Strategic Air Command

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND (1955) was done as a tribute to that then-new arm of the United States Air Force, and was also intended -- apart from being an entertaining movie -- as an explanation of the Cold War to the great American middle class. In that sense, it served the same function in the mid-1950s that such pictures as MRS. MINIVER and SINCE YOU WENT AWAY did in the first half of the 1940s -- the difference being that, as is explained by James Stewart's "Dutch" Holland to his wife (June Allyson), the Cold War is not a shooting war, but really a war of strategies, thrusts, and jousts to prevent precisely that kind of all-out war. The script does a good job of that, and the performers play their roles with convincing, even compelling earnestness -- some of the domestic scenes between Stewart and Allyson have a perfunctory feel (it seems like master-shots, especially those on the Holland kitchen set, are used more often than was usually the case with serious dramas). But where the movie gets down to business, which is taking us into the clouds aboard B-36 or B-47 bombers, everything else takes flight as well. June Allyson's presence (as essentially the only female in the cast -- I think three others are seen, and one of them only glimpsed) was essential to get in the marital angle, which made it possible for women to resonate to the picture; and her wide-eyed innocence about things military and aeronautical, coupled with Stewart's status as a reserve pilot years out of the service, give the screenwriters an opening to declare the sheer power and range of the two bulwarks of the American nuclear defense force, the B-36 and, especially, the B-47 (the first glimpse of which, and all subsequent appearances of, contain a requisite sense-of-wonder, which is still justified -- it was a gorgeous plane). It all holds together, and director Anthony Mann and his second-unit crew (which delivered stunning airborne footage, including a refueling scene that's tense and exciting today, and must have seemed three or four times as exhilarating in 1955, when such maneuvers were relatively new to most of us) turn this into a truly exciting and fascinating between-the-wars document, not just about the Air Force but also about American psychology and politics during this period. There are moments, in fact, where it is reminiscent of ABOVE AND BEYOND, the story of Col. Paul Tibbets and the preparation for the first military use of nuclear weapons during World War II -- both movies spend a fair amount of time juggling marital strains around their story of men in war (or, in this case, in a non-shooting war to prevent a shooting war). This was all a new kind of dramatic subject for a feature film in 1955, and Anthony Mann pulls it all together about as well as any filmmaker of the era could have -- okay, maybe Tom Gries (1922-1977), if he hadn't been just starting out around that time, might have handled it better, but he was at a point in his career where he wasn't going to get to direct James Stewart. My only complaint is a truly minor one -- I wish they could have worked in at least a mention or a shot of the B-50, but that's purely an aviation buff's sentiment. What's here is fine. The movie was easily available on VHS tape, and was also released on an above-average laserdisc through Pioneer. I had neither available to compare to the Olive Films DVD, but that issue does look and sound just fine. The letterboxing captures the appropriate VistaVision aspect ratio, and the sound is reasonable robust and quite clear and sharp, which brings out the best in Victor Young's beautiful orchestral accompaniments to the extended flying sequences. (I did once know someone who served in SAC around that time, however, who told me that he and the other enlisted men he knew in that service used to laugh at the march/anthem that opens and closes the movie). The film isn't the best, by a longshot, that Anthony Mann and James Stewart did together and, indeed, would probably have to fall into the lower part of the bottom half of that list, but it was close to Stewart's heart (he maintained an active reserve commission in the Air Force and retired as a general), and the fact that he got Mann to do it speaks volumes about his confidence in the filmmaker. There are no extras or bonus features.

Hard to beat a classic Jimmy Stewart big screen movie. Any movie. Western, suspence or otherwise. And this quasi 'docu-drama' is one focused on one man and his wife's arduous experience has great convergence of the once MIGHTY and FORMIDABLE SAC gearing up in the 50s with a recall back to SAC active duty operational flying of a middle aged former USAF pilot and current professional baseball player. [Sounds like they tailgated off of Ted Williams (Red Sox) active duty stint with the Marines flying jets during the Korean war, doesn't it?] Anyway, this movie was VERY credible, believable, accurate and realistic in almost ALL aspects of SAC back in those days under iron fisted control of General Curtis LeMay. Who am I to say? I spend over 25 years myself in SAC as a line "Combat Crew Member" flying KC-135 aerial tankers (mated to B-52 and FB-111 nuclear laden bombers. So I know a thing or two about the USAF, SAC, Nuclear Deterrence and Alert, and airplanes. The ultimate tribute and endorsement I can give this movie is that it gave me the heebie geebies and sweaty palms while watching Jimmy make a forced transition from a successful civilian baseball career back to USAF/military life....and start-up SAC operations no less. His whole ordeal, internal conflict, lifestyle transition and machinations/challenges in dealing with his new military wife were all totally accurate, believable....from my standpoint...true. Even the SAC crew-members' bitching about being in tough, highly disciplined SAC and wanting to get out to resume their civilian life. LONG missions (14 hours +) in SAC's gigantic Convair B-36 "Peacemaker"; hazardous flying in all kinds of weather and remote forward bases, getting retrained/re-qualified for line operational flying (as an Aircraft commander) all rang VERY true to me. Especially the General LeMay portrayal and his philosophy. SO if you want to get a glimpse into what SAC was all about in the 50s and how it shaped our nuclear "MAD" (mutually assured destruction) doctrine, etc. this is a classic movie to own and watch. The flying scenes (hardly any models/props here) are beautiful and choreographed extremely well. USAF and SAC must have been BIG sponsors/supporters of this film. Yes, it's a period movie in terms of gender bias, Ozzy and Harriet married life, etc. But it was, after all, what this country was all about and focused on back in the 50s and 60s when people were digging bomb shelters in their back yard and practicing duck and cover in classrooms. [special shout-out appearance of MASH's Harry Morgan here too....] BTW....I'm SURE you all know that Jimmy Stewart WAS a real-live pilot in the USAF who achieved the rank of General and how he actually flew a B-58 and also B-52 mission(s) over Vietnam. He's the REAL DEAL and a hero...and so this movie is a FINE tribute to him. Get it. Watch it. Enjoy, think about and celebrate this movie...and James Stewart.! I obviously did.

The movie was made to entertain, but it was a recruiting film too. 'Americans need to stand strong to defend America' The moving flying photography designed to show America's might and inspire people to sign up to fly in the big birds. Worth watching at least twice. Once for the movie as it's offered, then as a time machine where you can see the American dream of the 50's. Look at the cars, the houses and the lifestyle. Worth it for that alone. OliveFilms did a great job of bringing an old film back to life!

Altro grande film sull'aviazione. Modelli sperimentali USA in grande quantità. Attori eccezionali ed irripetibili. Una pellicola commovente e leggendaria. Da non perdere per chi ama questo genere.

I get an error "invalid region" on my 2 readers.

This is fantastic movie and a really great showpiece for the classic Convair B36 Peacemaker Bomber and B47. Blu ray has really brought out the detail on these planes so much you can see the rivets in these planes and really hear the roar of the engines as if you were standing next to them. Everything around is sharp and crystal clear the fibres of the uniforms scenery of the terrain. For those customers like myself who are not from USA ensure your Blu Ray player is region free. You won't regret your purchase.

I have tried playing this visually excellent film on 3 seperate 'region free' blu ray devices and the display 'Invalid Region' is all I get, on all 3 devices. Indeed, the small print on the back of the cover says only playable on devices in USA & Canada. This should be noted on the product page, in Amazon. I give 5 stars because I know it's an excellent movie, and also that this review may consequently appear at the top, alerting future customers of this issue.