Lovesusti
The Worst Film Ever
SnoReptilePlenty
Memorable, crazy movie
Fairaher
The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.
Orla Zuniga
It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review
deickos
Though I have seen most of HK's films thought I couldn't like this one as well. The theme appeared too familiar and too predictable for my taste. But HK worked his magic one more time again - the movie was made as it should, nothing more nothing less. This enables HK to pull through with success again: simplicity is his magic that works wonders from most common things. He only deals with what is essential and the result is a paradigm of film-making.
gavin6942
A hard-as-nails general takes over a bomber unit suffering from low morale and whips them into fighting shape.What do you know about Paul Tibbets? If that name means anything at all to you, it is probably that he dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan. But he also flew air missions over Europe in 1942. This guy was everywhere."Twelve O'Clock High" is considered culturally important, and I would have to agree. If nothing else, it does have the Americans over Europe, which frankly is something few people know about. The story is normally that following Pearl Harbor (December 1941), America declared war on Japan. There was no invasion of Europe until June 1944. But that is not strictly speaking accurate.
edwagreen
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.
AaronCapenBanner
Dean Jagger won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in this intelligent and realistic account of a "hard luck" bomber unit in England suffering from low morale, where General Frank Savage(played by Gregory Peck) has assumed command from Col. Davenport(played by Gary Merrill) Frank believes that Davenport has become too close to his men, blinding him to the harsh missions they must undertake, making them soft and overcautious. Savage decides to not let that happen to him, and institutes harsh disciplinary measures on the men, which they hate, especially a Lt. Col.(played by Hugh Marlowe) who bitterly resents the dressing down he receives. A curious thing happens though: the plan works, as the men regain their confidence and launch a series of successful bombing campaigns against Germany. Ironically though, General Savage suffers the same fate as his predecessor; over identification with the men...First-rate WWII drama(based on fact) has excellent direction by Henry King, performances by all, and an intelligent script that accurately portrays the time and place it is set. The framing device with Jagger in the modern day remembering his times with the unit is most effective.
