MovieChat Forums > Twelve O'Clock High (1950) Discussion > Curtis LeMay shoutout?

Curtis LeMay shoutout?

posted 13 years ago by Kex
5 replies | jump to latest

Just got done watching this movie for the umpteenth time and caught something I've always missed. When General Savage (Peck) gets back from his last mission, the one before he cracks up, he's in his room with Col Davenport (Merrill), Gately (Marlowe) and a drunk Col. Stovall (Jagger). Davenport asks Savage if he knows that the "Old Man" went along on the just finished mission. After Savage tells him he didn't know, Davenport continues "He slipped into Curt May's plane."
During the time period when this movie takes place, Major Curtis LeMay (later General) was flying bombing missions as commander of a B-17 Flying Fortress unit, the 305th Bomb Group, which was part of the Eighth Air Force.
Since the main characters in this movie are patterned after real people there is no way the name "Curt May" was chosen by accident.

[–] MadTom 13 years ago

No doubt about it. In fact, I'd seen the movie a couple of times before I realized that Davenport hadn't just slurred the "Le" in the surname.

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

Just wondering..was that a good idea.....LeMay on bombing missions? Not sure but isn't that like Marshall assaulting the beaches of Normandy?

[–] nickm2 13 years ago

LeMay was still just a commander of a 8th AAF heavy bomb group during 42-43; he didn't have much choice but to LEAD missions.

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

Yes, looks like that's the way it was...he was made of strong stuff..

[–] vonmazur 13 years ago

Yes, It was a "shout out" to Curtiss LeMay...when the screenplay was written he was quite famous. The etiquette of Hollywood at the time required the slight change. Today they would not do that...I have no idea what today's writers would do..so tell me!! Insert a rap scene with Weird Al or what??

Dale

"If those sweethearts won't face German bullets--They'll face French ones!"