Twelve O'Clock High Page #2

Synopsis: In this story of the early days of daylight bombing raids over Nazi Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a "hard luck" bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets. Actual combat footage is used in this tense war drama.
Genre: Drama, War
Director(s): Henry King
Production: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
96%
NOT RATED
Year:
1949
132 min
7,601 Views


Our stinking luck.

Those flak gunners had the range

when we made our run.

- What about crews, Doc?

- I could give you different answers.

I'll get started on route plans.

- Coffee?

- Not now, thanks.

That's your diet. How long since

you've had your clothes off?

What about crews?

You're crew when it comes

to being certified.

There's the crew availability.

About the route and timing.

Don't figure on the altitude

until it's checked with Pinetree.

Yes, sir.

Thanks for worrying, only don't.

- What about the rest?

- That brings us to the two answers.

Twenty-eight men want to be excused,

three times more than normal.

They gave reasons, colds mostly.

And most haven't got colds.

They haven't gone yellow.

They're getting their bellies full.

Do I okay them and mark them duty?

How much can a man take?

What's physical?

The rules say a man goes

unless he'll endanger his crew.

I don't know what that means.

Can you tell me this?

Do I okay Bishop for tomorrow?

He had a tough deal.

Jesse's a tough boy.

How tough? What happened today

must have affected him inside.

It had to cost him something.

Somebody's gotta give me a policy,

some kind of yardstick.

Tell me what a maximum effort means.

Doc, I wish I knew.

I wish I could answer that one.

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello? Yes.

Hello, Pinetree. All right.

Frank, Keith Davenport.

Yeah, I heard it. I didn't call up

to talk about Lord Haw Haw.

What about that cock-eyed field order

that said 9000?

What? You're kidding.

But the strike photos

don't show what the flak is like.

Are you gonna be there for a while?

I'll be right up.

They meant 9000.

When I get back

I'll give you an answer, Doc.

No, no mistake. It's 9000.

They've got to try.

We haven't hit those subpens.

I know, then twist it.

Had the same request all day.

The wailing wall is just

around the corner, Keith.

Oh, I don't know. I guess this is it.

Sit down.

If you don't level about this stuff,

they'll drop their bombs here.

Look, Frank...

It was tough enough at 19,000.

It'll be suicide at nine.

Whoever dreamed this up

ought to have his brain in a jar.

- Anything else?

- You've been a group commander.

You led the first 10 missions.

Tell them what it'll be like...

Keith. I signed the field order.

- Why? I wanna know.

- I'll spell it for you.

We haven't penetrated

the concrete in those subpens.

We can't get concentration

and accuracy from 19,000.

We've got to go in low,

get it done in one trip...

...instead of fighting

our way there for nothing.

Nine thousand feet.

When the old man cuts a field order,

he's thought about it.

There isn't time to take

every one of them apart.

If I were you, when I got one,

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote

Sy Bartlett

Sy Bartlett (July 10, 1900 – May 29, 1978) was an American author and screenwriter/producer of Hollywood films. Born Sacha Baraniev in Ukraine, he immigrated to the United States at the age of four and adopted the name Sidney Bartlett. Bartlett died in Hollywood on May 29, 1978, aged 77, from cancer. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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