Gregory Peck

Hugh Marlowe

Gary Merrill

Millard Mitchell

Dean Jagger

Robert Arthur

Paul Stewart

John Kellogg

Robert Patten

Lee MacGregor

Sam Edwards

Roger Anderson

Lawrence Dobkin

Paul Picerni

Harry Lauter

Barry Jones

Don Gordon

Kenneth Tobey

Patrick Whyte

Peter Ortiz

Henry King

Sy Bartlett

Beirne Lay Jr.

Thomas Little

Bruce MacDonald

Lyle R. Wheeler

Darryl F. Zanuck

Ben Nye

Barbara McLean

Leon Shamroy

Maurice Ransford

Alfred Newman

Edward B. Powell

W. D. Flick

Fred Sersen

Roger Heman Sr.

Action

Drama

Twelve O'Clock High

20th Century Fox

United States of America

English

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.

Twelve O'Clock High | #TBT Trailer | 20th Century FOX

Twelve O'Clock High

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