Twelve O'Clock High (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Twelve O'Clock High or 12 O'Clock High is an American
drama series
set in World War II
. This TV series originally broadcasted on ABC-TV
for two-and-one-half TV seasons from September 18, 1964, through January 13, 1967; was based on the motion picture Twelve O'Clock High
(1949). It is currently shown on Me-TV at 2am Tuesday to Saturday.
s, stationed at Archbury, England
(a fictitious air base). For the first season, many of the characters from the book and movie were retained, including Brigadier General
Frank Savage, Major
Harvey Stovall, Major Cobb, Doc Kaiser, and General Pritchard, albeit played by different actors than in the motion picture. In addition to these characters, several other infrequently reappearing characters were introduced, including Captain (and then Major) Joseph "Joe" Gallagher, who appeared in two episodes.
At the end of the first season, the studio executives decided a younger-looking lead actor was needed. In the first episode of the second season, General Savage (played by Robert Lansing
) was supposedly killed in action, and then replaced by Colonel Joe Gallagher, played by Paul Burke
). In reality, Burke was two years older than Lansing (but Burke looked younger). According to executive producer Quinn Martin
, he decided to dismiss Lansing because he had become difficult to work with. Other reported reasons were that Lansing wanted off the show because of a salary that was too low, or he did not like a possible schedule change, or because of "creative differences". Savage was killed off in a way so as not to require Lansing's participation.
For the second season, most of the supporting cast from the first season was replaced, with the exception of Major Stovall, Doc Kaiser, and an occasional appearance by General Pritchard. Other actors who did reappear after the first season played other characters. Edward Mulhare
appeared twice – as different Luftwaffe
officers. The actor Bruce Dern
appeared four times as three different characters. Tom Skerritt
appeared five times, each time in a different role.
The first two seasons were filmed in black-and-white
. This was done mostly to allow the inclusion of actual World War II combat footage
supplied by the U.S. Air Force and the library of 20th Century Fox
movies.The inclusion of combat footage was often obvious, as it was often quite degraded. Limited usable combat footage often resulted in the same shot being reused in multiple episodes. For the third season, the TV series was filmed in color, but this season only ran for 17 episodes, with the series being canceled in mid-season. Some of the combat footage used for the third season seemed to be in black-and-white footage tinted blue. Film footage from the 1940s was also used for take-offs and landings since the one B-17 that the show had access to could only taxi. In order to simulate different aircraft, it was frequently repainted.
In later episodes, Gallagher flew as a "pathfinder" in a P-51 Mustang
. This plot scheme was added to cut production costs. The single-engine Mustang cost less to fly than the four-engined B-17, and required only a single pilot rather than two pilots and several crewmen. There was wartime precedent for this, however. As described in Roger Freeman's book Mustang at War, General Partridge, the G-3 of the 8th Air Force, used a P-51 modified for photo-reconnaissance
work to take photographs of his bomber group formations for training and critiquing purposes.
As with most television programs, Twelve O'Clock High was created in an episodic format. There is no particular order for the episodes. A trio of episodes produced about a shuttle air raid
to North Africa
were in fact never aired in story order, making some of the second season to be confusing. The stories themselves were often based more on character drama than action, usually involving individuals who felt the need to redeem themselves in the eyes of others. Other story lines focused on actual war events, such as the development of bombing through cloud cover by using radar
, and the complexities of operating a large fleet of (often malfunctioning) B-17 bombers.
Much of the filming was carried out on the Chino Airport
, just east of Los Angeles County, California
in San Bernardino County. Chino had been a USAAF training field for World War II
, and its combination of long, heavy-duty runways and (at the time) wide-open farmland for miles in all directions was rapidly turning the field into a haven for World War II aviation enthusiasts and their restored aircraft. Former Army Air Forces P-51 Mustang
s, P-47 Thunderbolt
s, P-38 Lightning
s, B-26 Invaders, and former U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsair
s and F6F Hellcat
s could be found around there, along with a vintage B-17 and P-51 Mustang used in 12 O'Clock High.
The B-17 belonged to Ed Maloney's Air Museum. B-17E and B-17G models of the Flying Fortress (the latter with the chin turret) were used interchangeably. The inclusion of actual combat and crash footage often resulted in the tail designations of the bombers changing between film shots.
The segments in 1966 had the former Royal Canadian Air Force
pilot Lynn Garrison
coordinating the aerial footage. Garrison had been drawn to the project by his friend, Robert Lansing. Garrison owned the P-51 used in the series to cut its expenses.
produced a comic book
based on the series that ran two issues in 1965. Both had photocovers and artwork by Joe Sinnott
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drama series
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
set in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This TV series originally broadcasted on ABC-TV
ABC-TV
ABC-TV can refer to:*American Broadcasting Company, a radio and television network in the United States*Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC Television network**ABC , the ABC television station in Canberra...
for two-and-one-half TV seasons from September 18, 1964, through January 13, 1967; was based on the motion picture Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High is a 1949 American war film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth Air Force who flew daylight bombing missions against Nazi Germany and occupied France during the early days of American involvement in World War II. The film was adapted by Sy Bartlett, Henry King ...
(1949). It is currently shown on Me-TV at 2am Tuesday to Saturday.
Overview
The series follows the missions of the fictitious 918th Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomberBomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s, stationed at Archbury, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(a fictitious air base). For the first season, many of the characters from the book and movie were retained, including Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Frank Savage, Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Harvey Stovall, Major Cobb, Doc Kaiser, and General Pritchard, albeit played by different actors than in the motion picture. In addition to these characters, several other infrequently reappearing characters were introduced, including Captain (and then Major) Joseph "Joe" Gallagher, who appeared in two episodes.
At the end of the first season, the studio executives decided a younger-looking lead actor was needed. In the first episode of the second season, General Savage (played by Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing (actor)
Robert Lansing was an American stage, film and television actor.Born in San Diego, California as Robert Howell Brown, he reportedly took his acting surname from the state capital of Michigan. As a young actor in New York City, he was hired to join a stock company in Michigan, but was told he would...
) was supposedly killed in action, and then replaced by Colonel Joe Gallagher, played by Paul Burke
Paul Burke (actor)
Paul Burke was an American actor best known for his lead roles in two 1960s ABC television series, Naked City and Twelve O'Clock High...
). In reality, Burke was two years older than Lansing (but Burke looked younger). According to executive producer Quinn Martin
Quinn Martin
Quinn Martin was one of the most successful American television producers. He had at least one television series running in prime time for 21 straight years , an industry record.-Early life:...
, he decided to dismiss Lansing because he had become difficult to work with. Other reported reasons were that Lansing wanted off the show because of a salary that was too low, or he did not like a possible schedule change, or because of "creative differences". Savage was killed off in a way so as not to require Lansing's participation.
For the second season, most of the supporting cast from the first season was replaced, with the exception of Major Stovall, Doc Kaiser, and an occasional appearance by General Pritchard. Other actors who did reappear after the first season played other characters. Edward Mulhare
Edward Mulhare
Edward Mulhare was a popular television actor whose career spanned four decades.Born at 22 Quaker Road, Cork City, County Cork, Ireland, and educated by the Irish Christian Brothers, Mulhare intended to study medicine, but was sidetracked by a growing interest in acting...
appeared twice – as different Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
officers. The actor Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Bruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
appeared four times as three different characters. Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt
Thomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962.-Early life:...
appeared five times, each time in a different role.
The first two seasons were filmed in black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
. This was done mostly to allow the inclusion of actual World War II combat footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
supplied by the U.S. Air Force and the library of 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
movies.The inclusion of combat footage was often obvious, as it was often quite degraded. Limited usable combat footage often resulted in the same shot being reused in multiple episodes. For the third season, the TV series was filmed in color, but this season only ran for 17 episodes, with the series being canceled in mid-season. Some of the combat footage used for the third season seemed to be in black-and-white footage tinted blue. Film footage from the 1940s was also used for take-offs and landings since the one B-17 that the show had access to could only taxi. In order to simulate different aircraft, it was frequently repainted.
In later episodes, Gallagher flew as a "pathfinder" in a P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
. This plot scheme was added to cut production costs. The single-engine Mustang cost less to fly than the four-engined B-17, and required only a single pilot rather than two pilots and several crewmen. There was wartime precedent for this, however. As described in Roger Freeman's book Mustang at War, General Partridge, the G-3 of the 8th Air Force, used a P-51 modified for photo-reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
work to take photographs of his bomber group formations for training and critiquing purposes.
As with most television programs, Twelve O'Clock High was created in an episodic format. There is no particular order for the episodes. A trio of episodes produced about a shuttle air raid
Air raid
Air raid refers to an attack by aircraft. See strategic bombing or the smaller-scale airstrike.Air raid may also refer to:*Air Raid , by the improvisational collective Air...
to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
were in fact never aired in story order, making some of the second season to be confusing. The stories themselves were often based more on character drama than action, usually involving individuals who felt the need to redeem themselves in the eyes of others. Other story lines focused on actual war events, such as the development of bombing through cloud cover by using radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, and the complexities of operating a large fleet of (often malfunctioning) B-17 bombers.
Much of the filming was carried out on the Chino Airport
Chino Airport
Chino Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located about three miles southeast of Chino, a town in San Bernardino County, California...
, just east of Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
in San Bernardino County. Chino had been a USAAF training field for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and its combination of long, heavy-duty runways and (at the time) wide-open farmland for miles in all directions was rapidly turning the field into a haven for World War II aviation enthusiasts and their restored aircraft. Former Army Air Forces P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s, P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
s, P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s, B-26 Invaders, and former U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
s and F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
s could be found around there, along with a vintage B-17 and P-51 Mustang used in 12 O'Clock High.
The B-17 belonged to Ed Maloney's Air Museum. B-17E and B-17G models of the Flying Fortress (the latter with the chin turret) were used interchangeably. The inclusion of actual combat and crash footage often resulted in the tail designations of the bombers changing between film shots.
The segments in 1966 had the former Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
pilot Lynn Garrison
Lynn Garrison
Lynn Garrison is a Canadian pilot and political adviser. He was an RCAF fighter pilot from the 403 City of Calgary Squadron, commercial pilot, film producer, director and mercenary...
coordinating the aerial footage. Garrison had been drawn to the project by his friend, Robert Lansing. Garrison owned the P-51 used in the series to cut its expenses.
Cast
- Robert LansingRobert Lansing (actor)Robert Lansing was an American stage, film and television actor.Born in San Diego, California as Robert Howell Brown, he reportedly took his acting surname from the state capital of Michigan. As a young actor in New York City, he was hired to join a stock company in Michigan, but was told he would...
as Brigadier General Frank Savage (season 1) - Frank OvertonFrank OvertonFrank Emmons Overton was an American actor.-Career:Overton appeared in numerous television programs during the early 1950s and through the late 1960s, including The Fugitive in 1963...
as Major Harvey Stovall - Paul BurkePaul Burke (actor)Paul Burke was an American actor best known for his lead roles in two 1960s ABC television series, Naked City and Twelve O'Clock High...
as Colonel Joe Gallagher (seasons 2 and 3, recurring season 1) - Chris RobinsonChris Robinson (actor)Chris Robinson is an actor who played Rick Webber #2 on General Hospital...
as T/Sgt. Alexander "Sandy" Komansky (seasons 2 and 3) - John LarkinJohn Larkin (radio and television actor)John Larkin was an American actor whose nearly-30-year career was capped by his 1950s portrayal of two fictional criminal attorneys — Perry Mason on radio and Mike Karr on television daytime drama The Edge of Night...
as General Wiley Crowe (season 1) - Barney PhillipsBarney PhillipsBarney Phillips was an American film, radio and television actor.-Biography and career:He was born Bernard Philip Ofner in St. Louis, Missouri, to Harry Nathan Ofner, a commercial salesman for the leather industry, and Leona Frank Ofner, a naturalized citizen of German origin, who went by the...
as Major "Doc" Kaiser - Andrew DugganAndrew Duggan-Career:During World War II, Duggan was in the 40th Special Services Company, led by actor Melvyn Douglas in the China Burma India Theater of World War II. His contact with Douglas later led to his performing with Lucille Ball in the play Dreamgirl. He developed a friendship with Broadway...
as General Ed Britt (seasons 2 and 3) - Paul NewlanPaul NewlanPaul Emory Newlan was an American film and TV character actor from Plattsburgh, New York. He was best known for his role as Captain Grey on the NBC police series M Squad and for his roles in films including The Americanization of Emily and The Slender Thread.-Career:Newlan appeared in dozens of...
as General Pritchard - Lew GalloLew GalloLew Gallo was an American character actor and producer from Mount Kisco, New York, best known for his role as Maj. Joseph Cobb on the 1960s ABC World War II series Twelve O'Clock High. He also made appearances on other series including Rawhide, Dr. Kildare, The F.B.I., Gunsmoke, The Twilight...
as Major Joe Cobb (season 1) - Robert Dornan as Lieutenant/Captain Fowler (seasons 2 and 3)
Syndication outside the United States
The first season of Twelve O'Clock High was aired in Brazil in the sixties under the title Inferno no Céu ("Hell in the Heavens").Comic books
Dell ComicsDell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
produced a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
based on the series that ran two issues in 1965. Both had photocovers and artwork by Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott is an American comic book artist. Working primarily as an inker, Sinnott is best-known for his long stint on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, from 1965 to 1981 , initially over the pencils of industry legend Jack Kirby...
.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign... |
Nominated | Best TV Show | |
| Emmy Award Emmy Award An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various... |
Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Cinematographer | William W. Spencer | ||
| 1967 | American Cinema Editors American Cinema Editors Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing itself. The society is not to be confused with an industry union, such as the I.A.T.S.E... |
Won | Best Edited Television Program | Jodie Copelan (For episode "The All American") |