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on July 7, 2012
This war movie features a compelling story and strong performances--not only by Gregory Peck (who was justly nominated for an Academy Award), but by all of the actors. If one of the marks of a great story is honesty, then this movie has it in spades. It feels real. You care about the characters. They do not come across as fake or plastic. I cannot believe that I have never seen it up until now.
Unfortunately, the quality of the video is poor in many places. While some scenes are up to DVD quality, many others are faded or grainy. The source material was obviously not restored or digitally remastered, which is a shame. I was hoping that it would resemble the Blu-ray version of Casablanca in appearance, but it looks more like the old DVD version of All Quiet on the Western Front.
My rating of four stars is for the story and acting. If I was rating only for video quality, it would only get a "1."
Unfortunately, the quality of the video is poor in many places. While some scenes are up to DVD quality, many others are faded or grainy. The source material was obviously not restored or digitally remastered, which is a shame. I was hoping that it would resemble the Blu-ray version of Casablanca in appearance, but it looks more like the old DVD version of All Quiet on the Western Front.
My rating of four stars is for the story and acting. If I was rating only for video quality, it would only get a "1."
on October 4, 2014
They simply could not make a movie like this today. Since it was filmed in 1949 you might say the " muscle memory " of the characters was truly authentic for the war years. It was all so casual , natural and real. Smoking was not an affectation. The speech mannerisms and figures of speech ( " build yourself a drink " ) were absolutely real and natural. I saw some of these same mannerisms in other WWII vets ,who served in the AAF during the War . Peck's speech in front of the group advising them " not to make plans , and consider yourself already dead " was a reflection of a harsh reality that many of the flyers lived by. A great movie.
on May 9, 2017
THE MILITARY KNOWS ALL TO WELL THAT THE MISSION COMES FIRST AND MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED. WITHOUT PROPER DISCIPLINE LIVES WILL BE NEEDLESSLY LOST. DISCIPLINE ALSO ENHANCES UNIT ESPIRIT DE CORPS AND THE WILL TO SUCCED.
ALTHOUGH THIS FILM PORTRAYES A FICTICIOUS BOMB GROUP, IT REPRESENTS THE STORY OF AN ACTUAL "HARD LUCK GROUP". EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL IN ALL MILITARY OPERATIONS. SEE THE FILM.
ALTHOUGH THIS FILM PORTRAYES A FICTICIOUS BOMB GROUP, IT REPRESENTS THE STORY OF AN ACTUAL "HARD LUCK GROUP". EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL IN ALL MILITARY OPERATIONS. SEE THE FILM.
on April 3, 2017
Superb movie and used by some "leadership" schools as a vehicle to study leadership characteristics. Strong acting by almost every single character! The themes portrays the US Army Air Corps in England at the beginning of the war and many of the numerous challenges imposed by daylight bombing without support from fighter aircraft.
on April 25, 2012
I bought this latest edition of Twelve O'Clock High to update my collection and to have the second disc with the special features. The film remains a true classic that every serious student or buff of WWII or aviation history should have in his or her collection, but I was disappointed with the special features on the 2nd disc. There was one main feature that was quite good that gave some good historical background on the making of the film (which is what I was hoping for), but the other features were very short and disappointing and were mostly made up of clips from the longer feature. I was hoping for much more. One short feature does present a number of movie posters of the film, but overall, given the nature of the subject and the importance of the film, I was hoping for much more.
on April 23, 2014
This is a classic film of warfare in the skies over Europe depicts the ultimate, definitive example of military leadership. In my US Navy career it was used as a training tool to show the different types of leadership competencies. This classic World War II drama features Gregory Peck in an Academy Award nominated 'Best Actor' role as General Frank Savage, who’s assigned to take over the Eight Air Force Mission of “daylight precision bombing” at a unit early in the war that is suffering staggering losses of both planes and crews. This great film was nominated for ‘Best Picture’ and earned Dean Jagger a Best Supporting Actor statuette in his only nomination of his acting career. The film begins with Jagger’s character purchasing a Robin Hood Toby mug, which was used to indicate to all base personnel that a mission is scheduled for the day. After buying the mug keepsake he goes by train to Archbury and then bicycles to the site of the runways and the base, now overgrown with weeds, where this great heroic story had taken place some seven years earlier. I gave---this film five stars because if you have ever seen a B-17 Flying Fortress at an air show you can appreciate the courage it took to fly and fight in what was then the state of the art. The film will clearly show the sacrifice of these young men who dare to do what others thought impossible and did it when called upon. The film also touches on ‘maximum effort’ what it is and what does it mean. In conclusion the aerial footage is real combat film footage that makes you wonder at time how an aircrew could live and survive the flack over the target area. If you desire an education and actually see what the greatest generation did to keep our world free than I highly recommend this film ‘Twelve O' Clock High’ with that memorable actor Gregory Peck.
on August 16, 2017
Purchased this to replace a VHS tape. Peck is superb as the no-nonsense commander who whips a sad-sack bomber unit into shape. Lots of lessons on leadership which are just as applicable to today as then. This is often cited as the most realistic portrayal of the WWII air war.
on January 16, 2014
I have never seen a movie that better captures what it feels like to capture the past in memories. It always gives me chills when the bicycle is leaned up against the fence and an older man walks out onto an overgrown field of weeds and patches of pavement ... then you hear the sound of B-17 bomber aircraft firing up, the grass lays down from the wind of the props, and suddenly we are back in time to WW11. It's a movie about making hard decisions, sending young boys to die, but having no choice. It's about trying to hang on to humanity when you can't afford to. The beginning of the movie is also the ending because it ends where it began and tells us, yes, it was worth it.
on March 11, 2012
I love this movie. It's the best depiction of what it must have been like to fly with the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe. I have seen it literally dozens of times. I purposely waited for the BluRay version so that I could have the best possible quality picture. Instead, it's grainy and not much better than the DVD version I recently rented. Very disappointing.
