“Bombers B-52” was an Air Force recruiting film directed by the prolific Gordon Douglas (The McConnell Story, Up Periscope). He directed films for five decades, but I don’t think this one was at the top of his resume. In Great Britain, it was called “No Sleep Till Dawn” which was a slightly more risqué title. The American title reflects the main character Master Sergeant Chuck Brennen (Karl Malden). The British title reflects Lt. Col. Jim Herlihy (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) This horndog role was turned down by Tab Hunter, who was tired of military films. The B-52s were played by actual B-52s, as were the B-47s and F-86s. The movie had the full cooperation of the U.S. Air Force, for obvious reasons.
Wow,
a war movie where a woman gets top billing.
And the sappy romantic music over the titles also caused me to wonder
what I was about to see. In Korea in
1950, two F-86s shoot down a MiG. Ace
Captain Herlihy forces a ground crew to work on his plane at night, which draws
artillery fire. This pisses off crew
chief Brennen and he hates Herlihy because he is a tool. Not a tool like he uses to maintain
airplanes. Flash forward six years to
Castle Air Force Base, the home of the B-47.
Brennen is there and he has a crew that includes “Brooklyn”. Guess who his new commanding officer is? Lt. Col. Herlihy. To make the relationship even more awkward,
Herlihy starts dating Brennen’s daughter Lois (top-billed Natalie Wood). Brennen is less than thrilled for two
reasons. First, he thinks Herlihy is an
ass hole. Second, he’s a fighter
pilot! Keep your women away from those
dudes. To add to the drama, Lois is
pressuring her old man to take a much better paying civilian job. Brennen is happily married, but then this
sexy beast comes along. The bomber
B-52. Will he take the job offer? Would that help with Air Force recruiting of
technicians?
“Bombers B-52” is boring Air Force propaganda. You know that although the movie finishes with a faux suspenseful test flight of a B-52, you know none of the main characters are going to die. It’s also clear that Herlihy will get redemption and the girl. As far as that job, I’ve already spoiled that. The cast helps, but it can’t overcome the predictability of it all. And the most important members of the cast, the planes, are not given enough screen time. They are not hard on the eyes and neither was Natalie Wood. She may have gotten top billing, but the main character is Brennen. Her character makes little sense. For instance, she is ashamed that her father is a crew chief. This from a girl who repairs the family car on vacation.
For a movie that is an homage to air crews, it sure doesn’t show them doing much and it concentrates on only one crew chief. Thankfully, that crew chief is Karl Malden because he is the only reason to watch the movie. Or if you are a huge B-52 fan.
GRADE = D+
