Today’s movie trailer is not a car movie, nor for that matter a movie in which cars feature at all, other than some cool Jeeps and sedans decked out in military garb. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch it, however. Twelve O’Clock High is one of best movies about the effects of war – both physical and emotional – and the toll they take on those asked to fight in them. It’s remarkable that such a raw and unflinching view could have come out of Hollywood in 1949, just four years after WWII ended.
The film is about an American air squadron stationed in Great Britain at the start of the war, and undertaking dangerous daylight bombing runs deep over enemy territory. Gregory Peck – who would later go on to play Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird – is a no-nonsense General brought in to lead the squadron after its former leader cracked up. He gives the airmen a speech in which he tells them to stop grousing and to consider themselves already dead. It’s a chilling moment.
You can’t lead men without gaining their respect, and in return respecting them, and Peck’s General Savage undergoes a transformation that’s both a testament to the actor’s talent and a bitter reminder of the costs of war. Twelve O’Clock High is spot on in just about every way, and strives for authenticity by using actual film from the war for some of the aerial fighting scenes. It’s one of my favorite films of all time, and an excellent way to spend part of your Memorial Day. Check out the trailer to see why, right after the jump.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/8w4sQ5OLNd4[/youtube]
Can I Stream It says that Twelve O’Clock High isn’t available anywhere, but I happen to know it’s presently streamable on Netflix. It’s also available on the cheap on DVD, but then you wouldn’t be able to watch it today.
Image: YouTube