Bombers B-52

This is a "must have" movie for AF brats raised in the mid-1950's. A very realistic portrayal of what it was like to be in SAC in the early days. This is one of three "recruiting poster" movies for the AF, the other two being Strategic Air Command starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allison, and A Gathering of Eagles starring Rock Hudson and Rod Taylor. The first, Strategic Air Command, deals with the Cold War transition from the troublesome B-36 bomber into the B-47 jet bombers, the second movie, Bomber B-52, stars Karl Malden, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., deals with the transition from B-47's to the B-52, and the third movie covers how SAC dealt with the operational readiness of the B-52's in the early cold war era.

I also bought this for my stepdad who is an aviator fanatic. He really liked this movie.

Again a movie I was brought up on, but this one is in a vivid color to bring the masses to the theater and away from the new invention the TV. Natalie Wood the heart throb of that time is lead in this film but Karl Malden gives a great performance as a very believable Master Sargent, Line Chief at Castle AFB, CA. On the other hand Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as an USAF flyer is like John Travolta masquerading as a B 2 pilot in Broken Arrow! He does not make it and he does not fit the story! He does not have the look of Air Force never mind pilot. Additionally, for a pilot at that time to move from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Strategic Air Command (SAC) would be sacrilegious and rare. This reveals problems understanding the USAF culture for the screen writer. Finally, the hair cut may be fine for a lawyer in “77 Sunset Strip” but not as an USAF Colonel. It would have been much better having the unaccredited Stewart Whitman who was flying co-pilot as the aircraft commanded in that part. At least he has a close credible look.As a retired USAF officer who flew with SAC and worked in TAC I was very interested in viewing this film. I enjoyed the story and found it could be real but the above cast flaws and screen writing was disappointing. It appears this film was an introduction of The Superfortress B-52 to the American public and cold war-era preparedness to reassure the masses. Again, Warner Brothers injects its small screen stars into and a major motion picture to link the two media.I very much enjoyed seeing my favorite USAF aircraft in the F-86 and B-47 in action and to see the B-52 in its original paint. A great American era long gone but as I remember it.

A great film set during the introduction of the B-52 bomber. Some of the scenes were over the top and a bit implausible, but the aerial photography was superb.

Very good movie

Too much theatrics

I really liked this film from the late 50's about the B-52 bomber. The aerial photography is stunning, (although not as stunning as Strategic Air Command with Jimmy Stewart.) It depicts the dedication and sacrifice of those defenders of our nation for all those years of the Cold War. It shows just how committed our nation was to avoiding war through readiness and strength. However, at its core, the film is really about what often happens when we judge people and situations--sometimes we judge wrong. Malden, as the father to Natalie Wood's character tries to protect his lovely daughter from the Casanova ways of his new Colonel, whom Malden doesn't like due to something that happened between them back in the Korean War. Karl Malden and Natalie Wood are fantastic in this film. They both gave great, natural performances. I truly believed that they were father and daughter. You might think it's a romance heavy movie but thankfully, that part is secondary to the father/daughter relationship and very much in the background. There are no "romancey" scenes like what is portrayed on the DVD cover. The movie was beautifully filmed in color and it has subtitles for the hard of hearing. This is a very easy film to watch.

Here I am, pushing 70, and B-52's are still flying. A good movie that points out the sacrifices service people make for the rest of us ..

La venta y entrega se hicieron bien y sin complicaciones muy recomendable

If you like the B-52, aircraft, the fifties, the actors/actresses, and the vintage cars....you'll really enjoy this movie.....I did!

Parece mentira que uan peelícula de 1957 sea en color. Sin duda, en Europa (y no digamos en España) hubiese sido en blanco y negro. Pero claro, hablamos de EEUU, que manejaba una industria de modo muy diferente.

I've been looking for this film for a long time, it's about time their a story about us ground pounders (Ground Crew) who keep them together instead of the hero fly boy saving the day. Many of times I stood by the aircraft with the pilot waiting for me to give him the thumbs up go sign, if I gave a thumbs down that was it he wasn't flying, like it or not.

Everything about 1950s America was superb - the music, the films, the cars, the clothes, the fashions and the aircraft - and it's all here! Being a fan of aircraft, as well as of 1950s America, I just love this film. The story line is a little weak but it's still very watchable and I still give this five stars. Even during the domestic scenes and dialogue I'm lapping up the 1950s furnishings, TVs, kitchen equipment, hairstyles and clothes so I happily watch the same scenes over again. The main feature of the film however are the aircraft. The basic plot of the film is about a ground crew chief (chief mechanic played by Karl Malden) whose daughter falls for the new station commander - with whom the crew chief has a resentment dating back to the Korean War. The crew chief is about to retire after working on B-47s but the new commander convinces him to stay and retrain on the new B-52s for which the station is being prepared (and for which he was appointed). Their relationship is frosty and complicated by the crew chief's daughter falling for the new commander.All good stuff but the aircraft sequences are the main draw of the film for aircraft fans. If you've read this far then I'm presuming you are an aircraft fan too. The story starts in the Korean War and we see aerial shots of an F-84F (masquerading as a MiG 15) and many close-ups of an F-86E being serviced. The story then moves forward to 1956 with many views of B-47Es on the ground, being serviced and in the air. The new B-52s that arrive are early model B-52Bs and there are many close-up and aerial views of those too. Both types are show refuelling from KC-97Gs with views from outside the tankers and within. Other aircraft shown in the film are a DC-3, a C-45, C-124 Globemasters, a B-45 Tornado and an H-19 or S-55 (Whirlwind in UK) rescue helicopter.I only have one regret when I watch this film - that I wasn't around at the time! If you love 1950s military aircraft and 1950s Americana then I'll bet this is right up your street too!