NNDB
This is a beta version of NNDB
Search: for
The High and the Mighty (3-Jul-1954)

Director: William A. Wellman

Writer: Ernest K. Gann

From novel: High and the Mighty by Ernest K. Gann

Keywords: Action/Adventure, Aviation

A Honolulu to San Francisco flight loses an engine, a calamity which brings out the best and worst of those aboard. The grandfather of all disaster films, unavailable for nearly forty years because of a royalty dispute. Won an Oscar for Best Dramatic Score; received additional nominations for Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (two), Best Editing, and Best Original Song, "The High and the Mighty."

NameOccupationBirthDeathKnown for
Julie Bishop
Actor
30-Aug-1914 30-Aug-2001 Northern Pursuit
Sidney Blackmer
Actor
13-Jul-1895 5-Oct-1973 Played Theodore Roosevelt 12 times
David Brian
Actor
5-Aug-1914 15-Jul-1993 Mr. District Attorney
Wally Brown
Actor
9-Oct-1904 13-Nov-1961 Zombies on Broadway
William Campbell
Actor
30-Oct-1923 28-Apr-2011 Dementia 13
George Chandler
Actor
30-Jun-1898 10-Jun-1985 Uncle Petrie on Lassie
Laraine Day
Actor
13-Oct-1920 10-Nov-2007 Foreign Correspondent
Ann Doran
Actor
28-Jul-1911 19-Sep-2000 Rio Grande
Paul Fix
Actor
13-Mar-1901 14-Oct-1983 Marshal Torrance on The Rifleman
Douglas Fowley
Actor
30-May-1911 21-May-1998 Doc Holliday on TV's Wyatt Earp
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
Actor
24-May-1925 6-Feb-2006 Rio Bravo
Phil Harris
Musician
24-Jun-1904 11-Aug-1995 That's What I Like About the South
William Hopper
Actor
26-Jan-1915 6-Mar-1970 Paul Drake on Perry Mason
John Howard
Actor
14-Apr-1913 19-Feb-1995 Bulldog Drummond
Paul Kelly
Actor
9-Aug-1899 6-Nov-1956 Flying Tigers
Robert Newton
Actor
1-Jun-1905 25-Mar-1956 Long John Silver
John Qualen
Actor
8-Dec-1899 12-Sep-1987 The Grapes of Wrath
William Schallert
Actor
6-Jul-1922 8-May-2016 Martin Lane on The Patty Duke Show
Karen Sharpe
Actor
20-Sep-1934   Laura Thomas on Johnny Ringo
John Smith
Actor
6-Mar-1931 25-Jan-1995 Slim Sherman on Laramie
Robert Stack
Actor
13-Jan-1919 14-May-2003 The Untouchables
Jan Sterling
Actor
3-Apr-1921 26-Mar-2004 Ace in the Hole
Carl Switzer
Actor
7-Aug-1927 21-Jan-1959 Alfalfa in Our Gang
Regis Toomey
Actor
13-Aug-1898 12-Oct-1991 Burke's Law
Claire Trevor
Actor
8-Mar-1910 8-Apr-2000 Key Largo
John Wayne
Actor
26-May-1907 11-Jun-1979 The Duke

REVIEWS

Review by anonymous (posted on 19-Nov-2006)

I first saw this movie when it was new, I was 6 yrs old. I had forgotten about it until recently when I aquired it in DVD format. I have to admit that it stirred a lot of emotion in me as the varoius scenes came flooding back into my memory. The movie scared me because I genuinely felt sorry for the people and was certain they wouldn't make it back safely. I was so captivated by the music, remembering the tune rolling around in my head. So much so that when I tried to whistle it in school that fall, my first grade teacher, Miss Posey, scolded me and I was embarrassed. I remember being focused on the little boy and his balsa glider, and particularly when the engine caught fire. Also the scene where John Wayne is inspecting the tail/control section with a flashlight. The ending of course brought tears to my eyes and I was forever bonded to aviation. It is a wonderful movie and really defines a unique time in our culture. The scenes are colorful and splashy, and very 50's. Many today would probably see it as somewhat 'campy' and vote it less than entertaining, and that would be their loss. For myself, it is a time capsule thing, and I'm happy that it came back to me again to be enjoyed as much as the first time I ever saw it.


Review by G. Evans (posted on 25-Jun-2007)

The original incarnation of E.K.Gann's novel of the same name. A great film in the budding era of aviation industry depicting life aloft as it was in the early 50s. This story of troubled passengers in a troubled airliner unfold in the great DC-4 piston airliner which heralded the advent of luxury air travel. The Oscar winning music score for this film is a true nostalgic tour de force throughout the film. A BIG thanks is due to the restorers of this film which for so long remained unavailable. Warmly recommended.


Review by Bernd J. Boyt (posted on 28-Mar-2005)

The greatest aviation drama epic ever made. I saw this as a ten year old boy in Chicago and it set me on a course to pursue a 30 year career in commercial aviation. Today, in retirement, I still look at this movie as THE standard of aviation dramas.


Have you seen this film? We would love to see your review.
Submit your review for this film


Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile



Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications