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Twelve O'Clock High Overview:

Twelve O'Clock High (1949) was a Action - Drama Film directed by Henry King and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay, Jr published in 1948.

SYNOPSIS

This compelling WWII drama focuses on the emotional effects the fear and anxiety of war have on fighting men. When a compassionate bomber-squadron leader (Merrill) resists taking his scarred, jumpy men on one more near-suicidal daytime mission, he's replaced by by-the-book general Peck. After exposure to the dangers his men face, Peck becomes more uncertain than his predecessor, even suffering a nervous collapse from the stress. One of the few war films to depict the real human costs of war (based on the true story of Gen. Frank Armstrong), it also includes terrifying aerial sequences that make real the dangers the fliers faced.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Twelve O'Clock High was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1998.

Academy Awards 1949 --- Ceremony Number 22 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorGregory PeckNominated
Best Supporting ActorDean JaggerWon
Best Picture20th Century-FoxNominated
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Twelve O'Clock High Quotes:

Maj. Gen. Ben Pritchard: I believe that to a certain degree, a man makes his own luck.
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Twelve O'Clock High Facts
A romantic subplot, which features in the book, was dropped at the studio's insistence. They wanted the script to concentrate fully on the psychological effects of war and the theme of leadership.
This film is frequently cited by surviving bomber crewmembers as the only accurate depiction from Hollywood of their life during the war.
The film's dedication states: "This motion picture is dedicated to those Americans, both living and dead, whose gallant effort made possible daylight precision bombing. They were the only Americans fighting in Europe in the fall of 1942. They stood alone, against the enemy and against doubts from home and abroad. This is their story."
The 306th Bomb Group, on which the fictional 918th is based, was the first USAAF group to strike Germany during World War II. This occurred on 27 January, 1943. The target was the battleship Admiral Scheer in the harbor of Wilhelmshaven. Colonel Frank Armstrong, on whom the character of General Savage is based, was in the lead plane on that mission. The lead bombardier was Lt. Frank Yaussi.
The film was delayed in its release because MGM's Command Decision beat them to the punch. The similarity in content between the two films forced 20th Century Fox to hold back on "Twelve O'Clock High" for a few months.
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