12 O'clock High / 633 Squadron / Blue Max

Contains the War classics: TWELVE O’CLOCK HIGH, 633 SQUADRON and BLUE MAX

12 O’CLOCK HIGH - Dashing Gregory Peck stars as General Frank Savage, commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II. Loosely based on the true story of Major General Frank A. Armstrong, TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH begins with Savage appearing to be a fearless fighter with almost no compassion for his men. Told in flashback from the perspective of Major Harvey Stovall (Dean Jagger), the story unfolds as Savage takes over Stovall's Bomb Group in 1942. The company has suffered numerous losses, morale is at an all-time low, and the tired pilots and their crews are immediately antagonised by Savage's obsession with discipline, leaving Savage and Stovall with the onerous task of rebuilding the pride of a fighting force that despises its leader. Jagger received an Oscar for his efforts, but the real star is Peck, exhibiting a vast repertoire to portray a complicated character. Using actual combat footage from both American and German cameras, director Henry King creates an environment in which bravery and heroism count but war itself is anything but romantic.

633 SQUADRON - Cliff Robertson portrays a combat-weary pilot whose R. A. F. squadron is ordered to destroy a Nazi rocket fuel plant tucked deep into a Norwegian fjord. Based on a true story.

BLUE MAX - WWII. The "Blue Max", a coveted medal for achievement in flying, is ruthlessly sought by George Peppard, a poor-boy German soldier who climbs out of the trenches and into the aristocratic air force. He is met with prejudice by the other contestants, wealthy snobs who look down upon his low economic stature. When he claims the title, he earns the respect of the General and the General's wife (Andress), who wants to repay him in ways that the General might not appreciate. Peppard, on the other hand, does. Fantastic aerial combat highlights the film, although the scenes between the two lovers don't hurt matters much.