Twelve O'Clock High

Released Dec 21, 1949

2h 12m

War

Drama

List

96%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1942, an American Air Force unit stationed in England is plagued with morale problems until no-nonsense Brigadier General Frank Savage (Gregory Peck) assumes command. His tough leadership is initially resented by not only his pilots but his second-in-command (Hugh Marlowe), a West Point graduate and son of a general. But, with the help of a hotshot flying ace (Robert Patten) and a sympathetic administrator (Dean Jagger), the unit pulls together into a gung-ho fighting crew.

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Critics Consensus

Twelve O'Clock High is a high-stakes, high-tension war drama powered by great, well-written characters.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

It is one of the best treatments of World War II. but not without its defects. These include its length and some of the old war picture cliches. But the acting (especially Peck) and direction approach greatness.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Empire Magazine

A truly remarkable film, that manages to excite and enthrall as well as offer deep, rounded characters.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 10, 2012

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Sincere, square, and interminable.

Feb 10, 2012

Full Review

Dudley Early

Austin American-Statesman

A very satisfying motion picture, 12 O'Clock High does not quite get over that indefinable line which marks the beginning of greatness.

Jun 19, 2020

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Seanax.com

... one of the first and arguably the greatest of the Hollywood films to examine the pressures of command and the psychological toll of making life and death decisions for men they come know and care for ...

Feb 24, 2016

Full Review

Tracy Moore

Common Sense Media

Gripping psychological war drama has more talk than action.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 11, 2015

Full Review

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Leaburn O

It's a fairly low key, very low action and overwrought War film. Peck plays a strong role but it's not particularly dramatic. They set the scene well but it keeps setting the scene and the story ends in a bit of a lame way. Watched on DVD.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

Connor S

This movie shows the extreme heroics of our greatest generation; but the lack of literally any kind of score makes this more of a drawn-out documentary than it should be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

SICKS6SIX S

One of the best aviation films of WW2 I've seen, Gregory Peck who plays General Savage is savage as he turns around a squadron of American bombers based in the UK from deadbeats to top flyers, Everyone in the film acts well, makes a nice change from America winning the war single-handedly without anyone help, it explores the human reaction to fear and death, fear of one's death, the flyers would be aged 18 -15 mainly with some older guys so turning them into fear loathing killers from homesick surfer boys must have been some tough job to do, there wasn't a 918 bomber group but there was a "hard-luck" group the 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh, which (multiplied by three) became the 918th at Archbury in the book and movie. In November 1942, Eaker (then VIII Bomber Command commander) and Spaatz (Eighth Air Force commander) visited Thurleigh and didn't like what he found and decided to turn it around, the film is based on fact, filmed at Elgin and made to look like Thurleigh, 95% in my book of watchable WW2 films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/23

Full Review

Christopher B

A strong performance by Gregory Peck and the supporting cast, the film is a Classic look at life during wartime and the individual and an in depth look at what each person can take when pushed to their brink. The character Peck plays is harsh, unemotional, and downright a hardass but as the film goes on and the General played by Peck grows with his new company of men and experiences battle firsthand and the loss of others, there is a huge change in his character. We see him being pushed to the breaking point and the devastating effects and in a word; transcendence.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/11/22

Full Review

Mike J

I remember watching this in a German theatre back in 1940 it was great then and is still great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Made a few years after the killing and dying was over - at least until Korea! - this film portrays some of the psychological toll that combat took on the men who endured it. Some incidents that happened years into the US's involvement of the war are conveniently compressed into a story that initially appears set in 1942; those anachronisms will be lost on younger audiences but the impact of the story shouldn't be. Young men who volunteered for the US Army Air Corps may have figured they'd have it easier than infantrymen, but soon find their comrades killed or shot to pieces, which is a microcosm for entire nations embarking on war envisioning a quick and easy victory.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Henry King

Director

Gregory Peck

Gen. Frank Savage

Dean Jagger

Maj. Harvey Stovall

Gary Merrill

Col. Ernie Davenport

Hugh Marlowe

Lt. Col. Ben Gately

Millard Mitchell

Maj. Gen. Pat Pritchard

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Synopsis

In 1942, an American Air Force unit stationed in England is plagued with morale problems until no-nonsense Brigadier General Frank Savage (Gregory Peck) assumes command. His tough leadership is initially resented by not only his pilots but his second-in-command (Hugh Marlowe), a West Point graduate and son of a general. But, with the help of a hotshot flying ace (Robert Patten) and a sympathetic administrator (Dean Jagger), the unit pulls together into a gung-ho fighting crew.

Director: Henry King
Screenwriter: Sy Bartlett, Beirne Lay Jr.
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 1949, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2013
Runtime: 2h 12m

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