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Summary: Exceptional treatment of leadership
Review: This film is an exceptional film wiht an ensemble cast. Gregory Peck is the standout but the rest of the cast are what really make this a film to remember. Dean Jagger as a recalled WWI veteran is exceptional as the adjutant, a non-flier now, but one who has been there. His Oscar is well deserved. Gary Merrill and Millard Mitchell are also well cast and play their roles well. This film shows military leadership at it's most influential, getting me to do what they ordinarily wouldn't, and then keep on going back for more. It isn't preachy, like Command Decision, but rather gives a 'Your are there" feeling. I highly recommend this film to everyone.
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Summary: Intelligent, subtle drama about leadership.
Review: This is not a traditional action based war movie. In fact, apart from one mission near the end, it is set entirely on the ground.However, the film shows the real horrors of war in a matter of fact way that no other film of the time did. For instance, early on the doctor commenting on a severely wounded, delirious pilot: "I wouldn't have believed it if I wasn't looking at it. You can see his brain." The film dissects various leadership styles, showing the merits and faults of each - but in a dramatic way. Col. Davenport, who cares about his men, and gets their loyalty - but who eventually crumbles under the strain. Hard nosed General Savage's by the book "they're men - not boys" style - until he begins to care too much as well. And General Pritchard overlooking it all. Henry King knew he had a great script and cast. He basically just pointed his cameras at the actors and let them get on with it. The film is full of long one-take scenes. The scene where Savage dresses down Gately clocks in at some 6 minutes of continuous film with no cuts. No violence. No "lurve" scenes or romance. Just a deeply rewarding film experience for adults looking for more than mindless action.
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Summary: The Definitive WWII Air War Film
Review: If you're only going to watch one WWII air combat film in your life it should be this one. This is also one of the six greatest WWII films of all time, along with "The Longest Day," "Das Boot," "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," and "The Best Years of Our Lives." If you see them all, you'll have seen the best representations of the many theaters of combat that made up the Second World War. Not overly glamorized or contrived like most of its contemporaries, "Twelve O'Clock High" serves as a role model for any study of leadership under fire. It's frequently used by many of todays best military training instutes for leadership training. It also stands out, along with "To Kill A Mockingbird," as Peck's greatest role. Long overdue for a cleaned-up laserdisc or DVD release.
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Summary: Talks about leadership struggles
Review: I watched this movie a few months ago. In a military school school we stopped and analysis the movie throughout it for differant types and styles of leadership. I kept wishing the instructor would just let us watch the show and talk about it afterwards.
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Summary: Outstanding Film of a Leader Rebuilding a Bomb Group
Review: Outstanding study of a General Officer called in to take over a US B-17 Bomber Group in 1943 when the US Army Air Force was in its initial stages of establishing a credible offensive air campaign against Germany in WWII. Gregory Peck portrays the "Iron Tail" General Savage, who is faced with the challenge of reversing the men's plunging moral when bombing missions have taken a terrible toll on their lives and sanity. Peck is tremendous, pushing the airmen hard to regain their composure, while concealing his softer side. The human factor in this picture is remarkable, showing a variety characters who eventual reform the team that they had lost some time ago. Most interesting is the one Lieutenant Colonel, once the Group's Executive Officer, reduced to an airplane commander after General Savage "cleans house" in the initial days of command. Eventually the Lieutenant Colonel rises to the occassion. All the men hate General Savage initially, but eventually realize that General Savage is taking them in the right direction. The film is made all that much better when General Savage himself begins to fall into the same trap that fell the last commander: the stress of command and the human feelings which build for his men as the air war takes its toll. Wrappped around this human drama are the sets, very realistic with actual B-17s and an airfield that looks like the real thing. Not a lot of flying scenes until the end, which includes actual combat footage that is somewhat choppy, but effective. One exception is an actual B-17 crash-landing for dramatic effect in the beginning of the film. Probably the best film ever made about airmen on Bombers in WWII. Although "Memphis Bell" was a nice film, it doesn't capture the human element as "Twelve O'Clock High" does.
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Summary: Classic
Review: Still a great movie for B-17 fans. I ordered it along with that new novel about a Fortress pilot, The Triumph and Glory, both were as good as I thought they'd be.
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Summary: The problems of command responsibility
Review: The movie shows us what occurs on a higher level than the average airman is exposed to. Coming to grips with the fact that they are sending young men to their deaths is the focal point of the story.The acting is exemplary and the most telling thing is the realism. In Gerald Astor's book The Mighty Eighth it states if you want to see what the air war in Europe was all about see 12 O'clock High becasue Bernie Lay, the coauthor of the book was a pilot with the a bomber group flying out of England. If you want to see an unrealistic portrayal watch The Memphis Belle. I have watched this film over the years since it's release in'49 and have never tired of it and its participants. If you doubt the veracity of the film I suggest you buy the book mentioned above. It's a frightening experience and Henry King did a masterful job in directing the film
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Summary: Close, but no cigar
Review: You should indicate that this is a truncated version of the original. I was most disapointed.
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Summary: Superb Management Training Film
Review: I have used this film extensively for training in management. To be able to compare the differing styles of leadership between General Savage, General Pritchard, Col. Stovall et al is a great way to help new managers realize their style and what may be done to improve it.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Ok!
Review: Gregory Peck did a good job acting, but you could never decide his feeling's torward his men. He made it confusing. The film was well acted by the rest of the cast, Henry King was never better at directing, but some of the performances made you wounder too much about there feelings, then what they ment and by the time you cought up with what they were saying you had missed something.
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