40 reviews
I was really surprised to find an 8.0 rating for this show when I looked it up on the IMDb. The truth is, it was a fairly heavy melodrama with largely contrived plots, pervasive overacting, and only selective loyalty to realism, something that always seems to characterize any fiction ever done about aviation on video.
And yet, of all the shows I watched as a little kid and then got to see again as an adult, this is the only one that has really been able to continue to feel special to me in spite of all its flaws. Despite everything else, and at least during the first season with Lansing, it took its subject matter seriously and did not engage in dramatic license to too much excess (unlike in its last season-and-a-half). The episodes usually maintained internally consistent logic and emotional effect and careful attention was paid to editing; one remarkable feature was how well the editors knew their World War Two aircraft and were consistently able to synch the storyline and dialog of the combat sequences with the real-life combat footage inserted as part of those sequences. The aircraft interior combat sequences were all shot inside of the fuselage of a real B-17 (a permanently grounded wingless wonder that was a refugee of earlier post-war civilian uses like water bombing forest fires), so what you see there is as authentic as possible. Moreover, the brooding quality suggested by the subject matter (which Lansing was very effective in enhancing), the black & white photography, and the perfectly-conceived and executed bittersweet Dominic Frontiere theme and score, combined with flying, aerial combat sequences which included a great deal of real-life combat footage, and best of all, copious quantities of photography (both new and vintage) of the B-17 Flying Fortress, styled by one famous aviation photographer as "the most photogenic airplane ever built", created a unique kind of mood that has never ceased appealing to me since I was seven years old. As a result, after I grew up, I learned to fly and then through a stroke of exceedingly good luck just happened to find myself living in a city where one of the few remaining (there are only about a dozen) B-17's still flying was based, and there I joined the crew.
However, in spite of what others have written, Robert Lansing was not perfect, even though he was certainly at least persistently interesting, and some attempt at verisimilitude was generally present in spite of the demands of dramatic license. And things only got even more contrived whenever an episode veered near Paul Burke playing the Joe Gallagher character. Thus, naturally, when Burke replaced Lansing in the second season it continued down the same track as the first except that its execution at practically every level was not up to the same standard. The contrived plots seemed even more contrived - not only was the acting of the new principal characters frequently weaker, but the writing itself was as well - and finally they went to color (it was by then 1966, after all), which fundamentally altered the mood, and yet something else was lost. In the third season, even the original striking score was largely abandoned for something a lot less brooding but also a lot less notable. Over that time the series went from a focus on high drama to much more of an action-adventure format, and started looking a lot more like THE RAT PATROL. As a result, both drama and even story details suffered in favor of variety and action, regardless of how realistic it made the end result. Even the editing became much more indifferent.
Still, some new elements of interest appeared. Paul Burke's character, as the replacement for Lansing's, had some good, pretty credible dialog written to demonstrate his (as well as other senior officers') leadership ability, and he was pretty much up to the task of delivering it. In fact, there was a lot more believably representative dialog generally than in the first season, occasioned also by the fact that the newly formatted show at long last included some significant enlisted characters as well as more interaction among junior officers, and for the first time an actual sense of camaraderie developed at times between various characters; originally, every episode was limited to a confrontation between Lansing's character and whoever his antagonist of the week was. Moreover, a second extremely cool aircraft was added in the form of the legendary P-51 Mustang fighter, with excellent footage included, even if the plot elements to accomplish this were as often as not fairly strained, factually. But while these new aspects of the show gave the producers exciting new story opportunities it never realized its potential. Had the series capitalized better on this and stuck with the tighter writing and editing of the first season, perhaps it could have weathered the various changes, but it was not to be. Even after about Episode 8 of the third season, when the show actually did start to click pretty well as an action series, it was not enough to save it from cancellation. But still, 12 O'Clock High remains for me the thing that began my life-long love for the magnificent B-17 Flying Fortress, and eventually, for their real exploits and men that flew them.
And yet, of all the shows I watched as a little kid and then got to see again as an adult, this is the only one that has really been able to continue to feel special to me in spite of all its flaws. Despite everything else, and at least during the first season with Lansing, it took its subject matter seriously and did not engage in dramatic license to too much excess (unlike in its last season-and-a-half). The episodes usually maintained internally consistent logic and emotional effect and careful attention was paid to editing; one remarkable feature was how well the editors knew their World War Two aircraft and were consistently able to synch the storyline and dialog of the combat sequences with the real-life combat footage inserted as part of those sequences. The aircraft interior combat sequences were all shot inside of the fuselage of a real B-17 (a permanently grounded wingless wonder that was a refugee of earlier post-war civilian uses like water bombing forest fires), so what you see there is as authentic as possible. Moreover, the brooding quality suggested by the subject matter (which Lansing was very effective in enhancing), the black & white photography, and the perfectly-conceived and executed bittersweet Dominic Frontiere theme and score, combined with flying, aerial combat sequences which included a great deal of real-life combat footage, and best of all, copious quantities of photography (both new and vintage) of the B-17 Flying Fortress, styled by one famous aviation photographer as "the most photogenic airplane ever built", created a unique kind of mood that has never ceased appealing to me since I was seven years old. As a result, after I grew up, I learned to fly and then through a stroke of exceedingly good luck just happened to find myself living in a city where one of the few remaining (there are only about a dozen) B-17's still flying was based, and there I joined the crew.
However, in spite of what others have written, Robert Lansing was not perfect, even though he was certainly at least persistently interesting, and some attempt at verisimilitude was generally present in spite of the demands of dramatic license. And things only got even more contrived whenever an episode veered near Paul Burke playing the Joe Gallagher character. Thus, naturally, when Burke replaced Lansing in the second season it continued down the same track as the first except that its execution at practically every level was not up to the same standard. The contrived plots seemed even more contrived - not only was the acting of the new principal characters frequently weaker, but the writing itself was as well - and finally they went to color (it was by then 1966, after all), which fundamentally altered the mood, and yet something else was lost. In the third season, even the original striking score was largely abandoned for something a lot less brooding but also a lot less notable. Over that time the series went from a focus on high drama to much more of an action-adventure format, and started looking a lot more like THE RAT PATROL. As a result, both drama and even story details suffered in favor of variety and action, regardless of how realistic it made the end result. Even the editing became much more indifferent.
Still, some new elements of interest appeared. Paul Burke's character, as the replacement for Lansing's, had some good, pretty credible dialog written to demonstrate his (as well as other senior officers') leadership ability, and he was pretty much up to the task of delivering it. In fact, there was a lot more believably representative dialog generally than in the first season, occasioned also by the fact that the newly formatted show at long last included some significant enlisted characters as well as more interaction among junior officers, and for the first time an actual sense of camaraderie developed at times between various characters; originally, every episode was limited to a confrontation between Lansing's character and whoever his antagonist of the week was. Moreover, a second extremely cool aircraft was added in the form of the legendary P-51 Mustang fighter, with excellent footage included, even if the plot elements to accomplish this were as often as not fairly strained, factually. But while these new aspects of the show gave the producers exciting new story opportunities it never realized its potential. Had the series capitalized better on this and stuck with the tighter writing and editing of the first season, perhaps it could have weathered the various changes, but it was not to be. Even after about Episode 8 of the third season, when the show actually did start to click pretty well as an action series, it was not enough to save it from cancellation. But still, 12 O'Clock High remains for me the thing that began my life-long love for the magnificent B-17 Flying Fortress, and eventually, for their real exploits and men that flew them.
Quinn Martin & Irwin Allen were 2 of the mainstays of 1960's ABC TV. It amazes me that this show did not last longer. It is very well done. Between this, the Fugitive, & The FBI, Martin pulled a big load for ABC.
This series presented the story of the bombing crews in World War 2, specifically the B series bombers with the machine gunners in the turrets & the bombing runs over Europe. While the movie is well done, this series is also excellently done.
The surprise is this lasted only 3 seasons. I often wondered when a quality series like this one got canceled if the ratings were rigged back then. They would cancel quality series like this & Star Trek in 3 seasons. Yet some series that were real garbage in comparison would last longer.
The pretty much male cast in this show were all excellent actors who seemed to fit their roles very well. When this was made, the planes were still available to use to make things look realistic too. Overall, this was an excellent series. The stories were always the same & Martin did not get a chance to produce a finale for this one. Considering it went off about the same time as the Fugitive, it is hard to imagine him being able to finale this, though a re-creation of V-E day for these bomber crews would be exciting.
This series presented the story of the bombing crews in World War 2, specifically the B series bombers with the machine gunners in the turrets & the bombing runs over Europe. While the movie is well done, this series is also excellently done.
The surprise is this lasted only 3 seasons. I often wondered when a quality series like this one got canceled if the ratings were rigged back then. They would cancel quality series like this & Star Trek in 3 seasons. Yet some series that were real garbage in comparison would last longer.
The pretty much male cast in this show were all excellent actors who seemed to fit their roles very well. When this was made, the planes were still available to use to make things look realistic too. Overall, this was an excellent series. The stories were always the same & Martin did not get a chance to produce a finale for this one. Considering it went off about the same time as the Fugitive, it is hard to imagine him being able to finale this, though a re-creation of V-E day for these bomber crews would be exciting.
I am an early 50's who barely remembered 12 O'Clock except that it was a favorite show along with "Combat" as many others have reiterated. I haven't seen an episode in over 30 years. Recently I got a DVD set of the entire series and I agree with the reviewer it's been great TV. I must not have been old enough at the time to watch it on Friday night at 10:00. To my recollection that was the same night that Johnny Quest, and the Flintstones, and then later on the Green Hornet.
But when the series moved to Monday nights, maybe after Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, I do remember watching it faithfully. Then Tuesday's it was Combat.
Rewatching the series again... I love the old air-to-air, but as I think about it, it does have an ability to romanticize war. But the scripting has been great... And Lansing has been great during the first season.
I'm about into the first episode of the second season where they kill him off. Paul Burke was who I remembered in the jump seat and he's who I remembered most from the show. I'm looking forward to the rest of the episodes, but I am going to miss Savage. Each storyline had some interesting moral to them usually, and although 60's style is somewhat overacted... I have found them to be high entertainment.
But when the series moved to Monday nights, maybe after Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, I do remember watching it faithfully. Then Tuesday's it was Combat.
Rewatching the series again... I love the old air-to-air, but as I think about it, it does have an ability to romanticize war. But the scripting has been great... And Lansing has been great during the first season.
I'm about into the first episode of the second season where they kill him off. Paul Burke was who I remembered in the jump seat and he's who I remembered most from the show. I'm looking forward to the rest of the episodes, but I am going to miss Savage. Each storyline had some interesting moral to them usually, and although 60's style is somewhat overacted... I have found them to be high entertainment.
'Twelve O'Clock High', the television version of Gregory Peck's classic war film, was a remarkable achievement when it debuted, in 1964. While utilizing stock war footage for bombardment and dogfight scenes, the story lines addressed the timeless issues of warfare (heroism and cowardice, integrity, loyalty) on an intimate scale that 'the big screen' couldn't match. It also made a star of Robert Lansing, the rugged, pensive actor who had previously garnered rave reviews in the series, '87th Precinct'. His 'Frank Savage' was a man of courage and a conscience, and he lifted each episode far above the 'typical' TV war show of the era.
With a soaring, beautiful theme (by the versatile Dominic Frontiere), the strong production values of Quinn Martin, and a veteran supporting cast including Frank Overton and John Larkin, the series garnered rave reviews, and was poised for a long, award-winning 'life' on the small screen.
Unfortunately, ABC stepped in, however, and decided to 'improve' the series...
The network produced figures that indicated that younger audiences weren't watching in big enough numbers, and that the show didn't provide enough 'action' for fans craving battle scenes. Lansing wasn't 'pretty' enough to attract female viewers, and there were no 'hunky' co-stars to fill the gap. As for offering a 'Message'? Sure, that was okay...as long as it didn't interfere with the bullets flying, the plane crashes, and the mostly happy endings.
So the program was retooled for the second season. Robert Lansing was killed off, shot down over Europe, and Paul Burke was brought in as his replacement. Best known from the cop show, 'Naked City', Burke was actually two years older than Lansing, but he had a more 'classic' leading man 'look', and had gotten a lot of female fan mail during the run of the earlier show. Most of the older cast also got the ax, and young Chris Robinson was brought in, as another potential 'heartthrob'.
The result of the changes was a diluted show, with less 'heart', if more 'glamor' and 'action'. While Burke tried to provide Lansing's subtlety and depth, he simply wasn't as good an actor, and the series lost the very qualities that had made it, initially, so memorable.
When 'Twelve O'Clock High' was canceled, after struggling through two seasons with the new cast, ABC downplayed the event, choosing to ignore the fact that the series had begun so promisingly, and that they had 'killed' it.
But for those of us who remember that first season with fondness, it is a reminder that creative minds make 'Classic TV', not network demographics!
With a soaring, beautiful theme (by the versatile Dominic Frontiere), the strong production values of Quinn Martin, and a veteran supporting cast including Frank Overton and John Larkin, the series garnered rave reviews, and was poised for a long, award-winning 'life' on the small screen.
Unfortunately, ABC stepped in, however, and decided to 'improve' the series...
The network produced figures that indicated that younger audiences weren't watching in big enough numbers, and that the show didn't provide enough 'action' for fans craving battle scenes. Lansing wasn't 'pretty' enough to attract female viewers, and there were no 'hunky' co-stars to fill the gap. As for offering a 'Message'? Sure, that was okay...as long as it didn't interfere with the bullets flying, the plane crashes, and the mostly happy endings.
So the program was retooled for the second season. Robert Lansing was killed off, shot down over Europe, and Paul Burke was brought in as his replacement. Best known from the cop show, 'Naked City', Burke was actually two years older than Lansing, but he had a more 'classic' leading man 'look', and had gotten a lot of female fan mail during the run of the earlier show. Most of the older cast also got the ax, and young Chris Robinson was brought in, as another potential 'heartthrob'.
The result of the changes was a diluted show, with less 'heart', if more 'glamor' and 'action'. While Burke tried to provide Lansing's subtlety and depth, he simply wasn't as good an actor, and the series lost the very qualities that had made it, initially, so memorable.
When 'Twelve O'Clock High' was canceled, after struggling through two seasons with the new cast, ABC downplayed the event, choosing to ignore the fact that the series had begun so promisingly, and that they had 'killed' it.
But for those of us who remember that first season with fondness, it is a reminder that creative minds make 'Classic TV', not network demographics!
I watched this program with my dad, who was a WWII vet and former POW, when I was very little. Recently, I purchased the entire set and began to watch all over again. I, too, did not accept the death of General Savage and always thought they would find him somewhere and bring him back. The naiveté of the young....
I always felt Colonel Gallagher was a poor replacement until I began to really watch these episodes as an adult. I think people tend to compare the two and there is just not a comparison to be made. Frank Savage was a maverick and a very decisive character. You didn't see him delving out too much sympathy or being overly sentimental. Joe Gallagher had a lot of baggage to carry around with an overbearing General (Max Gallagher) for a father and issues with his self worth. Each character should be judged for their own merit. We knew a lot more about Joe than we did about Frank.
I don't think Robert Lansing should have been replaced and I do think the program would have fared very well had he been allowed to continue the role. However, since the powers that be decided to replace him, we should judge Paul Burke for the person he was portraying and not for his ability to play like he was Frank Savage.
I always felt Colonel Gallagher was a poor replacement until I began to really watch these episodes as an adult. I think people tend to compare the two and there is just not a comparison to be made. Frank Savage was a maverick and a very decisive character. You didn't see him delving out too much sympathy or being overly sentimental. Joe Gallagher had a lot of baggage to carry around with an overbearing General (Max Gallagher) for a father and issues with his self worth. Each character should be judged for their own merit. We knew a lot more about Joe than we did about Frank.
I don't think Robert Lansing should have been replaced and I do think the program would have fared very well had he been allowed to continue the role. However, since the powers that be decided to replace him, we should judge Paul Burke for the person he was portraying and not for his ability to play like he was Frank Savage.
Robert Lansing was brilliant as Brigadier General Frank Savage. Lansing's superb performance elevated a fine war series to classic status.
Executive producer Quinn Martin decided to fire Lansing because he was difficult to work with. Lansing never worked for Quinn Martin again. To Quinn Martin's credit, he told Lansing he was through before the first season was over, and to Lansing's credit his acting continued to be first rate.
The official reason given at the time was that ABC wanted a younger actor, since the show was moving to an earlier time slot. But this was just a smoke screen. Quinn Martin wanted to replace Lansing with an actor as much like Lansing as possible-but one who was easier to work with. Martin basically hoped no one would notice the change. This was similar to what happened when Michael Moriarty left "Law and Order". Sam Waterson was as close as you could get to Michael Moriarty without hiring Moriarty.
Paul Burke was about the same age as Lansing and he had a similar bearing. Like Lansing, Burke was a highly respected dramatic actor and had mature, matinée idol looks. Burke was fine as Colonel Joe Gallagher, but he just wasn't as fascinating to watch as Lansing had been.
Quinn Martin might have been shrewder to hire someone totally unlike Lansing as the replacement, perhaps someone younger and more volatile. Maybe someone a little less pensive and less together. Someone who had to grow to fill Savage's shoes. Nick Adams ("The Rebel") might have been an interesting choice. Adams could have played the new Colonel a little like Steve McQueen in "The War Lover". Or maybe Robert Duvall could have given us a younger version of the great Santini. Or Peter Fonda, who had guest starred the first season, might have been appealing as a decent boy from the farm learning to be a leader of men. Or James Caan or Bruce Dern (also a first season guest star) as a brash young man being mellowed by the responsibilities of command.
People die in war time, so Quinn Martin's decision to kill off Savage could have deepened the show and made it more realistic and exciting. If they killed off Savage, was anybody safe? But whoever tried to make us forget Robert Lansing had an unenviable task in front of them and maybe an impossible one.
Executive producer Quinn Martin decided to fire Lansing because he was difficult to work with. Lansing never worked for Quinn Martin again. To Quinn Martin's credit, he told Lansing he was through before the first season was over, and to Lansing's credit his acting continued to be first rate.
The official reason given at the time was that ABC wanted a younger actor, since the show was moving to an earlier time slot. But this was just a smoke screen. Quinn Martin wanted to replace Lansing with an actor as much like Lansing as possible-but one who was easier to work with. Martin basically hoped no one would notice the change. This was similar to what happened when Michael Moriarty left "Law and Order". Sam Waterson was as close as you could get to Michael Moriarty without hiring Moriarty.
Paul Burke was about the same age as Lansing and he had a similar bearing. Like Lansing, Burke was a highly respected dramatic actor and had mature, matinée idol looks. Burke was fine as Colonel Joe Gallagher, but he just wasn't as fascinating to watch as Lansing had been.
Quinn Martin might have been shrewder to hire someone totally unlike Lansing as the replacement, perhaps someone younger and more volatile. Maybe someone a little less pensive and less together. Someone who had to grow to fill Savage's shoes. Nick Adams ("The Rebel") might have been an interesting choice. Adams could have played the new Colonel a little like Steve McQueen in "The War Lover". Or maybe Robert Duvall could have given us a younger version of the great Santini. Or Peter Fonda, who had guest starred the first season, might have been appealing as a decent boy from the farm learning to be a leader of men. Or James Caan or Bruce Dern (also a first season guest star) as a brash young man being mellowed by the responsibilities of command.
People die in war time, so Quinn Martin's decision to kill off Savage could have deepened the show and made it more realistic and exciting. If they killed off Savage, was anybody safe? But whoever tried to make us forget Robert Lansing had an unenviable task in front of them and maybe an impossible one.
- Cheyenne-Bodie
- Jun 30, 2006
- Permalink
Twelve O'Clock High is the story of the airmen of the 918th Bombardment Group based at Archbury, England. The great leadership skills of the commanding officers and how they dealt with their crews in daily life or death situations while fighting the Luftwaffe. This series had superior writing, sets and story lines-many of which were based on actual events of World War II. There is a lot of aerial combat footage used in this series from both the side of the Allies and the Axis powers. A superbly acted series with excellent casting. This series needs to be shown again in the United States as it is a great tool for teaching our young people what life and freedom was all about during this bygone era.
Having read the previous comments and agreeing with everything said, here are my comments regarding the TV show 12 O'clock High: I was 14years old when this show first aired and was attracted to strong leader types. Robert Lansing/Frank Savage was the man! When Paul Burke replaced him, the show lost its depth. Joe Gallagher was too much of a pretty boy and Paul Burke too shallow of an actor. Not to mention diluted story lines. My next encounter was when I was in grad school. A local UHF station (remember them?) aired an episode every afternoon. I would hurry home from class to get my fix. For me, the Frank Savage episodes were a study in leadership and the stories studies in character building. I even made notes. General Savage was the kind of leader I could only hope to be: steady, cool, composed under pressure, fair to others, even when recognizing his own prejudices in a situation, articulate, always thinking things through before acting, not hot headed like the "Golden Boy." And I still found Robert Lansing more attractive than Paul Burke. I just discovered and received the entire series on DVD (excellent quality, but each episode only 46+ minutes long??) and spent the weekend watching Season 1. The show is better than I remembered! The acting, the story lines; love the old combat footage. The leadership and character lessons are still there (I still have my old notes) and now that I am in that leadership position, the show still gives me models towards which to aspire. Robert Lansing is still the man for me. And the show is just plain good entertainment! I'm addicted again. Just hope that when I get to Seasons 2 and 3 they won't be worse than I remember. A lifelong fan.
- skatingsailor
- Jul 26, 2009
- Permalink
I was a teenager when this show was on in 64 and I never missed it. It's on AMLTV now, and I catch it whenever I can. Between Robert Lansing and Paul Burke, my friends and I preferred Lansing. He always gave an intensity to the role, sort of stand-offish, but always in command. But when Paul Burke stepped in as commander of the 918th Bomb Group, he brought pretty much the same intensity. I'm not sure if Lansing tried to copy Gregory Peck's General Savage, but Lansing did a great job transitioning the role to TV. The show was produced by Quinn Martin (QM Productions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinn_Martin) who produced some of the best shows of the 60's. For those of us who have always been fans of the great old B-17 Flying Fortress, 12 OClock High is still a great TV show.
- misterbee-1
- Nov 16, 2007
- Permalink
It gave me a lump in my throat whenever the theme song came on, announcing another episode in this great series. You may find sound clips of the music theme on line, but I have never found the entire theme song. It is worth hearing. As to the plots of the episodes, well, they were were somewhat repetitive, usually centering around the psychological stress of constant terror in the sky, flying an unpressurized and freezing cold airplane through flak and German fighters to targets in occupied Europe during WW II. The B-17 scenes are great, and in 1964, there were enough of the old war birds left to make the scenes realistic. Also, the technical adviser must have been good, because the airfield scenes, the uniforms and other props appear to be authentic. I just wish that these episodes were available on DVD, but sadly, I don't think it will ever happen. Hell, I would buy the DVD just for the theme song!
Season 1 was great and Robert Lansing's portrayal of General Savage approached Peck's portrayal. Scripts were strong. Season 2 & 3 are like casting & stories by committees & polls. Watch the first season and do yourself a favor and be pass on seasons 2 & 3.
The worst decision QM ever made was to fire Robert Lansing for no other reason then to appeal to a 'younger' audience. Lansing player the premier General Savage in the first season and was fantastic. He played it as Gregory Peck did in the Movie version. Q Martin replaced him with a very poor Paul Burke. Never a satisfactory actor he played the part of the leader of the 918 bomber group as a very emotional confused leader never quite achieving the high standard of Robert Lansing. Show lasted two more seasons but on a wing and a prayer. It could have gone on for many with Lansing. Just my opinion!
- bornagain710-331-212635
- Oct 5, 2020
- Permalink
The first season of 12 O'clock High was a credit to all involved. As a 10 year old watching in 1965 there was not enough action. However, the story lines were good and the acting and production seemed believable. You really felt an empathy for COL Savage as one of his planes and 10 men took a hit and went down in flames. Filming in Black & White added that "look" that was also the trade mark of that great TV series "Combat". It is a shame that Lansing did not get along with Quinn Martin (mentioned above) as the series went down hill when he left. I still recall the episode when he did'nt come back from a mission. Twelve O'clock High is a memorial to those Pilots and Aircrew of the US 8th/5th Air Force as the majority of the young men did not make it through to their 20 odd missions and return to the States. Imagine sitting in a B-17, cold and miserable, freezing to death for up to 8 hours or more then having to fly through the wall flak on that final run to the target. Being jumped by enemy fighters on the way in and out of the target with nowhere to hide. They were sitting ducks. The British gave up daylight Bombimg.
Regrads Pete H, Sydney, Australia
Regrads Pete H, Sydney, Australia
For episodic television, "12 O'Clock High" is solid entertainment. Most of the plots are well conceived, and the writing is, overall, decent. There are some of those stereotypical "If you weren't a general, then I'd pound you" scenes that are teeth grating, but those are few. The production team actually makes each of the scenes in the air interesting - which is hard to do because after a while they could dramatically become the same in that a team of men in a B-17 fly to a target and get shot up. Each one fits. The base scenes fold in what was the standard operations of the time: briefing room with the big map of Europe, the debriefing room, the commanding officer's office and the infirmary. It is television, so there's a certain amount of liberty taken with the "squadron bar" set pieces. I've spoken with veterans of World War II, and I don't think there was a dance every night at the squadron. Where the series departs is the romantic drama. I don't think every body hoofed it into the nearby British pub for fun and recreation. This seems to be melding peace time Air Force American activities that audiences had come to expect some 20 years after World War II had ended. I also don't think "girlfriends" came and went on most bases during World War II as they pleased. If there is one big detraction for me, then it is what I call the "rogue P-47." The production used an insert of a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter firing its six .50 caliber machine guns to represent a Luftwaffe fighter shooting a t B-17s a lot ... almost every episode of the two Black and White seasons. They couldn't find a Focke-Wolfe to substitute out, I guess. The viewer has to look past that. And the women all have 60s haircuts ... Plots are still top rate.
- sgspires-89-442591
- Nov 8, 2011
- Permalink
... and my mother LOVED this show. I was a child when it was on TV, but I watched every episode with my parents. My mother got tears in her eyes at times, and I remember the show very fondly. I'd love to be able to watch it again.
I miss many of the old time classic TV series including 12 O'Clock High and the Untouchables, but thankfully METV has come to ATT UVerse cable for my enjoyment along with the timeless series, Combat!. The one gripe that I had about Robert Lansing playing the lead as General Savage was that he came off about as lovable in love scenes as a dead wet carp that had been beached for several days. He may have been dramatic, but he certainly wasn't at all believable as being romantic.
I wish that Hollywood would re-shoot many of the classic WWII war stories and battles, as too many of them that were made shortly after the war in the 1950's would feature hundreds of Americans attacking in battle with one fatality and a couple of casualties and hundreds of enemy dead, and that of course simply wasn't the case. 12 O'Clock High did a great job of making American casualties realistic and I'd love to see the series resurrected again.
I just caught Frank Oberton on a rerun of Bonanza on METV as an embittered Father who's son is killed in a gun battle with Joe Cartright. Frank died of a heart attack in 1967, the same year as the last 19 episodes of 12 O'Clock High filming before it was canceled. Doe anyone know if he died while the series was still filming? If so, how was he written out of the script?
I wish that Hollywood would re-shoot many of the classic WWII war stories and battles, as too many of them that were made shortly after the war in the 1950's would feature hundreds of Americans attacking in battle with one fatality and a couple of casualties and hundreds of enemy dead, and that of course simply wasn't the case. 12 O'Clock High did a great job of making American casualties realistic and I'd love to see the series resurrected again.
I just caught Frank Oberton on a rerun of Bonanza on METV as an embittered Father who's son is killed in a gun battle with Joe Cartright. Frank died of a heart attack in 1967, the same year as the last 19 episodes of 12 O'Clock High filming before it was canceled. Doe anyone know if he died while the series was still filming? If so, how was he written out of the script?
- jack_j_lucas
- Dec 2, 2012
- Permalink
- hrailey-34155
- Jan 23, 2017
- Permalink
"12 O'Clock High" is an excellent series and every episode has been posted to YouTube. And, now that I finished watching it, I am doing an overall review for the series.
Season one of the show was the best for two main reasons. I liked Robert Lansing as the General, but apparently the network or sponsors didn't...and he was replaced by Paul Burke in the second and third seasons. Burke was very good...but Lansing was at least as good and tossing him off the show did NOT make me happy. The second reason I prefer the earlier episodes is that after a while, the show ran low on story ideas. After all, how many different plots can you make about men bombing Nazi-occupied Europe? As a result, many decent plots were reused to the point of absurdity. Both General Savage AND Colonel Gallagher were shot down innumerable times and managed to escape the Germans again and again...which is ridiculous. It was particularly overused in seasons two and three. Additionally, some plots (especially in season three) were utterly ridiculous...and I assume they used these scripts because they simply had used their better stuff earlier. Now this is NOT to say the later episodes were all bad...they weren't.
So what did I like about the show? Well, the plot certainly isn't typical...especially for a Quinn Martin production. There really has never been another show like it. Also, the acting is really good and the long list of great guest stars is VERY impressive.
What didn't I like...aside from the plots of some later episodes? Well, the use of bad and irrelevant stock footage is tough for folks like me. I used to be a history teacher and LOVE WWII airplanes...and know them very well. So, when they show German Bf-109 fighters attacking and suddenly you see American P-47 guns blazing from these aircraft or see Spitfire footage attacking the bombers (the Spitfire was an Allied plane), it takes me out of the experience. It was a much more severe problem starting in season two and I am almost surprised they didn't stick WWI or Vietnam War fighters into the show! Sloppy....period.
Overall, despite a lousy attention to details and some poor plots, the good ones way outweighed the bad and the show was and is amazing to watch.
Season one of the show was the best for two main reasons. I liked Robert Lansing as the General, but apparently the network or sponsors didn't...and he was replaced by Paul Burke in the second and third seasons. Burke was very good...but Lansing was at least as good and tossing him off the show did NOT make me happy. The second reason I prefer the earlier episodes is that after a while, the show ran low on story ideas. After all, how many different plots can you make about men bombing Nazi-occupied Europe? As a result, many decent plots were reused to the point of absurdity. Both General Savage AND Colonel Gallagher were shot down innumerable times and managed to escape the Germans again and again...which is ridiculous. It was particularly overused in seasons two and three. Additionally, some plots (especially in season three) were utterly ridiculous...and I assume they used these scripts because they simply had used their better stuff earlier. Now this is NOT to say the later episodes were all bad...they weren't.
So what did I like about the show? Well, the plot certainly isn't typical...especially for a Quinn Martin production. There really has never been another show like it. Also, the acting is really good and the long list of great guest stars is VERY impressive.
What didn't I like...aside from the plots of some later episodes? Well, the use of bad and irrelevant stock footage is tough for folks like me. I used to be a history teacher and LOVE WWII airplanes...and know them very well. So, when they show German Bf-109 fighters attacking and suddenly you see American P-47 guns blazing from these aircraft or see Spitfire footage attacking the bombers (the Spitfire was an Allied plane), it takes me out of the experience. It was a much more severe problem starting in season two and I am almost surprised they didn't stick WWI or Vietnam War fighters into the show! Sloppy....period.
Overall, despite a lousy attention to details and some poor plots, the good ones way outweighed the bad and the show was and is amazing to watch.
- planktonrules
- Nov 22, 2021
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World War 2. The 918th Bomb Group is part of the US 8th Air Force, tasked with bombing Germany by day. Flying B-17 Flying Fortresses and commanded first by Brigadier General Savage then by Colonel Gallagher, these are some of the missions they took on and the dangers they faced.
An entertaining World War 2 drama. Some great action sequences, often making use of actual WW2 footage. Much of the non-archival footage makes use of actual B-17s so the production is quite elaborate in terms of the flying scenes.
It is reasonably formulaic though as well as some plots being a bit far-fetched. In addition, this is not a serial and there's no continuity: each episode is independent of what came before. So you have odd situations like someone getting badly wounded in one episode and the next he's right as rain, as if nothing happened. This non-realism does make engagement limited.
The series improved slightly when General Savage was replaced by Colonel Gallagher. Savage was a fairly one-dimensional, gung ho sort of character while Gallagher is more multi-faceted and believable.
Overall, not brilliant but very watchable.
An entertaining World War 2 drama. Some great action sequences, often making use of actual WW2 footage. Much of the non-archival footage makes use of actual B-17s so the production is quite elaborate in terms of the flying scenes.
It is reasonably formulaic though as well as some plots being a bit far-fetched. In addition, this is not a serial and there's no continuity: each episode is independent of what came before. So you have odd situations like someone getting badly wounded in one episode and the next he's right as rain, as if nothing happened. This non-realism does make engagement limited.
The series improved slightly when General Savage was replaced by Colonel Gallagher. Savage was a fairly one-dimensional, gung ho sort of character while Gallagher is more multi-faceted and believable.
Overall, not brilliant but very watchable.
I recall watching this series as a kid and being a WWII war bird enthusiast, the series pretty much kept an accurate account during the times of the mighty eighth USAAF bombers and fighters based in England that was used during the European campaign of WWII. The fine acting of Robert Lansing and Paul Burke brought to the series a realistic display of how bomber commanders felt about their men and machines during the war. It wasn't just fly, bomb and strafe. They wrestled with the pilots and crews personal problems and orders that sent many a pilot and bomber crews to their death. Actual WWII footage was used and when the writers tired of the stories in the air, they sometimes covered what happens to pilots and crews who are shot down evading or being captured by the enemy. This series was a good one but with the widening war in Vietnam, the series was cut short do to loss of interest and the public tiring of war. It was a shame since the contribution made by these pilots, crews and planes help end the war with Nazi Germany and its campaign of extermination and conquest. Sometimes a series of war and why we're forced to fight in them should be made if not just to hear how our fighting forces faced the horrors and complexities and sacrifices of war.
This is one of the great television shows of the sixties that needs to be brought back. I don't know if the problem was popularity, subject, or because it was in back and white. Color would have killed it. The show took a minor dive when Robert Lansing left, but it was great entertainment and an example of great television they don't do today. I can still catch myself humming the theme.
As a teen this was watched. I always wondered what it would have been like serving in the air during the war. The stories are varied with many stars you will see in movies and other TV shows. It would take pages to list them all.
The one thing that you will not realize just how little room there is inside a B-17. I was able to do so in 2012 at the Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, OH. The take off and landing was amazing. The only place we were not able to go in flight is where the tail gunner would be. If you enjoy this war drama, you should whenever possible, take a tour and ride in the best bomber that served in WW ll. It will give you an insight for what many went thru.
The one thing that you will not realize just how little room there is inside a B-17. I was able to do so in 2012 at the Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, OH. The take off and landing was amazing. The only place we were not able to go in flight is where the tail gunner would be. If you enjoy this war drama, you should whenever possible, take a tour and ride in the best bomber that served in WW ll. It will give you an insight for what many went thru.
Unlike Westerns, TV series about WWII normally didn't fare well. If you look them up you'll find fewer titles and most of them only lasted a single season.
Combat!, The Rat Patrol, and 12 O'Clock High were the exceptions, and The Rat Patrol only lasted two.
We prefer the first season with Robert Lansing, and I watched that season as a kid. Our family lost interest when they "killed off" General Savage, but over the last few years my wife and I have been watching the series a show here and there, and we find the second season as compelling.
The show managed to find young actors early in their career who'd go on to be major stars in both TV and film, and you can browse the cast list here to see what I mean. As I type, we're watching an episode starring James Macarthur, who in a few more years achieved major stardom on Hawaii 5-0. It's also got Patrick Wayne and Lee Meriweather. You'll find such combinations of soon-to-be stars in every episode.
The series combined actual war footage and the sense of daylight bombing raids with dramatic character studies.
Combat!, The Rat Patrol, and 12 O'Clock High were the exceptions, and The Rat Patrol only lasted two.
We prefer the first season with Robert Lansing, and I watched that season as a kid. Our family lost interest when they "killed off" General Savage, but over the last few years my wife and I have been watching the series a show here and there, and we find the second season as compelling.
The show managed to find young actors early in their career who'd go on to be major stars in both TV and film, and you can browse the cast list here to see what I mean. As I type, we're watching an episode starring James Macarthur, who in a few more years achieved major stardom on Hawaii 5-0. It's also got Patrick Wayne and Lee Meriweather. You'll find such combinations of soon-to-be stars in every episode.
The series combined actual war footage and the sense of daylight bombing raids with dramatic character studies.
- VetteRanger
- Feb 25, 2023
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