Twelve O'Clock High, based on the novel by Sy Bartlett 9 out of 10

Twelve O'Clock High, based on the novel by Sy Bartlett
9 out of 10


This motion picture is one of the rare productions, even more difficult to find in the age of Avengers, Fast and the Furious 23, wherein the public can find meaning, values and role models.

Real role models, not the Kardashian type.

The film has won two Oscars, one for the supporting role and was nominated for Best Film and Actor in a Leading Role:

The astounding, gigantic Gregory Peck.

This superb actor has the complex role of General Savage.

During World War II, many soldiers and officers have proved their bravery, skills, valor, patriotism and spirit of self sacrifice.
This drama tells the captivating, tremendous story of a group of airplane pilots that have to combat the enemy in the skies.

They also need to bomb in the most difficult of circumstances...
During the day!

This is to ensure accuracy in an age when they did not have guided missiles and precision bombs that could use their GPS and land where designated.
In the begging of the feature, the problem is that these valiant men get killed at a terrible rate.

General Savage and general Pritchard visit the bombing unit and try to find explanations for and more importantly solutions to the horrible death rate.
The colonel in command of the squad is dedicated, brave, loyal to his men.

Indeed, for General Savage this is exactly the problem:

Over identification 

He fights for his pilots to the end.
Nothing they do can make him assign blame.

One navigator has made a mistake which seems to have caused all the unit to be late and then accumulate losses.
The commander takes all the blame, explains that the navigator wants to do so much, he is under pressure...

Yes, that is probably...surely understandable, but this is much too serious to allow for human casualties to continue...
At the present rate, there would be nobody left soon.

Therefore General Savage takes over the unit.
He brings in not just discipline, but what seems to be an excessive cruelty...

He closes the bar, talks abuse to the pilots, makes one fly the "Leper colony".
This is however meant to provoke and wake those pilots from stupor.

The first results?
They all ask to be transferred and escape this mad General.

He delays the processing of the papers and then, gradually they become very close.
Indeed, Over Identification seems to be back again...

With a vengeance.

General Savage even enters a severe state of shock, due in part to his strong bonds with his unit.

This is a stupendous film, educational, worthwhile...indeed, it is alone worth half, maybe 80% of the regrettable blockbusters launched in cinemas in this age of the Sequel, Cartoon, Marvel, Disney character.