My uncle was a B-17 pilot. He and his crew were lost on a sortie mission on April 24, 1944. He's buried in Saint Laurent, France. His brother, my father was a US Naval officer stationed at Pearl during the Japanese attack. He served the entire war in the Pacific theater. I'm named after my uncle. I'm honored to be related to both of them.
Through you Sir, we sincerely thank them for their service. I live very close to the US war cemetery in Madingly, Cambridge, UK. As often as I can, I visit to be in the wonderful presence of so many heroes and heroines. A very sobering experience.
Still watching in 2024! A great movie. Our airmen are not given as much attention as their army counterparts but their contribution to the war effort as well as their sacrifice was vital to the final victory. May those who didn't come home RIP. And those who came home, but were never the same, I pray they found comfort somehow. Thank you for the great upload.
Thankfully the Airmen are finally getting the Love, many new and older movies are based around their experiences and more new ones are in the works. Infantrymen had a higher chance of survival than Airmen by a large margin. Brave souls.
Can't count how many times I've seen this movie over the past 55 years or so. Makes the eyes wet each and every time. What these guys have lived is simply out of this world. May we all remember why they fought and died, so no one ever has to go through this again.
If the high estimates of the Dresden firebombing are accurate, then 250,000 died. Although 1/4 million is a high number the Nazi Regime killed 17 million civilians and POW in various countries. Curiously, the Nazi killed 250,000 disabled and institutionalized mentally ill Germans, 5,700,000 non Jewish Soviet Civilians killed by Nazis, nearly as many as the Jews of all nations occupied by Nazi German Forces. 1.8 million non-Jewish civilians in Poland. 250,00 (low estimate) Sinta and Roma (Gypsy) civilians. I don’t have an accurate number of German civilians who opposed the their tyrannical Government of all religions and atheists. WWI Germany dropped incendiary bombs on England from Zeppelins 1918. WW2 at the very start Germany firebombed Warsaw which continued with the fire bombing raids in England. Sorry to hear of your family’s loss but in terms of atrocities, you point one finger at USAAF (but the majority of the destruction was began by and occurred from the RAF night fire bombing of Dresden), while four fingers point back at you and your deceased relative’s country. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but when comes to war everyone loses.
😂😂😂😂..., American imperialism & obsession with supremacy is what's destroying this world.., and don't forget 'America' is an abomination, built on invasion, illegal occupation and the biggest mass genocide in history..!! So nuff with the self deluded rhetoric.
If you imagine for one moment that no one will ever have to go through that again I don't know whether to admire your optimism or despise your ignorance.
I thought PTSD was a myth until I found I had it. I thought it was just something that happened to you and it's over. It's basic foundation is from guilt which is very difficult to forget. The guilt can be from something a person did or did not do. His PTSD occurred when he ordered the plane to fly through the flak. Final straw.
My favorite actors!! This is one of the best, most mature depictions of the personal greatness of the greatest generation. I thank the veterans of WW II for my freedom.
A terrific study into the strain of military leadership and command. One of the best movies ever made, not only on this subject, but as a dramatic story. Outstanding performances from an outstanding cast. I never get tired of watching this.
😉👍Truly One of my all time favorite WW2 movies indeed and I when I was younger I also used to watch 12 O'clock High the series in the 60's with my Step-Dad as well!👌.
I am 64 and a 7 years old saw this film , my father flew in the ARMY AIR CORPS as a gunner , and I keep his green wool uniforms and sent the AIR FORCE wool uniforms to my brother , they were same as the green wool just blue. Thanks Dad for being here , in spite of everything , we love you always. Dad. 🙏
Interesting you speak of blue wool. I'd not seen anything but green wool in my father's trunk. He passed in '93, age 70. Too soon. He was later in the reserve awhile. 8AF 487BGh 839 BS . Ball turret in Sheldon crew. I have a paper proclaiming him part of the Lucky Bastard bunch. Tail paint was the square P.
There is a place in Pennsylvania where the mug in this movie is actually in a display. The place had at first once been the first Ford dealerships in central Pa. Might I add it is at one really frigging really remote spot in upper center county Pa. The dealership was converted to a service station in the early 50s. By 1980 that owner who was friends with Dean Jagger had donated cars to Paramount studios for movies then passed on circa 1980. I can't find out much more about the place all I know is there is this really hard to make intersection there where I got in some incidents towing my stockcar to NY fairgrounds back in that era. The owner passed on but someone is still maintaining the place because there are still cars and antiques on display inside but I doubt the place has been open to anyone other than who currently owns the place. There is no name on the place. One can clearly see the remnants of an old ESSO gas pole and where the ESSO pumps had once been. I talked to the owners of the nearby golf course and the guy that owns the cabin I always rent there belongs to a local news casters father of channel 16 news here. They are the ones that know where ya should look to see the Toby mug in the place. It does appear to be that Toby mug or one just like it. Let me just say to anyone that plays golf summers near the Pa. Binghamton NY border should know of where I am talking about. The old filling station should still be one. It calls your attention to it before ya get to that hairy intersection there.
Wonderful movie, great story telling, fascinating human behaviour. Fantastic lighting, great roles and acting. And thank heaven for those gorgeous long shots instead of super short cuts every half second. Much more intense atmosphere. Lets me look instead of the editor. Gives me the choice where I look, who I observe. This for me is a true gem.
My father was a WWII pilot flying both the B-24 and B-17 in the 486th BG at Sudbury, England, located NE of London. The 486th was known as the O&W Bomb Group. This movie was a favorite of his!
Was lucky enough to fly in a B-17 this opening always give me chills. Sat opposite a ‘17 radio operator when they spooled the mags & engines up his eyes told the story as it all came back to him. The bravery of these air crew’s can not be over stated when you realise their only protection was sheet metal & aluminium thinner than a Nike shoe box.
This brings back memories for a different reason than most other viewers. In 1957 I watched this on Friday Night Movies on our local tv station. I was nine years old and it was the first time in my life I got to stay up past midnight.
That brings back memories. “12 O’Clock High” was a staple of Saturday TV matinees when I was growing up in the 50s and early 60s. The first film I can remember being allowed to stay up for on a Friday night was “The Halls of Montezuma” with Richard Widmark.
One of the greatest war movies ever produced; and one of the best on leadership. Having personally known some of those airmen, I can say they are the bravest, most courageous people I've ever known.
My father was in the Marines in the Pacific from 1942-1946. He fought at Guadalcanal, Bouganville, Peleliu, and Okinawa. He told me that was how they got through it - by deciding that they were already dead. He said everything after 1945 was a bonus.
@@PMC47 Hi. Can't say that I,ve heard of that one. I will have to look it up. I like Twelve o'clock High because there is humour ,action,drama. The scene with Savage and Gately in the hospital is a grat scene. It still brings a lump to my throat when I watch it. This film also has one of my favourite lines in any film , "Give it to me with the Bark on". I love that line. Thanks for your reply. I watched it again last night and still enjoyed it. Regards.
@@BrianSanders-tn7pi I like the scene where Savage is balling out the preacher and Major Stovall over having gone up on one of the missions, and Stovall says, "I was hoping the general wouldn't go into this right now, I think I'm suffering from combat fatigue." After 1 mission ?!?!?
This film has, imo, a great beginning and ending for a war film. Makes me wonder if those folks living today on or near those old airfields know what happened there 80+ years back.
I live near one of those old airfields.. The 381st at Ridgewell!.. And believe me.. We do remember!.. The courage is what we remember.. You had a one in four chance of survival in 1943.. But mostly.. How do you get back into that plane after seeing half of your group blown up/ shot down in flames the day before?? That's courage that I don't think that I could ever muster.. Yes.. We remember.. Check out the 381st Bomb Group museum.. Google it.
Probably a housing estate with street names like Aviation way, Or resorted back to a farm,A stretch of runway at Bradwell may still have exist? I look around a lot during the 70s
The bike ride to the airfield always gets me. My Grandpa was a master crew chief on B-17s with the Mighty 8th AAF. 7 of them, because 6 were lost over Europe. He said very little about it all.
What the air crews went through is beyond words, daylight raids were high risk despite the planes self defence, even with long range fighter escorts it was a murderous undertaking, indeed these airman and the suffering ground crews not seeing their ships return from missions was a shocking thing no one can comprehend their distress in losing their well maintained ships and crews, indeed heros all, the greatest generation.
One of my favorite movies. My dad was a bottom turret gunner in a B-17, also flying their missions out of a base in England. Shot down on a run over the Netherlands he survived, but spent the last 13 months of the war as a German POW. He was one of the lucky ones.
This is a great movie. And the digital restoration has really made the wartime footage fit in with the film shot specifically for the movie. Before, you could tell the difference, but now it's seamless. It doesn't get much better.
This movie ranks top tier of WW2 movies and that fact that it was made so soon after the War and used all the real deal equipment & uniforms and specifically using the earlier B-17 models matches up perfectly with early 8th Army Air Corp operations. I grew up watching the B&W TV series and it was good, but not as good as this movie. In retrospect counting how many personnel it took to maintain, arm and fly 1-plane with 10 crew and 3-tons of bombs compared to what 1 F-16 can deliver almost triple that using 1 pilot and a more highly technical ground crew is impressive enough and will be more highly impressive when even that gets replaced by an AI piloted Drone. It is astonishing how far military aviation has progressed since 1912.
I never understood this movie until I read "Masters of the Air". I saw it again, after a long interval, about a week after I finished Miller's excellent book...and it finally made sense to me.
I saw this when it came out, yes in 1949. I've watched it many, many times. It is one of the best movies ever made. A friend who graduated from the Air Force Academy told me it is used in officer instruction.
Gregory Peck did a good job. IMHO, Sterling Hayden would've nailed it. They were the same age (born a month apart) and both had WWII experience. Gregory Peck’s involvement in World War II was quite unique. Although he did not serve in the military due to a back injury he sustained while rowing in college, he contributed to the war effort in other ways. Peck worked in the entertainment industry, participating in radio shows and making films that boosted morale and supported the war effort. Sterling Hayden had a fascinating and adventurous World War II experience. He left Hollywood to join the war effort, initially enlisting in the Marine Corps under the alias "John Hamilton" and later became an intelligence officer in the OSS. Hayden’s work with the OSS involved clandestine operations in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. He participated in missions that included smuggling weapons and supplies to resistance fighters in German-occupied territories. He was awarded a Silver Star for bravery. Just saying.
In 2001, I was an Air Force officer candidate. Our commandant showed us this film to highlight the importance of finding a balance between man and mission. Col. Davenport was all about his men, while General Savage was all about the mission. Col. Davenport let his feelings for his men interfere with his duty to accomplish the mission which led to unit moral breaking. On the other hand Gen. Savage focused solely on getting the job done at all cost which improved unit moral and mission success but eventually led to himself breaking. I've had the pleasure of serving as both enlisted and as an officer. It seems like a lifetime ago yet so many of the lessons I learned in the military have stuck with me in my post military career.
I've simply never have had the same range of emotions watching later films on this subject that I've long had for this one. The DVD for it has sat on a shelf for years and years but, oddly, I doubt I would have seen it yet again had it not appeared as a complete surprise here on RUclips. Thank you for uploading it and in high quality.
My grandfather was a ball turret gunner on a B24 in what became the 15th Air Force. His first mission was to Pelosti the Romanian oil fields as part of the low level attack. He finished up with one of the first raids of Berlin. He met a couple of 82nd troopers after we had taken Sicily and they saw his wings. They asked if he wanted to switch jobs with them he said hell yeah he would. Then they asked what his job was he said ball turret gunner and both of them said fuck no your balls are bigger than ours.
This is one of he finest WW2 movies of the incredible emotional toll war and command has on individuals - in this case bomber command. Direction, writing, acting, cinematography outstanding.
Great movie. Shows we all have our limits even when we think we're tough as nails. We push ourselves to the admiration of others and our self satisfaction and then we crack. We're only human, not machines.
This film - dam near a documentary - has got to be, actually is, one of the best films about war/combat, ever made. And a master piece of story telling on film.
I attended Navy LMET (Leadership and Management Education and Training) back in the mid 80’s and this flick was part of the course. We covered the different types of leaders together with their pro and cons.
the scene where General Savage reads the riot act to derelict Col. Gately is the best "acting" I have ever seen. Peck is ferocious....and Hugh Marlow is literally quivering in anger.
This hit local movie theaters in 1949, not long after the horrors of this war. I couldn't imagine why *anyone* who fought in the front lines of the European Theatre of World War II would want to re-visit their wartime experiences just a few years after this frightful event. Inexplicably traumatic events were still fresh in the minds of those brave men who survived the war.
For every person who saw action overseas there were hundreds at home contributing what they could. I imagine this movie would have been of interest to the countless thousands who worked at Boeing, Lockheed, Consolidated, et al, plus the other people who had regular jobs but also had friends or family who served over seas. For the most part, all they ever saw of the war were the newsreels which were by and large sanitized propaganda pieces.
I've seen this at least a couple of dozen times and just now noticed - at 24:00, Peck pours himself a drink of whiskey and the bottle is VAT 69, capt. Nixons favorite brew from Band of Brothers.
Unfortunately most people don't realise that this happened. My grandfather WW1 And my Father. WW2 served in both wars. Australian army. Grand father trench war fare in Europe. Mustard gas etc passed only 60, my father first in England, Then Middle East And finally New Guinea..6 years in total. No one today would do that.
Mr. Peck's acting is strong for this period. As well, this movie has some amazing real footage (WWII air combat and the Flying Fortress (sound as well)). No love story; no female contributions...a fair depiction of the post WWII era. Liked it.
Fantastic movie, especially for 1949. Many other movies depicting WW2 events in latter years were pretty cornball and so inaccurate in every aspect. This one truly tops them all in its time. Thank you!!! The only sad aspect of this movie (and no fault of the movie) is the belief of the USAAF that bombs in 1943 couldn't penetrate the submarine pens at 9,000 ft. or even 109,000 feet if they could climb that high. All of those deathly missions were not even pin pricks. Pointless. The RAF informed the USAAF that these missions were futile but they wouldn't listen.
Lucky me to see the movie, over,and over, and over again. I volunteer at the Hill Air Force Base Museum. One of the gentlemen I work with,his dad was a tail gunner in the infamous Bloody 100th bomb group. I feel proud to know him. D Rector.
Spielberg & Hanks obviously used this brilliant film as the template for Masters of the Air, a film which everyone should watch before viewing Masters, as it sets the tone & background. Also, as an interesting nod to this film, the ceramic aviator prop purchased here at the beginning of this film, which was used to signify a new mission, shows up in the final episode of Masters of the Air. You can see it on the fireplace mantel behind Crosby when he & Rosenthal are discussing the effects that the war might have on them afterwards, when Crosby quotes Nietze.
UK built bombs for the U Boat pens. Tall boy five tons and Grand Slam 10 tons. They where designed to penetrate before exploding and penetrated the most heavily protected U Boat pens. One of their target the Tirpitz was hit by two and turned over. They where designed as heavy penetration earthquake bombs not needing to hit the target just destroy the foundations and the building is wrecked and falls down on its own
The movie was filmed in Texas.The film from the war was at Burtonwood near Liverpool it was still a army field in 1970.I worked there on the planes still there.Runways so big you could get lost Colonel Savage tower still there giant hangars with doors that took forever to crank open looked the same way as back in 45 except for weeds.
Not sure if you're confusing 13:28 this films locations with another. It was filmed at the far north end of Eglin AFB in Florida. Using active duty personnel. The aircraft were recent drones of the Bikini Atoll nuke tests. The opening scenes were filmed at Ozark Army Airfield. The current Ft. Rucker. Home of Army Aviation.
As said by others below: great acting , and notice NO CURSING , like my Dad I mentioned below in comment , Virgil never cussed but he spoke in a way like these men of this time , they could speak clearly and express their minds with good english and dress down a " jerk " without dropping " F " bombs. Better men back then , better culture and we had Honor. 🇺🇸💪🏻
The movie is a classic training video on different management styles, leadership, and how to gain respect and loyalty from your direct reports as well as management.
Many thanks, and to our friend Charles Landry in Winter Park who has lived this and survived. He was also just 21 and at this time they did not have the escort P-47s and P-51s, so they had to fly half the missions alone. And the Luftwaffe was still strong so their experienced pilots were still around and well able to kill you. He was stationed at Alconbury which this movie seems to pattern Archbury after. We are lucky to have had men like these. What were you up to when you were 21...?
I remember the old Twelve O'clock high television series....I come home ....eat dinner...do my homework...then I'm airborne.... twelve o'clock high....
This was one of the first accurate representations of the activities of the 8th Airforce during WW-II that came out of Hollywood. My uncle was one of the pilots who survived those missions....
My uncle was a B-17 pilot. He and his crew were lost on a sortie mission on April 24, 1944. He's buried in Saint Laurent, France. His brother, my father was a US Naval officer stationed at Pearl during the Japanese attack. He served the entire war in the Pacific theater. I'm named after my uncle. I'm honored to be related to both of them.
Excelente historia de familia. Es como para un libro
Through you Sir, we sincerely thank them for their service. I live very close to the US war cemetery in Madingly, Cambridge, UK. As often as I can, I visit to be in the wonderful presence of so many heroes and heroines. A very sobering experience.
So Sorry for your Loss. Your Uncle was a Brave man along with your Father!! 2 very brave men.
god bless all of ya.
They gave their lives so we can enjoy the peace & freedom of the free nations of the world today. They are forever young & remembered.
Still watching in 2024! A great movie.
Our airmen are not given as much attention as their army counterparts but their contribution to the war effort as well as their sacrifice was vital to the final victory. May those who didn't come home RIP.
And those who came home, but were never the same, I pray they found comfort somehow.
Thank you for the great upload.
Thankfully the Airmen are finally getting the Love, many new and older movies are based around their experiences and more new ones are in the works. Infantrymen had a higher chance of survival than Airmen by a large margin. Brave souls.
Top 3 services by WW2 casualty rate: 1) Merchant Marine. 2) Submariners. 3) 8th Air Force in 1943-44
Can't count how many times I've seen this movie over the past 55 years or so. Makes the eyes wet each and every time.
What these guys have lived is simply out of this world.
May we all remember why they fought and died, so no one ever has to go through this again.
My grandma, cousin and aunt will rember them too... cause such guys killed then on april 17 1945 in Dresden. No heroes at all
If the high estimates of the Dresden firebombing are accurate, then 250,000 died. Although 1/4 million is a high number the Nazi Regime killed 17 million civilians and POW in various countries. Curiously, the Nazi killed 250,000 disabled and institutionalized mentally ill Germans, 5,700,000 non Jewish Soviet Civilians killed by Nazis, nearly as many as the Jews of all nations occupied by Nazi German Forces. 1.8 million non-Jewish civilians in Poland. 250,00 (low estimate) Sinta and Roma (Gypsy) civilians. I don’t have an accurate number of German civilians who opposed the their tyrannical Government of all religions and atheists.
WWI Germany dropped incendiary bombs on England from Zeppelins 1918. WW2 at the very start Germany firebombed Warsaw which continued with the fire bombing raids in England.
Sorry to hear of your family’s loss but in terms of atrocities, you point one finger at USAAF (but the majority of the destruction was began by and occurred from the RAF night fire bombing of Dresden), while four fingers point back at you and your deceased relative’s country. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but when comes to war everyone loses.
Me too.
😂😂😂😂..., American imperialism & obsession with supremacy is what's destroying this world.., and don't forget 'America' is an abomination, built on invasion, illegal occupation and the biggest mass genocide in history..!!
So nuff with the self deluded rhetoric.
If you imagine for one moment that no one will ever have to go through that again I don't know whether to admire your optimism or despise your ignorance.
Thank-you a million times. I've been watching this movie every chance i get. I'm 66 so that's a lot of times. RIP to these heros. ❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏 🫡 🇺🇸
A 1958 baby Like myself 😊
And don't forget all these great actors who portrayed them! They were a different breed back then themselves.
One of the first movies to address PTSD and combat stress ....ahead of its time ...
PTSD.... And what has the world learned? NT. NoThing
My dad had it from the pacific.
I thought PTSD was a myth until I found I had it. I thought it was just something that happened to you and it's over. It's basic foundation is from guilt which is very difficult to forget. The guilt can be from something a person did or did not do. His PTSD occurred when he ordered the plane to fly through the flak. Final straw.
My Father Had PTSD😢
After WW2 is was called shell shock, and it should have stayed that name instead of being changed over the years. George Carlin talked all about it.
A great psychological study… All performances are stunning .. Thank you.
Its based on Beirne Lay's actual experiences being sent to Lavenham after the 91stBG, I believe
My favorite actors!! This is one of the best, most mature depictions of the personal greatness of the greatest generation. I thank the veterans of WW II for my freedom.
A terrific study into the strain of military leadership and command. One of the best movies ever made, not only on this subject, but as a dramatic story. Outstanding performances from an outstanding cast. I never get tired of watching this.
😉👍Truly One of my all time favorite WW2 movies indeed and I when I was younger I also used to watch 12 O'clock High the series in the 60's with my Step-Dad as well!👌.
This celludoid classic is in a class by itself that will never be equaled
I am 64 and a 7 years old saw this film , my father flew in the ARMY AIR CORPS as a gunner , and I keep his green wool uniforms and sent the AIR FORCE wool uniforms to my brother , they were same as the green wool just blue. Thanks Dad for being here , in spite of everything , we love you always. Dad. 🙏
Interesting you speak of blue wool. I'd not seen anything but green wool in my father's trunk. He passed in '93, age 70. Too soon. He was later in the reserve awhile. 8AF 487BGh 839 BS . Ball turret in Sheldon crew. I have a paper proclaiming him part of the Lucky Bastard bunch. Tail paint was the square P.
He knows.
The moment he spots the Toby mug in the antique store, really gets you the second and subsequent times you see the movie.
There is a place in Pennsylvania where the mug in this movie is actually in a display. The place had at first once been the first Ford dealerships in central Pa. Might I add it is at one really frigging really remote spot in upper center county Pa. The dealership was converted to a service station in the early 50s. By 1980 that owner who was friends with Dean Jagger had donated cars to Paramount studios for movies then passed on circa 1980. I can't find out much more about the place all I know is there is this really hard to make intersection there where I got in some incidents towing my stockcar to NY fairgrounds back in that era. The owner passed on but someone is still maintaining the place because there are still cars and antiques on display inside but I doubt the place has been open to anyone other than who currently owns the place. There is no name on the place. One can clearly see the remnants of an old ESSO gas pole and where the ESSO pumps had once been. I talked to the owners of the nearby golf course and the guy that owns the cabin I always rent there belongs to a local news casters father of channel 16 news here. They are the ones that know where ya should look to see the Toby mug in the place. It does appear to be that Toby mug or one just like it. Let me just say to anyone that plays golf summers near the Pa. Binghamton NY border should know of where I am talking about. The old filling station should still be one. It calls your attention to it before ya get to that hairy intersection there.
Wonderful movie, great story telling, fascinating human behaviour.
Fantastic lighting, great roles and acting.
And thank heaven for those gorgeous long shots instead of super short cuts every half second. Much more intense atmosphere. Lets me look instead of the editor. Gives me the choice where I look, who I observe.
This for me is a true gem.
My father was a WWII pilot flying both the B-24 and B-17 in the 486th BG at Sudbury, England, located NE of London. The 486th was known as the O&W Bomb Group. This movie was a favorite of his!
Was lucky enough to fly in a B-17 this opening always give me chills. Sat opposite a ‘17 radio operator when they spooled the mags & engines up his eyes told the story as it all came back to him. The bravery of these air crew’s can not be over stated when you realise their only protection was sheet metal & aluminium thinner than a Nike shoe box.
This brings back memories for a different reason than most other viewers.
In 1957 I watched this on Friday Night Movies on our local tv station.
I was nine years old and it was the first time in my life I got to stay up past midnight.
That brings back memories. “12 O’Clock High” was a staple of Saturday TV matinees when I was growing up in the 50s and early 60s. The first film I can remember being allowed to stay up for on a Friday night was “The Halls of Montezuma” with Richard Widmark.
Great Movie..Great Cast..!!
One of the greatest war movies ever produced; and one of the best on leadership. Having personally known some of those airmen, I can say they are the bravest, most courageous people I've ever known.
Savage made Bligh of the Bounty look good as a leader.
Fantastic film. Great tutorial on leadership.
This movie was shown for many years as part of the Organizational Behavior class for 1st year MBA students at Harvard Business School.
"Stop making plans, forget about going home, consider yourselves already dead. " The best lines.
So true...
My father was in the Marines in the Pacific from 1942-1946. He fought at Guadalcanal, Bouganville, Peleliu, and Okinawa. He told me that was how they got through it - by deciding that they were already dead. He said everything after 1945 was a bonus.
Tremendous film on so many levels. Still used as a study in leadership.
I even own one of those tobys. A cherished homage to this incredible movie.
Classic movie. Well played, well directed, with a good story line.
One of my most favourite war movies. Great story , great action.
One of mine too. Such depth of acting by all. Peck was a legendary actor. Captains of the Clouds is another real gem as well.
@@PMC47 Hi. Can't say that I,ve heard of that one. I will have to look it up. I like Twelve o'clock High because there is humour ,action,drama. The scene with Savage and Gately in the hospital is a grat scene. It still brings a lump to my throat when I watch it. This film also has one of my favourite lines in any film , "Give it to me with the Bark on". I love that line. Thanks for your reply. I watched it again last night and still enjoyed it. Regards.
@@BrianSanders-tn7pi I like the scene where Savage is balling out the preacher and Major Stovall over having gone up on one of the missions, and Stovall says, "I was hoping the general wouldn't go into this right now, I think I'm suffering from combat fatigue." After 1 mission ?!?!?
This film has, imo, a great beginning and ending for a war film. Makes me wonder if those folks living today on or near those old airfields know what happened there 80+ years back.
I live near one of those old airfields.. The 381st at Ridgewell!.. And believe me.. We do remember!..
The courage is what we remember.. You had a one in four chance of survival in 1943..
But mostly.. How do you get back into that plane after seeing half of your group blown up/ shot down in flames the day before??
That's courage that I don't think that I could ever muster..
Yes.. We remember..
Check out the 381st Bomb Group museum.. Google it.
My favorite parts of this movie are they beginning and ending.
Probably a housing estate with street names like Aviation way, Or resorted back to a farm,A stretch of runway at Bradwell may still have exist? I look around a lot during the 70s
They knew there was an airfield there . Apart from that they no civilians would have been allowed on base
Yes they do. And we all need to remember what it takes to keep our freedoms and thank those who sacrificed their lives for it.
One of the best WWII movie.
This is a gem of the early post war genre. Dean Yager gives an Oscar winning performance. Great B/W movie.
The bike ride to the airfield always gets me. My Grandpa was a master crew chief on B-17s with the Mighty 8th AAF. 7 of them, because 6 were lost over Europe. He said very little about it all.
It's Not Easy to Talk About Seeing inside a B-17 Shot Up with Blood & Guts, Too. Heaven is for Heroes, R.I.P.
This is a Great Story of Men in Conflict, Under Pressure. Brilliant!!!
What the air crews went through is beyond words, daylight raids were high risk despite the planes self defence, even with long range fighter escorts it was a murderous undertaking, indeed these airman and the suffering ground crews not seeing their ships return from missions was a shocking thing
no one can comprehend their distress in losing their well maintained ships and crews, indeed heros all, the greatest generation.
One of my all time favorites!
One of my favorite WW2 movies. A great story. Brilliant!🇬🇧❤🇺🇸
So many decades later it's still a classic. Something has been lost in today's filmography...
The psychology of constant combat is conducted through this movie....I'm a six year old kid again thrilled by this movie !!!!!
One of my favorite movies. My dad was a bottom turret gunner in a B-17, also flying their missions out of a base in England. Shot down on a run over the Netherlands he survived, but spent the last 13 months of the war as a German POW. He was one of the lucky ones.
This is a great movie. And the digital restoration has really made the wartime footage fit in with the film shot specifically for the movie. Before, you could tell the difference, but now it's seamless. It doesn't get much better.
Compelling. Intelligent. Moving. One of the best films in any genre.
This movie ranks top tier of WW2 movies and that fact that it was made so soon after the War and used all the real deal equipment & uniforms and specifically using the earlier B-17 models matches up perfectly with early 8th Army Air Corp operations. I grew up watching the B&W TV series and it was good, but not as good as this movie. In retrospect counting how many personnel it took to maintain, arm and fly 1-plane with 10 crew and 3-tons of bombs compared to what 1 F-16 can deliver almost triple that using 1 pilot and a more highly technical ground crew is impressive enough and will be more highly impressive when even that gets replaced by an AI piloted Drone. It is astonishing how far military aviation has progressed since 1912.
One of my most favorite movies, seen this four times, and just think it is the best. 🙂
I never understood this movie until I read "Masters of the Air".
I saw it again, after a long interval, about a week after I finished Miller's excellent book...and it finally made sense to me.
I saw this when it came out, yes in 1949. I've watched it many, many times. It is one of the best movies ever made. A friend who graduated from the Air Force Academy told me it is used in officer instruction.
They don't get much better than this. Absolutely brilliant to tell if from a flashback.
Gregory Peck did a good job. IMHO, Sterling Hayden would've nailed it. They were the same age (born a month apart) and both had WWII experience. Gregory Peck’s involvement in World War II was quite unique. Although he did not serve in the military due to a back injury he sustained while rowing in college, he contributed to the war effort in other ways. Peck worked in the entertainment industry, participating in radio shows and making films that boosted morale and supported the war effort. Sterling Hayden had a fascinating and adventurous World War II experience. He left Hollywood to join the war effort, initially enlisting in the Marine Corps under the alias "John Hamilton" and later became an intelligence officer in the OSS. Hayden’s work with the OSS involved clandestine operations in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. He participated in missions that included smuggling weapons and supplies to resistance fighters in German-occupied territories. He was awarded a Silver Star for bravery. Just saying.
In 2001, I was an Air Force officer candidate. Our commandant showed us this film to highlight the importance of finding a balance between man and mission. Col. Davenport was all about his men, while General Savage was all about the mission. Col. Davenport let his feelings for his men interfere with his duty to accomplish the mission which led to unit moral breaking. On the other hand Gen. Savage focused solely on getting the job done at all cost which improved unit moral and mission success but eventually led to himself breaking.
I've had the pleasure of serving as both enlisted and as an officer. It seems like a lifetime ago yet so many of the lessons I learned in the military have stuck with me in my post military career.
I've simply never have had the same range of emotions watching later films on this subject that I've long had for this one. The DVD for it has sat on a shelf for years and years but, oddly, I doubt I would have seen it yet again had it not appeared as a complete surprise here on RUclips. Thank you for uploading it and in high quality.
My grandfather was a ball turret gunner on a B24 in what became the 15th Air Force. His first mission was to Pelosti the Romanian oil fields as part of the low level attack. He finished up with one of the first raids of Berlin.
He met a couple of 82nd troopers after we had taken Sicily and they saw his wings. They asked if he wanted to switch jobs with them he said hell yeah he would. Then they asked what his job was he said ball turret gunner and both of them said fuck no your balls are bigger than ours.
This is one of he finest WW2 movies of the incredible emotional toll war and command has on individuals - in this case bomber command. Direction, writing, acting, cinematography outstanding.
Great movie. Shows we all have our limits even when we think we're tough as nails. We push ourselves to the admiration of others and our self satisfaction and then we crack. We're only human, not machines.
This film - dam near a documentary - has got to be, actually is, one of the best films about war/combat, ever made. And a master piece of story telling on film.
One great film. It gives a good example of what happened during the war. The tv series was a good continuation.
I attended Navy LMET (Leadership and Management Education and Training) back in the mid 80’s and this flick was part of the course. We covered the different types of leaders together with their pro and cons.
This has always been one of my favorite movies. My father was in the US Navy during WWII. I built models of WWII airplanes as a kid.
They don't make 'em like this anymore, but I wish they did. My father was a control tower officer in the Middle Eastern theater in WWII.
Fantastic movie great action and excellent cast.
This film was made the year I was born. I haven't seen it for at least 20 years and it's not the way I remembered it. I'm probably getting old.
Great movie viewed it many many times Great story about leadership
Visceral, enjoyable, a really great movie, fantastic ensemble
Not a single chance to forget this Classic movie story ❤❤❤
the scene where General Savage reads the riot act to derelict Col. Gately is the best "acting" I have ever seen. Peck is ferocious....and Hugh Marlow is literally quivering in anger.
This hit local movie theaters in 1949, not long after the horrors of this war. I couldn't imagine why *anyone* who fought in the front lines of the European Theatre of World War II would want to re-visit their wartime experiences just a few years after this frightful event. Inexplicably traumatic events were still fresh in the minds of those brave men who survived the war.
For every person who saw action overseas there were hundreds at home contributing what they could. I imagine this movie would have been of interest to the countless thousands who worked at Boeing, Lockheed, Consolidated, et al, plus the other people who had regular jobs but also had friends or family who served over seas. For the most part, all they ever saw of the war were the newsreels which were by and large sanitized propaganda pieces.
I've seen this at least a couple of dozen times and just now noticed - at 24:00, Peck pours himself a drink of whiskey
and the bottle is VAT 69, capt. Nixons favorite brew from Band of Brothers.
I had that thought when I saw the bottle of Vat 69 on BoB.
Simply wonderful!,,
Jimmy Stewart, Gregory peck two actors not afraid to fly in harms way.
An incredible piece of film.
omg. Greogry Peck was an incredibly present person! i miss him.
Powerful movie. Extraordinary acting. A classic
Unfortunately most people don't realise that this happened. My grandfather WW1 And my Father. WW2 served in both wars. Australian army. Grand father trench war fare in Europe. Mustard gas etc passed only 60, my father first in England, Then Middle East And finally New Guinea..6 years in total. No one today would do that.
Mr. Peck's acting is strong for this period. As well, this movie has some amazing real footage (WWII air combat and the Flying Fortress (sound as well)). No love story; no female contributions...a fair depiction of the post WWII era. Liked it.
Probably the best film on combat leadership ever made.
A movie that spelled out the stresses of combat and the fragility of being human.
LOVE this MOVIE i must of seen it 15 times !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great film. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Fantastic movie, especially for 1949. Many other movies depicting WW2 events in latter years were pretty cornball and so inaccurate in every aspect. This one truly tops them all in its time. Thank you!!! The only sad aspect of this movie (and no fault of the movie) is the belief of the USAAF that bombs in 1943 couldn't penetrate the submarine pens at 9,000 ft. or even 109,000 feet if they could climb that high. All of those deathly missions were not even pin pricks. Pointless. The RAF informed the USAAF that these missions were futile but they wouldn't listen.
That's why the RAF had Grand Slam and Tallboy extra large bombs, the "bunker buster" of the times.
@@qg4nn you nailed it! 9 & 617 Squadron.
Lucky me to see the movie, over,and over, and over again. I volunteer at the Hill Air Force Base Museum. One of the gentlemen I work with,his dad was a tail gunner in the infamous Bloody 100th bomb group. I feel proud to know him. D Rector.
素晴らしい男達の歴史ドラマだ。
今も輝き続ける。
Spielberg & Hanks obviously used this brilliant film as the template for Masters of the Air, a film which everyone should watch before viewing Masters, as it sets the tone & background. Also, as an interesting nod to this film, the ceramic aviator prop purchased here at the beginning of this film, which was used to signify a new mission, shows up in the final episode of Masters of the Air. You can see it on the fireplace mantel behind Crosby when he & Rosenthal are discussing the effects that the war might have on them afterwards, when Crosby quotes Nietze.
Millard Mitchell was spot-on a the commanding officer. He was always good at being in charge.
He was even the studio boss in 'Singing In The Rain".
My Hero Gregory PECK. ❤
This is a class A movie, something extra special.
UK built bombs for the U Boat pens. Tall boy five tons and Grand Slam 10 tons. They where designed to penetrate before exploding and penetrated the most heavily protected U Boat pens. One of their target the Tirpitz was hit by two and turned over. They where designed as heavy penetration earthquake bombs not needing to hit the target just destroy the foundations and the building is wrecked and falls down on its own
One of the greatest, if not the greatest WWII movie ever made.
In the Navy during the 1970's we watched this movie as part of Leadership Training.
This is a very informative movie!
Mysterious and very beautiful scenes from the drone.... Thailand 🇹🇭.. fantastic 👏
One of the best movies I have ever seen😢❤
Magnificent and the book is even better. Both are remarkable.
a Salute to all the fine young men of The Mighty 8th in WWII and especially for those who gave all and never came home...
The movie was filmed in Texas.The film from the war was at Burtonwood near Liverpool it was still a army field in 1970.I worked there on the planes still there.Runways so big you could get lost Colonel Savage tower still there giant hangars with doors that took forever to crank open looked the same way as back in 45 except for weeds.
Not sure if you're confusing 13:28 this films locations with another.
It was filmed at the far north end of Eglin AFB in Florida. Using active duty personnel. The aircraft were recent drones of the Bikini Atoll nuke tests. The opening scenes were filmed at Ozark Army Airfield. The current Ft. Rucker. Home of Army Aviation.
Fantastic movie. Great actors.
As said by others below: great acting , and notice NO CURSING , like my Dad I mentioned below in comment , Virgil never cussed but he spoke in a way like these men of this time , they could speak clearly and express their minds with good english and dress down a " jerk " without dropping " F " bombs. Better men back then , better culture and we had Honor. 🇺🇸💪🏻
The movie is a classic training video on different management styles, leadership, and how to gain respect and loyalty from your direct reports as well as management.
One of my uncles was a B-17 pilot during World War 2.
Excellent movie....very well done!
Many thanks, and to our friend Charles Landry in Winter Park who has lived this and survived. He was also just 21 and at this time they did not have the escort P-47s and P-51s, so they had to fly half the missions alone. And the Luftwaffe was still strong so their experienced pilots were still around and well able to kill you. He was stationed at Alconbury which this movie seems to pattern Archbury after. We are lucky to have had men like these. What were you up to when you were 21...?
Hermosa película por favor traducir al español
Sometimes YT gets it right. I'm glad the algorithm suggested this, because the answer is, "HELL ya, I want to watch this (again)!!!!!!!!"
Arguably the best WWII movie
Just wanna say this is a damn good movie.
I'll say this much, Gregory Peck sure looked sharp as hell in that uniform.
Great Film. 75 Years On Still Great. Thanks For Showing this.Love the sound of the old Engines.
Muy buena gracias por comprtir.
I remember the old Twelve O'clock high television series....I come home ....eat dinner...do my homework...then I'm airborne.... twelve o'clock high....
This was one of the first accurate representations of the activities of the 8th Airforce during WW-II that came out of Hollywood.
My uncle was one of the pilots who survived those missions....