Copyright 13 July 1963 by Universal Pictures. New York opening at the Palace and others: 10 July 1963. U.S. release: 21 June 1963. Australian release: 13 March 1964. U.K. release through Rank: 8 September 1963. 116 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A new air force base commander whips his men into shape, no matter what the cost. Locations at Beale Air Force Base (near Sacramento, California), at SAC headquarters at Offut Air Force Base (near Omaha, Nebraska) and in San Francisco. Dedicated to the airmen of the 456th Wing.
COMMENT: A familiar story, which many another service yarn has handled with far greater power and authority. True, the average viewer doesn't really expect to have his interest quickened at ground level in this sort of propaganda, yet panacea; but even in the air, "A Gathering of Eagles" amounts to little more than a flock of sparrows.
The players — with the solitary exceptions of the ever-reliable Kevin McCarthy and (in a regrettably less important part) Robert Lansing — are likewise woefully inadequate. True, Rod Taylor gives his clichéd role a game try, but is ultimately defeated by at least three particularly weak and unconvincing turns of the plot.
The two principals are ridiculous. In addition to their jointly uninspired acting, Rock Hudson suffers from odd lighting which at times presents him as an eager-beaver pretty boy, at others as a jowly, surly, middle-aged crab; whilst Miss Peach is burdened with costumes that so emphasize her bust-line that on many occasions she seems perilously close to over-balancing.
Delbert Mann's scrupulously dull direction is no help whatever.
SYNOPSIS: A new air force base commander whips his men into shape, no matter what the cost. Locations at Beale Air Force Base (near Sacramento, California), at SAC headquarters at Offut Air Force Base (near Omaha, Nebraska) and in San Francisco. Dedicated to the airmen of the 456th Wing.
COMMENT: A familiar story, which many another service yarn has handled with far greater power and authority. True, the average viewer doesn't really expect to have his interest quickened at ground level in this sort of propaganda, yet panacea; but even in the air, "A Gathering of Eagles" amounts to little more than a flock of sparrows.
The players — with the solitary exceptions of the ever-reliable Kevin McCarthy and (in a regrettably less important part) Robert Lansing — are likewise woefully inadequate. True, Rod Taylor gives his clichéd role a game try, but is ultimately defeated by at least three particularly weak and unconvincing turns of the plot.
The two principals are ridiculous. In addition to their jointly uninspired acting, Rock Hudson suffers from odd lighting which at times presents him as an eager-beaver pretty boy, at others as a jowly, surly, middle-aged crab; whilst Miss Peach is burdened with costumes that so emphasize her bust-line that on many occasions she seems perilously close to over-balancing.
Delbert Mann's scrupulously dull direction is no help whatever.