Of the three films that Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker made in quick succession in the early 1950's, this has the least entertainment value but is by far the most interesting, which is hardly surprising considering its subject matter!
The military aspect is filmed in the manner of a docudrama as Lt. Colonel Paul Tibbets is assigned the task of preparing the unwieldy B29 bomber which will be used to drop a 10,000 ton nuclear bomb on Hiroshima whilst the traditional Hollywood 'human interest' element is supplied by his marriage being pushed to breaking point by the secrecy and silence imposed on him by his mission. By all accounts the relationship between Mr. Taylor and Miss Parker was more than strictly professional and their palpable chemistry works to the film's advantage. Robert Taylor never thought much of himself as an actor but it must be said that given a role of greater gravitas than usual, he is very, very good. Naturally aviation historians felt that the domestic scenes got in the way of the action, whereas Eleanor Parker's character would resonate with the wives of servicemen.
Beirne Lay Jr who was a colonel in the Air Rorce Reserve, has contributed to the screenplay as he had done for 'Twelve 0'Clock High' and was to do for 'Strategic Air Command'. The film is aided immeasurably by Hugo Friedhofer's score.
As for the real Tebbits, deified as war hero and demonised as war criminal, he was ideally suited to the task for not only had he flown over forty combat missions, he was fervently patriotic, unswerving in his duty and utterly convinced of the rightness of his mission. He maintained that 'whether dropping a bomb or shooting a rifle, morality has no place in warfare' and professed to have 'slept clearly'.
Although there are a few longueurs in the film the last half-hour is especially gripping and the actual dropping of the bomb cannot fail to arouse feelings of horror and nausea. The scale of the death toll and subsequent effects of radiation give a new dimension to the now familiar and somewhat euphemistic American expression, 'collateral damage'.
The military aspect is filmed in the manner of a docudrama as Lt. Colonel Paul Tibbets is assigned the task of preparing the unwieldy B29 bomber which will be used to drop a 10,000 ton nuclear bomb on Hiroshima whilst the traditional Hollywood 'human interest' element is supplied by his marriage being pushed to breaking point by the secrecy and silence imposed on him by his mission. By all accounts the relationship between Mr. Taylor and Miss Parker was more than strictly professional and their palpable chemistry works to the film's advantage. Robert Taylor never thought much of himself as an actor but it must be said that given a role of greater gravitas than usual, he is very, very good. Naturally aviation historians felt that the domestic scenes got in the way of the action, whereas Eleanor Parker's character would resonate with the wives of servicemen.
Beirne Lay Jr who was a colonel in the Air Rorce Reserve, has contributed to the screenplay as he had done for 'Twelve 0'Clock High' and was to do for 'Strategic Air Command'. The film is aided immeasurably by Hugo Friedhofer's score.
As for the real Tebbits, deified as war hero and demonised as war criminal, he was ideally suited to the task for not only had he flown over forty combat missions, he was fervently patriotic, unswerving in his duty and utterly convinced of the rightness of his mission. He maintained that 'whether dropping a bomb or shooting a rifle, morality has no place in warfare' and professed to have 'slept clearly'.
Although there are a few longueurs in the film the last half-hour is especially gripping and the actual dropping of the bomb cannot fail to arouse feelings of horror and nausea. The scale of the death toll and subsequent effects of radiation give a new dimension to the now familiar and somewhat euphemistic American expression, 'collateral damage'.