A Gathering of Eagles

Although Rock Hudson did finally excel in comedy genre as well as his one laudable effort in "Giant," during the scene where he is one-on-one performing with Robert Lansing (playing the maintenance sergeant) Hudson comes off a poor second. The quiet power demonstrated by Lansing simply staggers the imagination and causes it to catch its breath. It was not just a case of "underplaying," but rather bringing forth such great depth to the role's character and demeanor. One of the most underrated of our excellent American actors, it is a shame we couldn't have seen Robert Lansing in many more, larger roles on the big screen in Hollywood's truly major films. What did the casting directors miss here? Much, in my opinion.

I was only able to see this movie once and have been looking for it ever since to no avail, so far. I was at Travis AFB at the time of it's filming. I worked on the flight line and our planes were those used in the film. I was also TDY (temporary duty) at Beale AFB where I understand most or much of the filming took place. I worked on B-52's and KC-135As in servicing, recovery and crew chief duty and spent a lot of time on alert duty at the hard pad Alert Facility. All this to say that the film was VERY true to what SAC life was like in the flesh. I can see why some think the plot was a little thin as it was a glimpse into what day-to-day life in SAC was like. The Minimum Interval Take-offs (MITOs)were very true to life, sometimes three bombers and/or tankers rolling on the runway at the same time. If full count points aren't given for the plot, or there are those who would discount because of Rock Hudson's personal life, certainly full credit has to be given for accuracy. I know, I was there! I would love to own a DVD of this movie. I have been waiting over 40 years. Help, anyone? I'd even settle for a VHS tape.

Rock Hudson does a bit of stretching in his acting resume in playing a tough as nails Colonel who takes over a Strategic Air Command base and tries to whip it in shape. There's a guy over him who's tougher, a general played by Kevin McCarthy who just flunked the previous base commander in a surprise inspection and that's why Hudson has the job.

A few years earlier James Stewart who was in the Air Force and retired as a Brigadier General in their reserve did a film about the Strategic Air Command entitled just that. Stewart was way too close to the subject to make a really good film about it. This film is far better and has a more objective point of view.

Anyway Hudson moves bag, baggage, and pretty British wife Mary Peach from London to San Francisco. And Hudson thinks it's fortunate that an old pal from the Korean War Rod Taylor is his executive officer. That soon changes however.

A lot of the plot of A Gathering Of Eagles is taken from the John Wayne/ Robert Ryan World War II film Flying Leathernecks. In that one Wayne takes over command of a group of Marine aviators with Ryan as his Executive Officer. If you've seen that one, you know what happens in this film.

Hudson and Taylor as the clashing military officers fill their roles out quite well and look very official in their Air Force uniforms. Also pay attention to Barry Sullivan as an alcoholic officer whose problems bring the problems of Hudson and Taylor to a head.

A Gathering Of Eagles is a good service film and a nice recruiting film for the Air Force.

This film has a hackneyed plot about the strains put on a marriage by nuclear weapons, but some of the scenes are little short of spectacular. The sequence where Hudson and Taylor are timing a mass takeoff of bombers and discussing the job performance of the base commander is truly awe-inspiring. The wind from the engine blast whips at their clothes and the noise is ear-shattering. Most of the film seems like it was written by complete hacks but there is a story buried under all the maudlin touches.

This is one of those films which nine out of ten would pass by but the tenth would be hooked .... and I am one of the 'tenth'. I liked the Air Force Base setting and although there isn't a great deal of plot, the script is tight and suspenseful. The Aerial sequences are excellent for the period, particularly the mid-air refuelling scenes. This is a film that I am going to own as a DVD someday.

Update: I got a DVD-R of this film in widescreen and watched it again for the first time in over 40 years. I now think it is a slightly better film than I originally thought with competent performances by all concerned. I agree that Kevin McCarthy's cameo as the snooping Major General 'Happy Jack' Kirby adds to the strange appeal of this film and despite the forced accent, Mary Peach is not as annoying as I previously believed. I increased my own rating from the previous 7 to 8.