Flat Top

1952
Approved
1h 23m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Sterling Hayden and Richard Carlson in Flat Top (1952)

During the Korean War, aboard the U.S.S. Princeton, Navy Commander Dan Collier reminisces about his first assignment on the same aircraft carrier in the war against Japan.During the Korean War, aboard the U.S.S. Princeton, Navy Commander Dan Collier reminisces about his first assignment on the same aircraft carrier in the war against Japan.During the Korean War, aboard the U.S.S. Princeton, Navy Commander Dan Collier reminisces about his first assignment on the same aircraft carrier in the war against Japan.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

560

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Photos21

+ 14

Top cast44

Edit

Sterling Hayden

Cmdr. Dan Collier

Richard Carlson

Lt. (j.g.) Joe Rodgers

William Phipps

Red Kelley
(as Bill Phipps)

John Bromfield

Ens. Snakehips McKay

Keith Larsen

Ens. Barney Smith…

William Schallert

Ens. Longfellow

Todd Karns

Judge

Phyllis Coates

Dorothy Collier

Dave Willock

Willie

Walter Coy

Air Group Commander

Peter Adams

Plane Captain
(uncredited)

Richard Bartlett

Sailor
(uncredited)

James Best

Radio Operator
(uncredited)

David Bond

Chaplain
(uncredited)

William Cabanne

Officer
(uncredited)

Clancy Cooper

Captain
(uncredited)

Bob Cudlip

Plane Captain
(uncredited)

Richard Emory

Intelligence Officer
(uncredited)

Director
- Lesley Selander
Writer
- Steve Fisher
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

7.0

7.4

7.7

7.2

6.0

5.3

6.0

6.2

5.7

Murder in a Blue World

6.3

The Lady Is Willing

5.2

The Mad Doctor of Market Street

4.1

Olga's House of Shame

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
The film premiered on Armistice Day (Nov. 11) of 1952 in the harbor of San Diego (CA) aboard the USS Princeton, on which the film was mostly shot.

Goofs
The pilots left the carrier in F4U Corsairs, and the first mission showed ordnance dropped by SB2C Helldivers and the landings were done showing F4F Wildcats with the 'after-landing' unmistakable wing-folding characteristic feature of the Wildcat. Some plane-to-plane shots showed the silhouette of the F4F very clearly.

Connections
Referenced in The Case Against the 20% Federal Admissions Tax on Motion Picture Theatres (1953)

User reviews11

Review

Featured review

7/10

GOODLY AMOUNT OF GREAT REAL AIR & SEA BATTLE COLOR FOOTAGE...ROUTINE DRAMATICS

Stepping-Up from its Poverty Row Stature, Monogram (soon to be Allie Artists) Turns its Production into a Cinecolor (soon made obsolete by Eastman Color) Battle-Royal.

Actually the Lowly Anemia of Cinecolor makes the 16MM Real Navy Footage Blend Better and the Result is a Treat for Fans of Actual WWII War Film.

The Confrontations with Japan Zeros and the US Navy Pilots is Dynamic and Exciting.

Surprisingly the Low-Budget-Movie Editing (John Austin) was Nominated for an Academy Award.

Sterling Hayden and Richard Carlson are Perfectly Cast as Type.

Perhaps if Complaints are Forthcoming, the Mixing of Aircraft Type and other Technical Stuff will Annoy Nerds and for General Non-Wonky Movie Watchers...

There are way too many Unconvincing and Static Shots of Pilots Sitting in Studio Cockpits and Gawking.

Their Non-Battle Below-Deck Dramatics are Labored and Boring Cliches along with the Grounded Script that does Nothing to Elevate the Characters or Their Missions.

Overall, the Battles are Worth the Price of Admission and the Movie is Worth a Watch for War Movie, Aviation, and Military Fans.