Live Life Team
Genre: War
Director: Henry King
Starring Cast: Gregory Peck, Dean Jagger
At the height of World War II, a US bomber squadron based in England is demoralised having suffered many losses on dangerous raids over Germany. Brigadier General Frank Savage has taken over command from Colonel Keith Davenport. Davenport, a popular leader who has been relieved of his post because, appalled by the casualty rates, he had become too emotionally involved with the pilots he sent over to bomb Germany. Davenport and other officers begin to cast doubts on the value of daylight precision bombing which was still in the experimental stage.
The pilots resent the new man, who is a disciplinarian and keeps his distance, gradually cracking under the strain and keeps his distance, gradually cracking under the strain and responsibility of command. But as they persist to fly dangerous raids over Germany, the crew and their new chief develop mutual respect and admiration, until the once estranged commander feels that his men are part of a family.
One of the best films about the pressures which war imposes at the top. The anti-heroic, realistic approach to warfare was unusual so soon after the actual events.
The Movies climax, in which the general waits calmly for his squad to come back to base, completely aware that they might not return at all, is one of the most delicate yet emotionally powerful scenes of any World War II movie.
