Worf
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,207
- Location
- Troy, New York, USA
"12 O'Clock High" is one of my favorite war movies as it is not an action adventure movie, or a maudlin movie or a by-the-numbers buddy movie; it stands in its own sub genre of war movies: how to command, how to lead, how to balance concern for one's men and the need to send them off on missions you know some won't return from. It shows the strains of leadership - breaking the first squadron leader and nearly breaking the second - without making the first leader look weak and the second one simply a hero; instead, they are two on a continuum where Peck was just positioned slightly better at striking the right balance. I've seen this movie several times and am always amazed at its subtleness, its great lines (some highlighted above by Worf) and its quiet respect for the challenges these men faced.
Flat out excellent write-up! Gave me some new insight into the interplay between the two commanders. Yes only one group of battle scenes in the whole film the rest... the before's and afters. Thanks
Worf