{"id":79026,"date":"2021-12-23T11:50:47","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T18:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79026"},"modified":"2021-12-23T11:55:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T18:55:59","slug":"strategic-air-command-1955","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79026","title":{"rendered":"Strategic Air Command (1955)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;By staying combat ready, we can prevent a war.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster-200x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-79027\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster-684x1024.png 684w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster-180x270.png 180w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Poster.png 737w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a former Air Force Colonel (James Stewart) is drafted away from his baseball career to serve in active duty during the Cold War, his new wife (June Allyson) must adjust to life as a military spouse.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Airplanes and Pilots<\/li>\n<li>Anthony Mann Films<\/li>\n<li>Cold War<\/li>\n<li>Frank Lovejoy Films<\/li>\n<li>Jimmy Stewart Films<\/li>\n<li>June Allyson Films<\/li>\n<li>Military<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJimmy Stewart and director Anthony Mann collaborated on eight films together: five westerns (<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39997\"><em>Winchester &#8217;73<\/em>, 1950<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39981\"><em>Bend of the River<\/em>, 1952<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39970\"><em>The Naked Spur<\/em>, 1953<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=40022\"><em>The Far Country<\/em>, 1954<\/a>; and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=40049\"><em>The Man From Laramie<\/em>, 1955<\/a>); an oil-drilling drama (<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77136\"><em>Thunder Bay<\/em>, 1953<\/a>); a biopic (<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41406\"><em>The Glenn Miller Story<\/em>, 1954<\/a>); and this love letter to the skies &#8212; an Air Force flick so successful that it helped increase recruitment by 25%. Indeed, it&#8217;s a stunningly filmed movie, using <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VistaVision\">VistaVision<\/a> technology to maximum effect. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-1024x607.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79031\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-1024x607.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-1536x910.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane-456x270.png 456w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Plane.png 1551w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As described by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1955\/04\/21\/archives\/screen-into-the-wide-blue-yonder-air-command-starts-run-at.html\">Bosley Crowther of the <em>New York Times<\/em><\/a>, it was &#8220;far and away the most elaborate and impressive pictoral show of the beauty and organized power of the United States air arm that has yet been put upon the screen.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Storywise, however, there&#8217;s a lot less going on. Allyson once again plays a put-upon &#8217;50s housewife who nonetheless stands by her man despite not being allowed to know where he is half the time:  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79034\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-768x460.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-1536x921.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Allyson3.png 1553w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other dramatic incidents include Stewart managing an engine fire requiring bail-out and a forced landing: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-1024x628.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"393\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-1024x628.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-768x471.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-1536x942.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire-440x270.png 440w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Engine-Fire.png 1551w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and facing windstorms on a non-stop flight from MacDill AFB to Yokota Air Base while nursing an increasingly debilitating shoulder injury:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-1024x604.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"378\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-1024x604.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-128x75.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-768x453.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-1536x906.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5-458x270.png 458w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Nonstop5.png 1555w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>During this flight, we&#8217;re also treated to spectacular footage of mid-air refueling: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-1024x613.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"383\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-1024x613.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-768x460.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-1536x920.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling-451x270.png 451w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Refueling.png 1545w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stewart was perfectly cast in the lead role; according to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Strategic_Air_Command_(film)\">Wikipedia<\/a>, he: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;&#8230; had been a B-17 instructor pilot, a B-24 squadron commander, and a bomb group operations officer, completing 20 combat missions. At the time of filming, Stewart, much like the character he portrays, was also a colonel in the Air Force Reserve, serving with the Strategic Air Command when on duty and at the time was qualified as a pilot on the B-47.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Talk about serendipity! Clearly, this film will appeal to those who enjoy plenty of air action, but it&#8217;s not must-see viewing for all-purpose film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/71605\/strategic-air-command\/\">It&#8217;s been pointed out<\/a> that Stanley Kubrick may have been influenced by some of the footage here when conceiving of <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51940\"><em>Dr. Strangelove<\/em> (1964)<\/a>: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-1024x617.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"386\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-1024x617.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-768x463.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-1536x926.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still-448x270.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still.png 1545w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine VistaVision cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-1024x618.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"386\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-1024x618.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-768x463.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-1536x927.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4-448x270.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Still4.png 1553w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map-1024x620.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"388\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map-1024x620.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map-768x465.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map-446x270.png 446w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Strategic-Air-Command-Map.png 1537w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, unless you&#8217;re a fan of such films. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0048667\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1955\/04\/21\/archives\/screen-into-the-wide-blue-yonder-air-command-starts-run-at.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/4246\/strategic-air-command#articles-reviews?articleId=160808\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/71605\/strategic-air-command\/\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;By staying combat ready, we can prevent a war.&#8221; Synopsis: When a former Air Force Colonel (James Stewart) is drafted away from his baseball career to serve in active duty during the Cold War, his new wife (June Allyson) must adjust to life as a military spouse. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Airplanes and Pilots Anthony Mann Films Cold War Frank Lovejoy Films Jimmy Stewart Films June Allyson Films Military Review: Jimmy Stewart and director Anthony Mann collaborated on eight&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79026\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79026"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79053,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79026\/revisions\/79053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}