Strategic air command and weaves in a personal story about its officers. Other scenes occurred at the strategic air command headquarters at offutt afb in nebraska. The plot is patterned after the world war ii film twelve oclock high. A gathering of eagles 1963 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. During the cold war, air force colonel jim caldwell shapes up his strategic air command b52. Strategic air command us air force security forces. Rock hudson at a gathering of eagles premiere youtube.
A gathering of eagles is a 1963 eastmancolor film about the u. Gathering of eagles, starring rock hudson, refueling scene. He is the tall firefighter putting out the fire on the b52. His devotion to his duty as a wing commander takes a toll on his men, his marriage, and his own wellbeing. Jim caldwell, who has just been assigned to his first command at the fictional carmody air force base near san francisco. One hopes that the actual sac brass are steadier in the heart, the mind and in the cockpit. Strategic air command sac was both a united states department of defense dod specified command and a united states air force usaf major command majcom, responsible for cold war command and control of two of the three components of the u. Officers are greeted by mary peach and rock hudson, stars of the movie a gathering of eagles which is set against strategic air command background. Most b36 peacemaker fans know the classic film strategic air command, the 1955 paramount pictures movie starring james stewart as lt. This is not a riveting movie, but it does have rock hudson as the lead, plus several other actors who were well known 50 years ago. Air force base, and he quickly develops a reputation as a stern taskmaster. List of commandersinchief of the strategic air command.
Sac had numerous exercises, operations, and command controls. A strategic air command colonel rock hudson neglects his british wife mary peach for his duty after world war ii. I ve been looking for this movie for years and its as good as i remember. Headquarters strategic air command key personnel, 19461992 commandersinchief. I saw this movie when it first came out in the theaters early 60s and knew i wanted to join the air force strategic air command. There were many individuals who distinguished themselves. A gathering of eagles was filmed at beale afb, california, and my dad has a split second scene. Mar 16, 2017 i saw this movie when it first came out in the theaters early 60s and knew i wanted to join the air force strategic air command. Air mobility command inherited most of sacs kc5 stratotanker and kc10 extender aerial refueling tanker force, although some kc5s also went to usafe and pacaf. The commanderinchief, strategic air command cincsac was the most senior officer and head of the strategic air command sac. Battle hymn 1957 rock hudson, anna kashfi, dan duryea bc pro. Air force during the cold war and the pressures of command. Richards, the film is about the journey of a prized rifle from one illfated owner to another and a cowboys search for a murderous fugitive.
Responsible for americas strategic air command, general hewitt leif. Strategic air command 1955 stream and watch online. Also starring in the motion picture were frank lovejoy and harry morgan. A very interesting movie, shows how it is about the lives and tensions into the.
Jim caldwell in the air force to shape up the sac strategic air command squadron. It was the first of four hollywood films that depicted the role of the strategic air command in the cold war era. Battle hymn 1957 rock hudson, anna kashfi, dan duryea. The strategic air command is magnificent matter for an epic film, for a lawrence of the wild blue yonder. A gathering of eagles 1963 rock hudson, universals biggest star during the late fiftiesearly sixties, was cast somewhat against type in a gathering of eagles 1963, the story of the peacetime activities of the u. An expilot and current baseballer is recalled into the u.
There have also been movies made about the cold war, such as fail safe. With james stewart, june allyson, frank lovejoy, barry sullivan. The strategic air command was basically the same twentieth air force from guam that lemay had commanded during the war. A gathering of eagles 1963 soars as one of the greatest military films in hollywood history, starring rock hudson and produced with the complete cooperation of the united states air force.
In 2012, our book jimmy stewart on the air was published by bearmanor media. Raised in semipoverty in bronx neighborhoods by her divorced mother, allyson nee ella geisman was injured in a fall at age eight and spent four years confined within a steel brace. A gathering of eagles stars rock hudson as a colonel in the peacetime strategic air command. A gathering of eagles 1963 a gathering of eagles 1963. Strategic air command is a 1955 american military aviation film starring james stewart and june allyson, directed by anthony mann, and released by paramount pictures. In that sense, it served the same function in the mid1950s that such pictures as mrs.
Robert dutch holland stewart, a successful player for the st. Enter colonel jim caldwell rock hudson, who is offered the task of. She never imagined shed meet some of the worlds most powerful people. Air force and assumes an increasingly important role in cold war deterrence. Rock hudson plays a united states air force officer, colonel jim caldwell, a strategic air command sac b52 wing commander. The plot is patterned after the world war ii film twelve oclock high, which producerscreenwriter sy bartlett also wrote, with elements also mirroring above and beyond and toward the unknown, films written by his collaborator, beirne lay jr.
Tout les preparatifs du sac strategic air command bon film dommage quil. Sorry for the chatter in the backgound, its my dads grandson. A gathering of eagles is a 1963 superscope eastmancolor film about the u. Strategic command headquarters, built in 1957 for the strategic air command, has long carried the name of former sac commander gen. Air force strategic air command sac, the frontline of. With rock hudson, rod taylor, mary peach, barry sullivan. This was reportedly another film linked with strategic air command and bombers b 52. It was because of this movie i joined the usaf and actually worked in sac on. A gathering of eagles 1963, is known to be accurate in depicting the lives of sac men. All three of these movies have some good aerial footage, especially that of the b36 in strategic air command, but leave a great deal to be desired. Strategic air command approved 1h 52min action, drama, war 25 march 1955 usa an expilot and current baseballer is recalled into the u. An accurate portrayal of life within strategic air command sac at the height of the cold war.
He instigates the early retirement of squadron commander col. Mar 16, 2017 a gathering of eagles was filmed at beale afb, california, and my dad has a split second scene. His devotion to his duty as a wing commander takes a. The enemy below here is one of the best war movies ever, a chess game of cat. The film is a cold war era promo for sac and defense spending from paramount pictures. Strategic air command 1955 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Of course, since the publication, additional information has been located. Over its fortyyear life, over a million men served in it.
Oct 28, 2008 gathering of eagles, starring rock hudson, refueling scene. He must shape up his wing and men to pass a grueling operational readiness inspection ori that the p revious c ommander had failed and for which he had been reli eved of his command. Strategic air command 1955 strategic air command sac presents us with the only extensive major motion picture flying record of americas b36, the largest bomber aircraft ever built. Jim caldwell rock hudson has a new task of shaping up a strategic air force wing.
This is a rare instance with rock hudson in an earnest role and he delivered a mighty convincing col. Watching this movie brought back a lot of memories and i still remembered all the dialogue. Strategic air command 1955 was done as a tribute to that thennew 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. Roc k hud son plays a uni ted states air force officer, colonel jim caldwe ll, a strategic air command sa c b52 wing c ommander. Oct 14, 2016 in 2012, our book jimmy stewart on the air was published by bearmanor media. Strategic air command is a 1955 technicolor american film starring james stewart and june allyson, and directed by anthony mann. A gathering of eagles presents the realities of the u. Strategic air command soundtrack jimmy stewart on the air. Hudson plays a colonel assigned to a wing that has just flunked two oris organizational. It was a natural transition, since it was the only military organization on earth with previous nuclear experience, having dropped the atomic bombs on hiroshima and nagasaki. During the cold war, air force colonel jim caldwell shapes up his strategic air command b52 wing to pass a nuclear war readiness test.
Bartlett and his crew are herein concerned with rock hudson, who takes over as wing commander of a. Hudson plays a colonel assigned to a wing that has just flunked two oris organizational readiness inspection. A gathering of eagles the complete rod taylor site. They flew many aircraft, had access to many weapons and were stationed at many bases.
Stars of movie a gathering of eagles at strategic air. Press and united states air force officers on airfield. This paramount pictures release was the first of four films that depicted the role of the strategic air command in the cold war era. Air force strategic air command sac, the frontline of the nations air defense during this period. Strategic air command james stewart june allyson frank lovejoy 1955 the air force recalls a baseball player james stewart who has a pregnant wife june allyson to fly longrange bombers. See more ideas about air force, movies and strategic air command. American leading lady whose sweet smile and sunny disposition made her the prototypical girlnextdoor of american movies of the 1940s.