at $11.18 Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. Only as they return to Archbury does he regain his composure and fall asleep. This is a brand new edition that is even closer to the original movie jug than any previous ones. Based on the 1949 movie of the same name, '12 O'Clock High' follows the exploits of the U.S. Air Force's 918th Bomb Group while stationed in England during World War II. [26], After attending the premiere, the Commander of the Strategic Air Command, General Curtis LeMay, told the authors that he "couldn't find anything wrong with it." [23] It went into general release in February 1950. Written by TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH, screen play by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr., based on their novel of the same name; directed by Henry King; produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth Century-Fox. [15] Frank Tallman, Mantz' partner in Tallmantz Aviation, wrote in his autobiography that, while many B-17s had been landed by one pilot, as far as he knew this flight was the first time that a B-17 ever took off with only one pilot and no other crew; nobody was sure that it could be done.“[Note 3] The footage was used again in the 1962 film The War Lover. 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