When you think of the most intense war movies, pictures of bullet-strewn corpses and battleground explosions are usually what come to mind. But Henry King’s 1949 classic Twelve O’Clock High proves that scenes of intense and well-written dialogue can be as exciting as any rocket launchers. It also helps to have a star the calibre of Gregory Peck and a cast full of the finest character actors from the golden age of Hollywood.
After learning that Bomber Squadron 918 has lost five planes on their most recent mission, General Savage (Peck) is dispatched to take over the platoon. The previous commander, Colonel Davenport (Gary Merrill), has proven himself “too close” to the men in his group and is suspected of being too soft on them. As Savage begins his assignment, he meets the expected degree of contempt, but he quickly ends such behaviour by scaring the living hell out of his soldiers. Savage slowly earns a few allies among his officers, most notably Major Stovall (Dean Jagger) – a “desk jockey” who turns out to be much more than a glorified secretary. The unwelcome general also makes a strong impression on a few of the enlisted men, handing out demotions to some while seeking leadership from others.
Of course, all of this is leading up to the time when Unit 918 must pull together for a mission of vital importance. The story and subplots never seem forced or clichéd and this can be attributed to a simply wonderful screenplay written by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr., who also wrote the novel. For a war movie that is definitely not an action flick, Twelve O’Clock High features more than a few exciting scenes. Those who are interested in seeing what war does to a man’s mind instead of just his body will be fascinated by this film.
As usual, Gregory Peck gives a fantastic performance. His Frank Savage starts out no-nonsense, stubborn and unbending, but through the course of events, he evolves into much more than a simple authority figure. As the ousted commander, Gary Merrill is a sad yet admirable character, and John Kellogg (as Major Cobb) stands out memorably in a few scenes. Aside from Peck, the best performance is offered by Dean Jagger as the frustrated camp adjutant. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that Jagger earned for his performance here.
If you think all the finest war movies take place on the battlefields, think again. Aside from some amazing air battles towards the finale (which were culled from authentic Second World War footage), the bulk of Twelve O’Clock High takes place in offices, mess halls, and officer’s quarters. It’s a testament to the actors, screenwriters and director that a movie so dialogue-laden simply flies by, and not one scene is wasted. When you hear people complain that “they don’t make movies like they used to,” Twelve O’Clock High is the kind of film to which they’re referring.
It’s a testament to the actors, screenwriters and director that a movie so dialogue-laden simply flies by, and not one scene is wasted.- Scott Weinberg
