A Gathering of Eagles (1963)

Rock Hudson: Col. Jim Caldwell

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sgt. Banning : Well, sir, I used to be a pretty slow "walker" myself. I mean, you really had to build a fire under my tail to get me to move. Then one day, General Hewett dropped in to have a little talk with us. And he built one hell of a fire. Only this one wasn't under my tail - he built a fire inside of me.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : Sergeant, if I'm reading you right, you think I'm building the wrong kind of fires around here.

  Sgt. Banning : Sir, I'm sure you can judge that better than I can.

• Gen. 'Happy Jack' Kirby : Col. Farr, you're aware of the peacetime regulation against sending up an aircraft without full power?

  Col. Hollis Farr : Yes, sir.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : Sir, we're simulating wartime conditions. I would have made the same decision.

  Gen. 'Happy Jack' Kirby : [scratches one cheek, then the other]  So would I. And I'm not going to score it as an abort.

  [cracks a smile and exits] 

  Col. Hollis Farr : We're in.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : He didn't even mention the bombing scores.

  Col. Hollis Farr : Oh, I'll guarantee you they're great. Listen, he smiled at you. When 'Happy Jack' smiles at a wing commander, that's like giving him the Airman Of The Year Award.

• Gen. Aymes : I just wonder if your timing is good.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : Because of the ORI?

  Gen. Aymes : No. Because it might look as if you have personal reasons. There's been talk, Jim. About Hollis and Victoria.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : Even the grapevine around here is below par. I can't run a wing on what people think. I want him out of here.

• Col. Hollis Farr : But what about this request for transfer?

  Col. Jim Caldwell : I never saw it.

  Col. Hollis Farr : Aw, come on! If you stall around on this, all he'll do is go to the Inspector General. Why go out on a limb?

  Col. Jim Caldwell : Out on a limb? How in the hell do you think I've been living since I took this job? What's wrong with going out on a limb, Hollis?

  Col. Hollis Farr : Don't get excited. I didn't mean it that way.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : Well, I'd like to know exactly what you did mean.

  Col. Hollis Farr : I... I just meant you should be careful the way you handle it.

  Col. Jim Caldwell : You leave this one with me. And if somebody saws off that limb it'll be my neck, not yours!

• Col. Jim Caldwell : It's been one big happy family, hasn't it? The fishing's good at Grant's Pass? Tell Hollis Farr; he'll OK a leave! You don't like the seven-day alert? Tell Hollis Farr; he aims to please! He's not out on any limb; no sir! Let the wing commander stick his neck out! Hang on as vice-commander until something cushier turns up - and don't ever get in a spot where they can turn the heat on you. Well, it's about time somebody did. And if a man can't stand the heat, the best thing to do is stay out of the kitchen.

  [turns to leave his office] 

  Col. Hollis Farr : [shoves the door closed with the palm of his hand]  You know something. I once said you didn't have enough heel in you to be a wing commander. You've got enough for the entire Air Force!

• Col. Jim Caldwell : You could have contacted me last night before you sent that plane up.

  Col. Hollis Farr : Yes, I could have, couldn't it?

  Col. Jim Caldwell : How did you like it out there on that "limb"?

  Col. Hollis Farr : Gets uh... kind of breezy, doesn't it?

  Col. Jim Caldwell : It sure does. And you stay with it, pal. You might even get to like it after a while.