Customer Reviews

Task Force

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gary Cooper plays Admiral Jonathan L. Scott in this 1949 film directed by Delmer Daves, that proved to be one of the most popular films of the late 1940s. About to retire, Scott recalls how he and other Navy Men had argued the importance of aircraft carriers. During one such argument Scott insults a Japanese diplomat and is sent to a desk job in Panama. But a year later he is aboard a new carrier, the U.S.S. Saratoga and after Pearl Harbor he is the Operations Officer on the Yorktown at the Battle of Midway, and ends up commanding his own flattop. At the Battle of Okinawa, his ship is badly damaged by a kamikaze attack, but refuses to abandon his ship. Jane Wyatt plays Mary Morgan, the widow of one of Scott's flying buddies, while Walter Brennan is Pete Richard, Scott's friend and later his commander. The stars of "Task Force" are Cooper and the Technicolor combat footage of World War II included in the film, which gave it an authenticity beyond most war films. The first part of the film drags while we endure Cooper trying to be romantic with Wyatt and wait for the war to start. But the battle sequences are quite compelling. Too bad "Task Force" does not have a title that better reflects that this film is about the flattops in WWII.

This is a well-made and highly entertaining story staring Gary Cooper as a Naval officer who devotes his career to the development of the aircraft carrier as the vanguard of future Naval superiority. This is an extremely entertaining film directed by Delmer Daves a meticulous craftsman who enhances his stories by bringing out the depth of his characters as is the case here. The film also featured Jane Wyatt, Walter Brennan, Julie London, Kenneth Tobey and Wayne Morris. The excellent photography was supplied by Robert Burks (Alfred Hitchcock's Cinematographer) and Wilfrid M. Cline. Franz Waxman (MISTER ROBERTS, STALAG 17, THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS and OBJECTIVE, BURMA!) composed the score. The recognition of this great film is long overdue.

This is one of the better historical films made about the war in the Pacific. and the 'thirties and 'forties aviation navy.

I was in naval aviation near the time this was written about, and know the aircraft depicted. The depictions are accurate; one of the rare movies not to throw in the wrong airplane in a battle scene. Like many other similar films about that period (Midway, Pearl Harbor, Tora, Tora, Tora, etc.) using U.S. Navy film footage from the color documentary, filmed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, The Fightin Lady, the footage shown was appropriate for the type of aircraft shown, including my favorite naval fighter of all time, the F6F "Hellcat" Grumman fighter which is credited with shooting down nearly eighty percent of all Japanese aircraft shot down in combat in the Pacific in whole war, closely followed by its little brother the F4F "Wildcat," which was declared obsolescent at the war's beginning--and outclassed by the A6M2 Mitsubishi "Zero."

Although many other airplanes are more famous. I will never forget the bellow of those Pratt & Whitney 2,800 cubic inch double row radials belching fire as they strained at their brakes and chocks at full throttle, waiting for the salute signalling take-off.

Or the sight of the SBD Douglas "Dauntless" dive-bombers dipping from sight below the bow and then struggling back up with their bomb loads as they left the deck. Great aircraft, and far more graceful than the SB2C Curtis "Helldiver" which replaced them (no relation to the biplane "Helldiver" depicted flying off the Langley in the early part of the film)

This is a good story, following a fictional aviator's career (Jonathan Scott), from the early days aboard the CV-1 (Langley) fighting for recognition of the role aviation was to play against the old battle ship admirals who almost scuttled our aviation program, with the assistance of a no-nothing Congress, through the war from its beginning to end. (The carrier depicted at the end of the movie was the U.S.S. Franklin, CV-13, an Essex class carrier. She was badly mauled at Okinawa and lucky to survive the Kamikazes. Now a museum ship in New York City.)

This is a fictional story about a real navy, and historically quite accurate, although not as much so as Midway in the names used and the actual battle. It is much closer, however, in many details. It does not show, as do most of such films, for example, the venerated SBD Douglas "Dauntless" dive bombers mis-cast as Japanese dive bombers attacking Pearl Harbor. Each time I see that footage, it makes me cringe. These guys have researchers and advisors. Why don't they use them?

Much of the film is black and white, but it ends in technicolor, as the flashback of Scott's career ends. Cooper is good in his part as he progresses from a junior officer through captain and of course the veteran actor Walter Brennan plays his part as the admiral flawlessly.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Gary Cooper stars in this movie that follows the rise of naval aviation from the biplane era to the jet age. Along for the ride are "old reliable" Walter Brennan, as Coop's friend and superior officer, and Jane Wyatt, who adds the feminine touch to an otherwise "guy flick". Actual footage of early carrier mishaps, and WWII combat make this a real action packed film. I had trouble with the transition from black and white to color late in the movie, but credit this to some sort of attempt to show the evolution of naval aviation in the step from piston to jet aircraft. Worth having.

Am so glad this movie finally came out on DVD. It's been one of my families favorites since we first saw it on VHS. I especially like the biplane flying scenes and carrier take off and landings footage. Solid performance by Gary cooper and Walter Brennan.

Task Force is only for Gary Cooper fans. It tells the story in semi-documentary style of the birth of naval aviation. Gary Cooper is the person who grows with the naval arm and its ups and downs. It has exciting war scences and the way it was edited it looks like Gary Cooper and the cast were really there at the battle of Midway and the battle for Okinawa. Half way through the movie it turns from black and white to color. I guess it is suppose to acknowledge a new age in naval aviation. Jane Wyatt who later would play Spock's mother in the Star Trek TV series and in the movies is just around for window dressing. Walter Brennan who plays Coop's superior officer is always a joy to watch.The movie is slow in the beginning, but as I said, it picks up with WWII begins. Only Coop's fans and WWII buffs will enjoy this movie.

For those who enjoy vintage 20th Century Navy, this is the right movie. From the earliest "carrier" landings to a farewell formation with F9F-5 Panthers Cooper's role as an early naval aviator walks through the frustrations of gaining aviation funding support and then action in the Pacific showing the importance of the carrier. Buy this and the "Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" as a companion. Cooper stars in both.

I REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING THIS MOVIE ALOT. IT IS WHAT I WANTED. I AM INTO HISTORICAL AND MILITAY MOVIES. IT IS WHAT I LIKE THE MOST.

This is a good movie about the development of naval aviation and carriers. Gary Cooper and Jane Wyman give their usual fine performances. The movie is a flashback of Gary Cooper's life right beginning at the time he is retiring from the Navy, going over the many memories he had in his struggle to promote carriers and naval aviation, finally to see it at its finest capability, effectiveness, and almost prolific numbers in the Pacific theater, beating down the Japanese air forces and island fortresses. It has some authentic aerial film that you see in most war flicks but still this is a worthwhile purchase to add to your war flick library and an enjoyable film to watch. Boy was Jane Wyman was really beautiful in her prime.

Wonderful movie, a must see for any WWII fan, a slight tour on the history of naval aviation and the history behind the aircraft carrier in the USN.