Customer Reviews

Bombers B-52 (1957) [DVD]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ephrim Zimbalist Jr and Karl Malden portray a wing commander Colonel and Master Sergeant crew chief respectively with the Colonel chasing the crew chiefs daughter as a love interest. This would never be tolerated, (fraternization), in the real Air Force, but it makes for conflict in the story line. Excellent footage of B-52's on the ground and in the air. Reasonably accurate portrayal of the stress and strain of life in the late 50's Air Force. I was a "SAC weeney" from 1963 until 1979 and it brought back a lot of memories.

If you served in the Strategic Air Command as I did, you'll appreciate the movie footage of our Cold War Warriors in action and their tangled lives behind the scenes. A great retrospective about SAC and the way it was, versus the way it is now.

worth buying for the flying scenes alone, soundtrack should be very good on home theatre.Still a popular movie in australia, a regular on free to air TV here.

This is a hokey film that has little relationship with real SAC/B-52 operations in the late 1950s. However, it is certainly worthwhile as a means of viewing some flying shots of the (early) B-52 aircraft. Most of the "on-base" flight sequences were taken during the film-crew's visit to Castle AFB (at the time, near Atwater, California; the base was closed some years ago). As a young Lt. fresh out of USAF flying school, and assigned to the 328th Bomb Sqdn. at Castle, I was lucky enough to see some of the filming, and observe some of the 'stars' walking around the base. It was amusing to see Mr. Zimbalist walking around in his colonel's uniform, and being saluted by all lower ranks who passed him; I'm sure he got a chuckle out of it. Definitely worth a look!!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I finally got around to watching this movie, I really liked it. It has great shots of
B-47's and B-52's in action, the story line was good (although not probable, a squadron CO would be canned immediately for what the movie character was doing), and I thought it portrayed the life of a military aviation mechanic fairly accurately (I was one in the Navy). If you enjoyed Jimmy Stewart's "Strategic Air Command" you'll enjoy this movie.

I gave it four stars because the story line is stretching it a bit but overall I enjoyed this display of Cold War Era SAC equipment.

A rather strange "Natalie Wood" movie. Although she recieves top billing, she has the smallest part of the three major stars.

The real star of this movie seems to be the B-52 (which I assume to be an "A" model"). The shots of it in flight and on the ground must have been awesome to see on a movie theatre screen.

There are plenty of goodies for any old airplane buff. Great shots of the B-47, and even some action with the old propeller driven KC-97's. Even a couple of close looks at an F-86.

Otherwise, the plot is somewhat hokey, and predictable. Without spoiling it too much, at the beginning of the movie we find the action in Korea- during the war. Efrem Zimbalist, who is a Captain, orders Karl Mauldin, a sergeant, to repair his F-86 so he can get to Tokyo. Mauldin objects because it is nighttime, and any lights would attract North Korean fire, and he assumes that Zimbalist wants the aircraft repaired so he can meet with one of his honeys. Anyway, Mauldin opens a panel on the side of the aircraft that is about the size of a microwave oven door and his crew then lights up the WHOLE AIRPLANE with enough light to illuminate Yankee stadium. Needless to say, this does attract the fire that everyone was worried about.

Had they not invented the flashlight at that time? Could they not have worked under a rain poncho or a coat?

Anyway, one of Mauldin's crew is killed in the attack and this creates major friction between him and Zimbalist, who, lo and behold, becomes the wing commander at Mauldin's base later when the B-52 is to be made operational. It gets to be even more fun when Zimbalist begins to date Natalie Wood, who is Maudlin's daughter.

Well, as my wife always says. Forget it- it's just a movie!

This is a interesting movie, about a career USAF Sgt, who is a Crew Chief on large bombers such as the B47 or B52. It show's how miltary personnel are sometimes tempted to move into the private sector by money and a more stable life and the miltary's struggle to hold on to talented and trained personnel. This is still relevant in the miltary today.

This film was one of those 'feel good' movies about the U.S. Air Force during the 'Cold War' years of the 50's. The stars of the movie are very old now or deceased (Efrem Zimbalist Jr is still alive, I believe, but I'm not sure about Karl Maldin). Natalie Wood of course has passed on- so sad! Anyway, the story-line centers around the introduction of the B-52 (NOT the song group!) in the mid-50's as the primary strike weapon of SAC (Strategic Air Command). Many of the aerial scenes are well done, including some interior filming of the '52, but, considering the era, I really don't know how accurate their replications were for the film. The story is both a 'National Security' and a 'Personal Family Security' tale; an airman devoted to family and career. Of course, at movies end; 'All's well that ends well'. And that's the way I remember it back then. The B-52's used in that film have long since been gone, with up-dated versions still serving our country. Can you believe that some of these 'crates' are older than the guys who are flying them? Conclusion: A good 'era' film incorporating some 'old-fashioned' family values that seem to be missing today...

This movie has some great shots of B-47 and B-52. Natalie Wood was wonderful as she always was. Could not tell if this was Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.s first movie or if he was just being presented by this studio for the first time. Story line a little improbable though. Still a good yarn for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon though. Woould recommend it for history viewing also.

Great movie, super stars. Served in the AF and brought back a lot of meories.