SwapaDVD logo
 
 

Search - Twelve O'Clock High on DVD


Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High
Actors: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, Millard Mitchell, Dean Jagger
Director: Henry King
Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Military & War
UR     2002     2hr 12min

This gritty World War II action drama staring Gregory Peck, Oscar winner Dean Jagger, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill and Millard Mitchell is seen as one of the most realistic portrayals of the heroics and perils of war. Convin...  more »
     
     
6

Larger Image

Movie Details

Actors: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, Millard Mitchell, Dean Jagger
Director: Henry King
Creators: Leon Shamroy, Henry King, Barbara McLean, Darryl F. Zanuck, Beirne Lay Jr., Sy Bartlett
Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Military & War
Sub-Genres: Classics, Drama, Military & War
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Format: DVD - Black and White,Color,Full Screen
DVD Release Date: 05/21/2002
Original Release Date: 01/01/1950
Theatrical Release Date: 00/00/1950
Release Year: 2002
Run Time: 2hr 12min
Screens: Black and White,Color,Full Screen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 1
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Similar Movies

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
8
   PG-13   2007   2hr 18min
Command Decision
Director: Sam Wood
6
   NR   2007   1hr 52min
Thunderbolt
Directors: John Sturges, William Wyler
1
   NR   2001   0hr 45min
Run Silent Run Deep
Director: Robert Wise
   NR   1999   1hr 33min
   
Memphis Belle
Snap Case
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
   PG-13   1998   1hr 47min
   

Similarly Requested DVDs

The Great Escape
   UR   1998   2hr 52min
   
The Eagle Has Landed
Director: John Sturges
   PG   2001   2hr 3min
   
Australia
Director: Baz Luhrmann
   PG-13   2009   2hr 45min
   
The Patriot
Special Edition
Director: Roland Emmerich
   R   2000   2hr 45min
   
Run Silent Run Deep
Director: Robert Wise
   NR   1999   1hr 33min
   
State of Play
2009
   PG-13   2009   2hr 7min
   
The Magnificent Seven
Special Edition
Director: John Sturges
   NR   2001   2hr 8min
   
The Dark Knight
Widescreen Single-Disc Edition
   PG-13   2008   2hr 32min
   
The Illusionist
Widescreen Edition
Director: Neil Burger
   PG-13   2007   1hr 50min
   
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Special Edition
Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
   PG   2001   1hr 31min
   
 

Member Movie Reviews

B.J. W. (analogkid01) from CHICAGO, IL
Reviewed on 7/5/2025...
"Twelve O'Clock High" is a 1949 film starring the venerable Gregory Peck about Air Force Brigadier General Savage who is tasked with whipping a bomber wing of misfits into battle-ready shape. My understanding (from IMDB trivia) is that the film is still used today as part of officer training programs in multiple military branches, and it's easy to see why.

It's not that the men are misfits necessarily, they just don't understand why they're fighting and what they're sacrificing themselves for. They don't always know the results of their bombing runs, and they don't understand why when they lose five planes, only three arrive to replace them. They identify as a "hard luck group."

Savage shuts that notion down immediately, and begins to instill a sense of pride in the men. He has his favorites, of course, but he sincerely wants every man to succeed and put in "maximum effort." Comic relief is found in the character of Sgt. McIllhenny, who quickly gets demoted to private...then re-promoted back to sergeant...then demoted...then promoted...Savage eventually suggests that McIllhenny sew a zipper on his stripes. Eventually, the men rescind their transfer requests, and even ground-crew members start stowing away on the bombers to get a piece of the action.

The conflict in the film arises from Savage needing to maintain his own sense of pride and optimism despite losses on bombing missions. The stress eventually does take its toll on Savage, and the end of the film reminded me of the final sequence in "Captain Philips" with Tom Hanks. I was gladly surprised to see such a frank depiction of PTSD in a film from 1949.

The only real downside to the film is the final battle sequence which, while incorporating actual WW2 aerial combat and bombing footage, sets character development aside for most of that time. It's similar to the light saber fights in the newer Star Wars movies - there needs to be some sort of conflict or communication between the characters involved, not just well-choreographed shots of people swinging swords at each other. (See "The Princess Bride" or "Rob Roy" for better examples.)

But I really can't criticize the film that much - veteran director Henry King has a patient and steady hand, and although some of the character interactions can be a little hard to follow sometimes, it is definitely worth a watch.

Grade: A-minus