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.
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Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike
Fantastic!
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Excellent portrayal of the US heavy bomber offensive in Europe in WW2. Gregory Peck is superb as the hard-nosed group commander (but, then, that is a given I guess - I can't think of a less-than-great performance by him).
TWELWE O'CLOCK HIGH is a very good war drama based on the novel and rather on personal experience. The story is focused on individuals. Every character in this film deserves space. How creates tremendous losses and the death of his comrades affects every individual. In such circumstances, a man just can not stay calm. I would like to praise realistic view. The story is in the same time alive, depressing, gloomy, aggressive, emotional and dramatic. Such moods express characters in the film. This is the best example of the atmosphere of the film. War destroys the human psyche in a myriad of ways. I always draw the line at war films with similar themes. What is the order and what the decision is. In war movies is too coincidence. The killings were not justified. Never. Therefore, in statements to the subjugation can never be purely tactical. In this case, the main character comes to emotional conflict with itself.I think that this is not a film about heroism. This is a deliberate provocation that will certainly everybody provoke an emotional response. The absurdity of war. The conditions of warfare. People's collapse. Win!? Well, I was with some segments can not agree. The term "maximum effort" is in my opinion unacceptable. In practice, of course steady. Put a character of cowards from the beginning of the film to the hero at the end of the film is inappropriate.Gregory Peck as Brigadier General Frank Savage deserves praise for good performance. He was able to present your character in totally two different states. It seems pretty impressive.Twelve O'Clock High is the authentic war drama, full of tension in the general human drama that is finally born heroes.
It's 1949 London. Stovall buys a gaudy cheap mug but he values it like fine china. He travels to Archbury which is the derelict home of the 918th Bomb Group during the War. The movie flashes back to the dark days when they had the reputation of a hard luck group due to daylight bombing. Their commander Davenport (Gary Merrill) confronts headquarters and his friend Brigadier General Frank Savage (Gregory Peck). Davenport is relieved of command and the group is given to Savage. Savage brings stiff discipline back to the group.The first hour and forty five minutes are rather bland. Gregory Peck keeps the movie going. It is considered one of the more accurate depiction of a bomber group from that era. It's also not necessarily that dramatic. The last section is their big mission and it is intercut with real footage of the air battle. Some of the footage is unreal and it's the more compelling because they are the real thing.
Excuse me, but how did Dean Jagger ever win the best supporting actor Oscar for this 1949 film? He was far too old for the part even though the latter did call for an older man. Fellow nominee John Ireland was far better in "All the King's Men." The film examines men in air combat and shows how strategic day-light bombing was the way to go in the war against Germany.We briefly hear British traitor Lord Haw-Haw in one of his speeches urging the allies to surrender.The movie proves that all men are basically vulnerable and have a breaking point. As Frank Savage, Peck lives up to his name in the film by being tough towards the men he leads in battle by air during World War 11. He has taken over the spot from Gary Merrill who has shown that he can't obey an order regarding a flyer.We know it's hard sending men into battle and we know that the latter may only stand so much.Peck is very good in the film as a commander who eventually suffers shock as a result of what he has to do.