Twelve O'Clock High [1949]

Twelve O'clock high is a very moving film. It's in B&W, and I think personally, the film benefits from this. It gives you the grim realities of sending young men out to die and the men who shoulder that decisions. There are bigger epics - like the air shows of 'The Battle of Britain' or the tank saga of 'The Battle of the Bulge', but I don't think any film can really touch the power of this film. It does not deal with the battles, but the men. It is a quiet film that address the pressures men face, the ones going out there and fighting, the ones that stay behind and give the orders. It is bloody brilliant!

Gregory Peck stars as Brig. Gen. Frank Savage. At the start of the film, he is dealing with the Lt. Col. Ben R. Gately played by the underrated and very natural actor, Hugh Marlowe. Gately is very popular with his men, because he cares. Each time he sends them out and they do not come back, his heart bleeds. Slowly the grim guilt is grinding him down. Savage sees his friend’s problems as one of distancing himself from the men. If you stay aloof, do not get involved with them personally, the decisions would come easier. When Savage voices this opinion once too often, he is told to put his money with his mouth is – he is to take over for the cracking Gately.

Savage arrives. Immediately he is in the untenable position of being he replacement for the much beloved Gately. His by-the-book, shut up and salute, does not earn him adoration. In fact, the whole unit has all written transfer requests. Standing between the martinet Savage and is men who would like to frag him, is Maj. Harvey Stovall (Dean Jones in one of his best performances of his career). Stovall was very devoted to Gately, but sees both sides of the problem and truly understands the bottom line – unless you are totally without a heart, there is NO way to keep the emotional distance from your men. Eventually, the line is blurred and you care. Something Savage slowly learns, and grinds him down just as Gately did.

It’s brilliantly written, with incisive insight that is marvellously flesh out by powerhouse actors that give it their all.

A deeply moving film with so much heart.


A Movie With A Soul.   September 7, 2002
Mr M Amin (Manchester)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is a truly memorable film - comprising of a memorable story, memorable acting by Gregory Peck and memorable economical directing. However, the most memorable aspect of this film is the way it allows the story to seize your attention and then hands over to Peck and others to ensure your emotions are enagaged to the final end. The end is about victories of the soul and spirit as well as of men and machines. The feel of the film brings to ones remembrance the times of grave peril endured by Britain in the early years of the war. In essence the story tells of the redemption of a US Bomber Squadron based in Britain in the early years of the war after a run of 'bad luck'. It also tells of the great sacrifices made in the journey to final victory. If you are after a memorable movie experience - make this film your next stop!!


An okay war film but a must for anyone who leads people   April 30, 2000
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

A good story line, but the film is more about people, and how to get the most out of them. Savage and Davenport are poles apart in the way they lead the squadron. Which one gets the best out of the men?

If you lead a team of people, this film is a must have. Watch it several times and it is hell of a lot cheaper than a management course. Oh, have your hanky ready at the end.


A Classic Second World War Film   July 27, 2006
Sgt Sanders (Suffolk, UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The first time I saw this film, it was used as a management training aid where we had to identify different leadership styles. For this, it was highly effective. I liked it then, and was pleased to see it again after many years.

An American Colonel (Gregory Peck) whose aim is to improve the morale of an American daylight Bomber Group flying from an English war time aerodrome. They had sustained high losses...

Some excellent air to air shots filmed at the time - but essentially, it is the human aspect which makes this film for me.


Atmosphere and impact spot on, but a few errors   November 17, 2005
While I agree entirely with the most of Deborah MacGillivray’s review, it contains three surprising errors:

1. The statement, "At the start of the film, he is dealing with Lt. Col. Ben R. Gately . . ." is misleading for two reasons. Firstly, the character Deborah describes as Lt. Col. Ben R. Gately (played by Hugh Marlowe) is in fact Col. Keith Davenport (played by Gary Merrill). Secondly, at the start of the film, Davenport and his men are struggling with the aftermath of a bombing raid which has gone badly, rather than the scene that Deborah suggests;

2. the statement: "When Savage voices this opinion once too often, he is told to put his money with his mouth is – he is to take over for the cracking Gately" does not reflect the screenplay. To be accurate, the statement should read something like: "Learning that the raid has gone wrong, Savage suggests to his superior, Gen. Pritchard, that Davenport may be having difficulty coping. Pritchard investigates immediately then relieves Davenport of command. On the way back, Pritchard tells Savage that he's to take Davenport’s place." As written, Deborah’s review gives the misleading impression (a) that Savage has been continually touting this opinion (in fact, it’s clear from the dialogue between Pritchard and Savage that it’s the first time he’s stated it); and (b) that Savage is told – OK, so if you can do better, do it! Definitely not – everything is initiated by Pritchard..

3. Capt., then Maj. (promoted by Savage), Harvey Stovall is played by Dean Jagger, not Dean Jones.

Overall, Deborah’s review is very perceptive and is excellent in capturing the atmosphere of the film. The factual errors make me think that she’s written the review long after having seen the film (I saw it last night) and, if so, it emphasizes just how profound an effect the film has had.