MovieChat Forums > Twelve O'Clock High (1950) Discussion > (spoilers) what a pity we dont know the ...

(spoilers) what a pity we dont know the fates of the characters

posted 16 years ago by lisasiegel
7 replies | jump to latest

i just finished watching the film and couldnt help feeling that since it wasnt made in the midst of the war, the narrative could have included info on the fates of the characters. instead it's just this memory - and we're left with the disastisfying feeling that it could have ended terribly for the whole group, despite the sudden surge in democratic 'leadership'...
if not for the bookends of the 'looking back' refrain it could have been made during the war and been a propaganda picture. like mrs. miniver that feeling although they survived that particular drama they still weren't safe by any means.
maybe this was supposed to have been made during the war but somehow wasn't? or maybe it's somehow making some reference to the post-war collapse of us/soviet relations/start of cold war militarist build-up in the US>?

odd film - stilted directing, forced acting and yet fairly compelling narrow tale.
greg peck looks gorgeous.

[–] nyc104 15 years ago

In relation to Gen Savage's fate, in the 1960's series of the same name the character of Gen Savage is replaced after the first season. This I think from memory was due to enemy action in the last episode of season one, but in reality the actor portraying him didnt get on well with the director so he was replaced.

[–] larrytrouse 15 years ago

In the book General Savage recovers from his breakdown and continues to fly missions until he is killed. The premise is that Harvey Stovall is the only man left alive that knows the whole story. The studio most likely didn't want to end the movie with a series of death scenes. They were concentrating on the emotional and psychological strains of leadership in combat.

So your dissatisfying feeling is warranted, they were not safe, they all died.

[–] polsixe 14 years ago

But like any movie the viewer can write their own ending, the movie stands alone and doesn't have to be the book or Col Armstrong or whatever. I would think Savage would get a short R&R leave, a thank-you promotion to 2 stars and the Pentagon job for the rest of the war. The others would muddle through, some dying and some moving on.

[–] njbucks 12 years ago

larrytrouse's summary of how the book continues and ends is, of course complete crap. The book ends shortly after Savage's collapse with him accepting a stateside assignment and going to tell his WAAF girlfriend the news. And that's it; no killing off of all the main characters. Character who lives in the film but dies in the book-- Sgt. McIllhenny. Character who dies in the movie but lives in the book (albeit as a POW)-- Lt. Jesse Bishop.

[–] jpowell180 12 years ago

Gen. Savage is killed in a 1962, shortly after he pursueded President Kennedy to attack Cuba; the attack resulted in the 20 IRBM's striking multiple targets in the eastern United States, including Washington, D.C.
Gen. Savage was in the Pentagon (as USAF Chief of Staff), throwing back some whiskey with a pretty secretary in his lap when the warhead hit, vaporizing them both before they even know what had happened.
This prompted an all-out retaliatory response by the United States (President Kennedy and his new mistress, Tina Louise, were safe at the Greenbriar), which, of course, prompted the Soviets to also retaliate, resulting in an all-out nuclear war.
Due to the United States' nuclear superiority, we prevailed with far fewer casualties than anticipated.

[–] buxtehude99 10 years ago

Some of them get killed, and most go home to become our fathers, teachers, coaches and bosses. Harvey is an important symbol of the majority of men who came home and took up their lives. He was older and a professional, but still part of the huge adult post war generation.

[–] mariakelly-04164 8 years ago

Jpowell 180, in regards to your theory as to General Savage's ultimate fate, I just have one comment: WTF?