Dashing Gregory Peck stars as General Frank Savage, commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II. Loosely based on the true story of Major General Frank A. Armstrong, TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH begins with Savage appearing to be a fearless fighter with almost no compassion for his men. Told in flashback from the perspective of Major Harvey Stovall (Dean Jagger), the story unfolds as Savage takes over Stovall's Bomb Group in 1942. The company has suffered numerous losses, morale is at an all-time low, and the tired pilots and their crews are immediately antagonized by Savage's obsession with discipline, leaving Savage and Stovall with the onerous task of rebuilding the pride of a fighting force that despises its leader. Jagger received an Oscar for his efforts, but the real star is Peck, exhibiting a vast repertoire to portray a complicated character. Using actual combat footage from both American and German cameras, director Henry King creates an environment in which bravery and heroism count but war itself is anything but romantic.

This compelling World War II epic of the 8th Air Force, adapted from the novel by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr., is given a new dimension by Gregory Peck, who plays a combat leader who guides his men to the absolute edge. Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Picture, Best Actor--Gregory Peck. Academy Awards: 2, including Best Supporting Actor--Dean Jagger.

TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1998.

DVD Features:

NTSC
Keep Case
Special Edition
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Mono - English
Additional Release Material:
Featurette: "Memories of TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH"
Audio Commentary: World War II Film Historian
Documentary:
1. "General Frank Armstrong: The Inspiration for General Savage"
2. "The Legacy of the Eighth Airforce"

Gregory Peck: Oscar winning American actor, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
Hugh Marlowe: American actor
Gary Merrill: American actor, ALL ABOUT EVE
Millard Mitchell: American Character Actor
Dean Jagger: American TV/Film Actor
Robert Arthur: Producer
Paul Stewart: Character Actor/TV Director

Henry King: American Director, TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (1949)

Darryl F. Zanuck: Studio Head, Producer, Source Writer, Director

Sy Bartlett: 
Beirne Lay: Screenwriter; TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (1949)

Alfred Newman: Composer/Conductor/D.1970

Barbara McLean: Editor, prestige pics for 20th Century Fox, late '30s-'50s

"...Peck commands this hardheaded depiction..." -- Rating: B+
"...A great movie about the pressures of leadership..."
"Peck disintegrates movingly for his favorite director, Henry King....A tense, terrific film."