IMDb RATING
6.3/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
An ex-pilot and current baseballer is recalled into the U.S. Air Force and assumes an increasingly important role in Cold War deterrence.An ex-pilot and current baseballer is recalled into the U.S. Air Force and assumes an increasingly important role in Cold War deterrence.An ex-pilot and current baseballer is recalled into the U.S. Air Force and assumes an increasingly important role in Cold War deterrence.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Rosemary DeCamp
- Mrs. Thorne
- (as Rosemary De Camp)
John McKee
- Capt. Symington
- (as John R. McKee)
Harry Morgan
- Sgt. Bible - Flight Engineer
- (as Henry Morgan)
Mary Ellen Batten
- Woman in Cafe
- (uncredited)
Helen Brown
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
Glen Denning
- Sgt. Jones - Radio Operator
- (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Don Haggerty
- Major - Patrol Commander
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJames Stewart joined the Army Air Corps during World War II, and flew combat missions in Europe. At war's end, he transferred to the Reserve as a colonel. He remained an active pilot in the Air Force Reserve, and was trained on the B-36 and B-47 bombers which he flew in this film. He flew one combat mission over Vietnam in a B-52. He retired as Brigadier General James Maitland Stewart, USAFR in 1968. In 1985 he was promoted on the retired list to Major General (by his friend, President Ronald Reagan), making him the highest ranking member of the military of anyone ever in the acting profession.
- GoofsAt one point, Dutch refers to his old aircraft as a B-24, not a B-29 as mentioned earlier in the film (an understandable mistake, since Jimmy Stewart commanded a B-24 Liberator during WWII, flying 29 combat missions).
- Quotes
Sergeant: [Seeing General Hawkes speaking to the men on the flight line while smoking a cigar, whispering to Holland] Sir, that cigar. Doesn't the general know that the aircraft might explode?
Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' Holland: It wouldn't dare.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Entertainment This Week Salutes Paramount's 75th Anniversary (1987)
- SoundtracksThe Air Force Takes Command
Music by Victor Young
Lyrics by Ned Washington and Major Tommy Thomson Jr.
Featured review
As commented before, what makes this picture different from most "military PR" pictures is that it is quite frank on the sacrifices made by the people who serve and their families which still goes on today. It makes me wonder how we get people to serve when the pay and benefit are really a mere pittance, although I can understand why Dutch Holland took all those flights when whiny June Allyson is your wife.
As for the aircraft - what a visual treat to see these grand aircraft of a bygone era in vivid color. Almost makes up for the lackluster story.
On a side note, a commenter stated that the film erred in placing Thule AFB in Greenland, but the film is correct, Thule is in Greenland, not Iceland.
As for the aircraft - what a visual treat to see these grand aircraft of a bygone era in vivid color. Almost makes up for the lackluster story.
On a side note, a commenter stated that the film erred in placing Thule AFB in Greenland, but the film is correct, Thule is in Greenland, not Iceland.
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $6,500,000
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Sound mix
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content