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Strategic Air Command (1955)
Strategic Air Command (1955)
Director: Anthony Mann
Writers: Valentine Davies(screenplay), Beirne Lay Jr(screenplay)
Cast: James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Lovejoy
Genre: Action, Drama, War
A ex WWII bomber pilot who's currently playing baseball in the big leagues is recalled to active duty by the U.S. Air Force.
Lt. Col Robert 'Dutch' Holland (James Stewart) is assigned to America's Cold War defense program S.A.C. Otherwise known as Strategic Air Command which is responsible for reconnaissances of hostile forces, and if need be the deployment of nuclear weapons.
Mostly forgotten today, Strategic Air Command was a big glossy Paramount film back in 1955, being released in wide screen VistaVision and shot in Technicolor. The film is a rarity in featuring actual military aircraft as 'one of the stars' of the film.
Much footage is dedicated to the nuclear bombers the B-36, nicknamed the 'flying cigar' which was a long range bomber and the new B-47 which was a mid range jet bomber. We see both planes on the ground, and on an actual airbase...as well as in the air. We even see the big KC-90 refueling plane gassing up a B-36 while flying non stop from Florida to Japan.
If that ain't enough aviation goodies we spend a lot of time behind actual cockpits of the planes and interiors of the B-36. The vintage planes are half the appeal.
The other half of the films appeal is the low key story of two people played by James Stewart and June Allyson. Both are believable in their roles. And unlike similar films where drama is ramped up to soap opera proportions, the personal story here is of a man who responds to his countries call to duty...and his wife who is left all alone. They clearly love each other but the military life is hard on both of them.
Love that 1950s kitchen and hey that's not retro, that's the real thing! And could June Allyson look any more doll like in that black and white crinoline dress?
On the DVD that I watched, the film was beautifully restored and looked phenomenal. And if you like history this film goes into great detail explaining S.A.C.s operational role and reasons for being.
Writers: Valentine Davies(screenplay), Beirne Lay Jr(screenplay)
Cast: James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Lovejoy
Genre: Action, Drama, War
A ex WWII bomber pilot who's currently playing baseball in the big leagues is recalled to active duty by the U.S. Air Force.
Lt. Col Robert 'Dutch' Holland (James Stewart) is assigned to America's Cold War defense program S.A.C. Otherwise known as Strategic Air Command which is responsible for reconnaissances of hostile forces, and if need be the deployment of nuclear weapons.
Mostly forgotten today, Strategic Air Command was a big glossy Paramount film back in 1955, being released in wide screen VistaVision and shot in Technicolor. The film is a rarity in featuring actual military aircraft as 'one of the stars' of the film.
Much footage is dedicated to the nuclear bombers the B-36, nicknamed the 'flying cigar' which was a long range bomber and the new B-47 which was a mid range jet bomber. We see both planes on the ground, and on an actual airbase...as well as in the air. We even see the big KC-90 refueling plane gassing up a B-36 while flying non stop from Florida to Japan.
If that ain't enough aviation goodies we spend a lot of time behind actual cockpits of the planes and interiors of the B-36. The vintage planes are half the appeal.
The other half of the films appeal is the low key story of two people played by James Stewart and June Allyson. Both are believable in their roles. And unlike similar films where drama is ramped up to soap opera proportions, the personal story here is of a man who responds to his countries call to duty...and his wife who is left all alone. They clearly love each other but the military life is hard on both of them.
Love that 1950s kitchen and hey that's not retro, that's the real thing! And could June Allyson look any more doll like in that black and white crinoline dress?
On the DVD that I watched, the film was beautifully restored and looked phenomenal. And if you like history this film goes into great detail explaining S.A.C.s operational role and reasons for being.