twelve o'clock high : S1E32 The Hero

[@ziblot1235]

So sad to see this episode end. Goodbye General. You will always be a hero to me.

[@ChizAfterHours]

With the music and acting at 10:30...for some reason it just hits me. Something about how Lansing loses his smile and the music just sets the scene and the feel for the show. That small piece of music that follows it is almost haunting...what a show.

[@dindinprivate3477]

Just finished watching season 1. Fantastic series! Nothing better on this subject. Thank you jefke peremans for posting it.

[@RodPower78]

I've just started watching 12 O'clock High recently and I really enjoyed Season 1. Without question, Robert Lansing is the standout star with his brilliant portrayal of General Savage, who is a man that I would take a bullet for. Lansing was so perfect for the role. He was so good at not only bringing General Savage's steely eyed toughness to life, but also his more vulnerable side where he wrestled with life and death decisions with his air crew. I really am not looking forward to seeing the rest of the series without him.

[@MaveRick-on2cm]

It's worth it, just not as good

[@Doug326]

Compared to today's TV and movies, season 2 and 3 are still outstanding. But I do miss Lansing.

[@snackcakeman]

Well acted roles in a under appreciated show.

[@mach1gtx150]

I was building model WWII planes when I was just a kid in '65, the B-17 was my absolute favorite like it held some special 'memories' for me. What an absolutely beautifully designed aircraft! Got to fly in the B-17 named the Sentimental Journey in the bombardier's position about ten years ago. What a thrill....felt like 'old times' somehow. It just shows what America used to be able to do with a limited budget and a premiere aircraft that brought a lot of men back home safely. Thanks Jefke Peremans for posting these episodes.

[@Triumphs1962]

Col Hartney actually was a real aviator durring WW1. He wrote a book called “ Up and at em” that I have and read many times. It’s great the writers actually wrote in a real character into the script.

[@williammitchell4417]

You've probably read "Up and at em" as many times as I've read "Baa Baa Black Sheep". I know that Greg, then again so am I.

[@robertschmidt7879]

While standing at full attention, I would have relieved him. And assigned him as a staff officer with fighter squadrons, so he could teach them how to be the single warrior that he was.

[@johnrogan9420]

James Whitmore...amazing actor!

[@spreadeagled5654]

I cannot even imagine 12 O’Clock High without Robert Lansing. 😫

[@b3j8]

James Whitmore Sr., and the Co-Pilot was Pete Duel. Loved this show!

[@MarkBeecherDrums]

Very sad that this was Robert Lansing's last episode as the star. IMHO, he was the Best (a true "natural" - with the same demeanor as a Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood), with all due respect to Paul Burke. For me, the show was never quite the same, beginning with Gen. Savage's "death" in the 1st Episode of Season 2 - from that point on, without both Lansing & John Larkin.

[@KCOliver1960]

+Mark Beecher Larkin passed away in the middle of the first season.

[@davekinghorn9567]

Andrew Duggan took over very well for John Larkin. But Robert Lansing was indeed a big loss of authenticity.

[@larryminincleri8316]

This is one series that should be brought back on T.V or it should be remade

[@EIBBOR2654]

Larry, as much as I would love to see this come back, I would hate for that to be remade. Hollywood today would F it up with these political lefties there today. My God I would PUKE to see that POS Tome Cruz play the part of Gen. Savage! That POS has F upped the Mission Impossible show of the 60's. I could just see how Cruze and Hollywood would make out how the US was just deplorable and guilty of War Crimes to have bombed Nazi Germany and how guilty of the US to have bombed Occupied France, killing civilian's. They have no concept of what total war is really like. In-fact, they have no concept of what military life is really like and how proud these young people are to serve their country.

[@kevinp8212]

You, sir are an idiot! My father was one of those "lefties" and he was in US infantry from Normany to the Elbe fighting in the worst battles of Europe! Inluding with the 101st in Bastogne! Also, the country was at the time poitically controlled by "lefties" In my opinion had right wing nuts like you had been in control, we would still be at war! FDR said,anyone who is convicted of war profiteering would be treason. l Can you imagine a Rightie saying that? We won the war on 2 fronts in 4 years! And Eisenhower was onsidered a "leftie" by jerks like you! God, what a fking country we have now! Just jerks like you living on the dole with nothing but hatred and NO undestanding of history!

[@redjet4810]

Lansing made the show. His replacement with Burke was and is the biggest Blunder in TV history. When I thought back to the show 50 years later, he was all I remember. What a pleasant surprise to revisit the show. I only found out about the idiotic replacement of Lansing in season two recently. I did not know or care about it when I was 13 years old.

[@kevinp8212]

Yeah I agree but Burk was good so don't downplay his acting

[@theresadelicot5104]

Wonderful episode....

[@curtishayes7812]

I was part of the Air Force for 4 years and I learned about B-17 Fortress, B-24 Liberators, P-47 Thunderbolts plus P-51 Mustanges and other US flying birds. I'd been watching Twelve O'clock High since I was a child.

[@rexfort]

I like the way James Whitmore plays his character. As they're flying through flak he just looks bored. The colonel isn't gettirng any kind or adrenaline rush from it.

[@richardcook6284]

Mr. Lansing was a great Gen. Savage.

[@rogerlynch5279]

Back in the Sixties James Witmore was a top Star.

[@williambrownlee4534]

I'll alway's remember him in the movie ..." Them "

[@Illusions2020]

The studio execs killed this once great series the moment when they lost their mind by letting Robert Lansing go.

[@markfields1692]

Ronald nope, Robert Lansing lived until 1994, almost 30 more years. My guess is Quinn Martin’s ego could not let Robert Lansing continue. He no doubt solidified the series.

[@richardjonesm]

@@ronvoelker Lansing died in 1994.

[@pattiannlamkins2040]

I was so upset when the second season came on and Robert Lansing was no longer on the show. Paul Burke was ok but Robert Lansing made Twelve O’Clock High the great show it was. I missed General Savage a lot. The show just wasn’t the same. It was ok but Robert Lansing really made it great. Robert Lansing made it a great show like Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood made their movies or TV shows great.

[@mystuff1405]

Patti Ann Lamkins Yeah. I can see the same qualities in the actors you listed.

[@TEGRULZ]

I feel like though the movie made it clear, and by the end of Season 1 it should have happened, that Savage should have had a second star and been sent up to Wing.

[@johnrogan9420]

Robert Overacting Lansing.

[@mariakelly5]

@@johnrogan9420 WRONG!

[@ziblot1235]

A lot of it had to do with the nature of the war. When Germany was a threat, it was interesting. After 44, Germany was fighting for survival. They sent no planes to England after 43. Not many in 42. They had their hands full in Russia. Thats where the war was. Its not interesting to me when 1000 Bombers cream a German city and the valiant Luftwaffe sends up 20 or 30 FWs to fight them. I think the underdog is always more interesting and desrving of praise. Lansing was running as an Underdog. America was new and trying to prove Daylight precision. By the time Burke had taken over, it was more dangerous to be in the Pacific theater.

[@1stinsonguy]

True Robert Lansing was good in this production but I give high praise to the supporting actors which made him look good!

[@jaym2084]

LANSING for BURKE was a bad trade. Lansing was famously impossible to work with (they said) and the network said they were changing to a new day (Monday instead of Friday) at an earlier time (7:00 instead of 10:00) and needed a younger guy. Burke was older but he looked younger. Wrong guy for the role, and every part he played in previous episodes left grave doubts about his command ability. A great series went down the chutes on that decision.

[@websectech]

Definitely!

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

Must respectfully disagree....

[@dh5516]

Totally agree. Burke's Gallagher was weak and not respected in his season 1 appearances. His bearing and presence as a commander was forced. Poor choice to replace Lansing.

[@rollosnook]

Roughly speaking, his co-pilot dies 70% of the time. Most dangerous job in television, Frank Savage's co-pilot.

[@MaveRick-on2cm]

That's how they got those good guest stars.

[@LyndaWhite-ju1gj]

Ok my seventh time watching this one, see ya in a few months.

[@gerrygrzywinskl6135]

Love this video keep it on KZbin

[@anihtgenga4096]

Suddenly I want to rush out and buy some Miracle-Gro plant food.

[@daneagan9761]

It is interesting seeing the actors in these old shows. James Whitmore was in the Shawshank redemption and the young pilot played an uncredited part in the Combat TV episode " Walk with an Eagle" as Private Harmon.

[@martinnewham4812]

The English Paper Boy knew how to salute

[@timothysowers685]

GENERAL SAVAGE RIDING OFF INTO The SUNSET With A JEEP And A CIGARETTE

[@kennethpetty8351]

If I remember correctly Robert Lansing looked more like the description of General Savage in the book then Paul Burke. Lansing did a great JOB!

[@irish89055]

Nice to see Lansing smiling ..it's a rarity in this series

[@dpetrano]

It's hard to believe the producers actually managed to do 32 one-hour shows in one season. No wonder why actor John Larkin (Major General Wiley Crowe) died of a heart attack 1/2 way through the 1st season.

[@scoobbbbbydo]

lol they pumped them out back in the sixtys thats for sure

[@mf7482]

+dpetrano As I watch the series over again on youtube I didn't realize it was the actor's death which caused the replacement by another General. I thought that the 8th AF just took his job away. After losing a star off his shoulders.

[@watchgoose]

Yeah that's back when a "season" was really that long. Summer re-runs really meant summer re-runs. Now a "season" is what, 6-8 episodes? Yeesh.

[@kevinp8212]

yeah, the audience is much dumber now, as is America....lookat our president! I am so embarrassed to be American today! But most Americans dont even have a passport! Just a Wallmart card, what happened?

[@kevinp8212]

well China won the cold war by default and beause of our own stupidity,what a shame

[@10toMidnight]

Thank you sir.

[@craighapp4777]

If this guy was such a hot shot pilot, why did he not stay in fighters. I am pretty sure switching to bombers would be too difficult a change for a pilot. And yes, it sucks that Lansing left, he was the prototype commander.

[@kevinp8212]

I just talked to a B17 pilot...95 years old. I asked him why he flew bombers. He said that he had no choice, he was assigned. What an honor to meeta real hero with 35 missions he was reasigned after his tour was completed. I asked him how he felt...he said, "They sent me to Florida,how doyou thinkI felt!" what a guy and a realhero

[@watchgoose]

You can thank Haggar Slacks, the sponsor, for the change in character to Col. Gallagher as the lead. They wanted a younger "hero". I never did forgive them for that.

[@markemerson8399]

I really don't know why they had to kill Savage off. The could have promoted him and transferred him as a hero to another post.

[@mystuff1405]

Pappy looks everywhere but where the plane is flying.

[@partymanau]

The only way for an old warrior to go out.

[@paulpisano8538]

nice to see james whitmore.

[@thetruth3768]

One of the Greats!!!

[@randytomblin7130]

Always played a good dinko

[@FireMartyVa]

James Whitmore was truly one of the Great Ones

[@LarryWhite-kw5mj]

Shawshank was his last movie.

[@rennyotolinna2863]

Oh, he'll write in the cockpit too, "Brooks was here"?

[@bzrk6251]

30 years later, type casting :)

[@adamcheong4742]

James Whitmore was in another later episode of 12 O Clock high.

[@mystuff1405]

Like to know the history about who snatched the Star Trek theme song from the score of this series. Was it William Shatner? He played a part.

[@conservativemike3768]

Definitely

[@antonyandrerenaissanceart977]

Need ep 31 sir. How the general outskirts the colonel

[@paulbeasy7863]

Bye general munster. Thanks for the memories frank-Nstein.

[@jeffreygrossi2800]

When I was a kid watching 12 O Clock High, I was shock that Savage died in a plane crash….

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

They had a few B-17's but one of the things about the show being in Black and White - was that they could use all that combat footage from WWII. Any footage of a formation with more than a few planes in it - would be people during WWII flying those aircraft for real. The scene at the end of this show - where the B-17 flies into the hill side. That was of a Radio Controlled B-17. They had a program where they took old, war weary B-17's and B-24's, stripped out most everything from them, packed the chock a block full of explosives then had a pilot and engineer take them off. They couldn't take the planes off with the Radio Control. Once they got clear and were ready for the Radio Control Operator flying in another plane - such as a B-25 - to take over - the pilot and engineer would bail out. The Radio Control Operator - who was largely interfacing with the planes automatic pilot via radio - would then fly the plane to it's target and then into it's target. Thus the footage of the B-17 flying into the hill side. Joe Kennedy Jr., JFK's older brother, was one of the pilots in this project, flying a B-24. When they turned the radio control on - the plane blew up. There was a radio signal that could be sent to the plane to detonate it's explosives. The speculation is - that there was a stray radio signal at that frequency - when the receiver in the B-24 was turned on - it picked up that signal and that triggered the aircraft's detonation. The Germans had a similar weapon in their radio controlled Fritz X missile. The bombardier had a little joy stick and could steer the missile into it's target. They had a flair attached to the missile so he could see it. The Germans had some success with this weapon, sinking an Italian Battleship when Italy switched sides but in the Anzio Landings - the Americans figured out how to jam that signal and the missiles just fell out of the ski. The Americans and British had mixed results with their radio control program as well. .

[@CaptainNavman]

Killing off Lansing was a producer's blunder

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

Network and the studio had much to do with that decision too.

[@10toMidnight]

Did the bombardier actually have flights control? Just wondering?

[@michaeldorosh5047]

yes, the bombardier flew the plane while on the bomb run

[@10toMidnight]

Chris Longski Thank you sir!

[@sillyone52062]

Robert Lansing's last turn as General Savage?

[@publicmail2]

Whitmore son starred in BA BA black sheep series.

[@thebamboozlerette1824]

It’s so ironic they traded a fantastic actor for a more “youthful” one, when Burke was 2 years older than Lansing.

[@peterchappe828]

Left main wheel was repaired (at 5:54 or 7:30), quicker than the medical people can get to the B-17?

[@SuperPolarbear2]

I think this episode inspired Commander Cain of Pegasus in BSG.

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

Quite possibly.

[@paulpisano8538]

one figures the episode has to end that way.

[@patrickhenigin4805]

Did they have duct tape to path those holes between missions?

[@irish89055]

What did he say at the end.." I couldn't see the man for the ____"..?

[@dben842504]

Show would have lasted several seasons if they had not taken Robert Lansing off the show. Bad decision.

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

Sadly a good fan is only a small part of the TV audience. Ratings were very low during season 1. This prompted the tumult that has distressed us all. ABC didn't want to drop the series; the price for renewal for another season was to start the process that changed so much.

[@kongjunhong2586]

last epsoide by season 1

[@rollosnook]

B-17 landing at 16:54 is from the 303rd Bomb Group.

[@jackpontiac52]

'Teach them Heinies a lesson every 20 years !' LOL ! 1945 to 2019, so far, so good.

[@sillyone52062]

The Allies had to camp out in Germany for two generations for the change to occur.

[@joysaab3440]

Col. Hartley though short in size accurate on target.

[@williammitchell4417]

Jim's a lot his son Jr

[@karlpresler7342]

And that is the rest of the story. This is Paul Harvey......Good Day.

[@marka5478]

There was no way that any Luftwaffe fighter plane could have intercepted a B-17 flying from Iceland to the UK.

[@tommccall3972]

It was an ammo depot

[@TheSirjohn2012]

Robert Lansing was a heavy smoker and that's why he died a few years later from it.

[@Lazarus0357]

I am a heavy smoker and I am older than the hills. This is no`place to carry on your anti smoking campaigns. Regards

[@watchgoose]

He died at age 66 after appearances in other TV shows and series.

[@Lazarus0357]

Look, I'm well over 66 years of age and going strong despite being a pipe and cigar smoker. Regards

[@dindinprivate3477]

Same here LOL although I'm a cigarette smoker.

[@stevehardin3988]

Lansing didn't die until 1994, almost 30 years after he left the show!

[@gradydillonastiny6109]

Great Movie but James Whitmore thinks he was a hero after two pilots get shot and more sad . At the end of the movie a kid with a great salute.

[@stev838]

I hear riffs of the Star Trek theme .

[@TheFishdoctor1952]

Seems like every show I see James Whitmore on he plays the hard headed bastard. Guess that was an easy role for him to play, lol.

[@eclay432]

Don't bother with the rest of the series. Once they dumped Robert Lansing for Paul Burke they ruined the show.

[@ziblot1235]

Nahh man Burke was OK. I will admit that I hated the color version of the show, and Gen Savage was a tough at to follow. But I liked Burke.

[@spreadeagled5654]

J P , Robert Lansing is the face of 12 O’Clock High. 👏👍

[@CaptainNavman]

Paul Burke was good BUT Robert Lansing had a strength that suited the role and the era far better. And this was not the first time that morons with power destroyed a great TV series. Sadly, it still happens and we the public are treated like manure.

[@GIOVANNI1955C]

Those weren't no sub pens!!

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

Unfortunately a lot of viewers are under the impression that there was a solid audience for the show that was betrayed by the PTB. Unfortunately the controversy with the series was that it did NOT draw a big enough sampling of the MASS audience, which is all that mattered to Top Management. The series wasn't "selling" in this matter and that's why the network and production company "went to the draw ing board". The move to an early time period didn't "flop", Monday drew more viewers at the time whereas Friday at 930 (then 10pm, midseason) had a smaller audience; HIGH was also up against GOMER PYLE and former Tonight Show host Jack Paar's color hour. Gomer had Friday night ownership at the time. Monday competition was less difficult and after some deliberation the show was renewed for a third season. This timeperiod was 10pm Friday again. Competition was devastating--- CBS Friday movies with 60% of the audience. Nothing could withstand that. ABC would retire its remaining WW2 shows by 1968 ----Garrisons Gorillas and Rat Patrol, indicating that the WW2 cycle ( that largely ran on ABC) had come to an end.

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

PS. ABCs goal by decade s end was to replace action shows with shows aimed at young, trendy urban audiences. The combat shows would not fit that agenda and what was left was retired.

[@mauriceupton1474]

I didnt think generals were allowed to combat missions.

[@peterbloink8434]

Unusual to have a general in command of a bomb group, they were typically in control of wings or divisions, but they were not banned from flying combat missions and did fly occasionally if they were qualified for the aircraft, often on some of the bigger missions. General Travis (of Travis Air Force Base fame) certainly flew the big ones as a general when in control of the 303rd group (although I think he had been promoted to being in charge of the wing to which the 303rd belonged by the time he flew missions as a general?). Even in this tv show there are episodes where there is a mission where Savage has not flown it. The premise of Savage flying was established in the original book where he was sent to the 918th to whip it into shape after serious problems under its original commander; the book was a fairly thinly disguised retelling of the actual 306th group and the general (can't think of his name but I'm sure wikipedia can tell you) who took over that group. The true historical events however only involved that general being in charge of the 306th for about six weeks. The tv show did raise the matter (without really explaining it) in the first episode during some aggressive banter between Savage and (then) Captain Joe Gallagher (Paul Burke); Savage made some kind of critical accusation about what Gallagher had achieved in his career to which Gallagher countered with his own criticism asking why a general would be in charge of a bomb group "...isn't that normally the job of a colonel?...".

[@mauriceupton1474]

+Peter Bloink Thanks for your reply.

[@ashontahuddleston6663]

While leading his combat wing (i forget which and also the group he led), a Brig. General Forrest insisted on his formation flying wingtip to wingtip in "V" and level instead of the staggered formation flown by the rest which was pioneered by the 305th bomb group under lemay. Because of this, the germans shot down half of his group and him along with them. Dan Hughes

[@TEGRULZ]

I am told that Doolittle might have snuck on raids, and Curt LeMay would as well.

[@ziblot1235]

The German Luftwaffe had Adolf Galland who was comander of the entire Fighter wing. We had Doolittle, Spaatz, and if I did the research Im sure there were quite few.

[@kongjunhong2586]

his pappy dead,sorry savage and general rip your pappy

[@johnerwin9024]

Jas Whitmore 🙂

[@adamscott7354]

_Brooks was here_ F

[@errolfan]

james whitmore. ants in his pants.😉

[@martinrenzhofer8241]

Following this season, a not-so-wise executive decision to replace a solid, veteran stage, TV and movie actor made for this lead role with a cardboard, pretty boy actor. Ratings fell after the first season.

[@AdmiralNelson1000]

Sadly the series rated poorly with the General Audiences needed to keep the show on the air. The competition was Gomer Pyle and a color hour starring a popular former Tonight Show host. Move to an earlier time period for year two boosted the ratings to the acceptable 30% level. Enough for another renewal. Final problem was 3rd season shift again to its old late night slot, where the competition was CBS Friday movies with 60% audience shares. No series, including Star Trek later, was able to withstand this overwhelming pressure.

[@lonestone55]

Gen. Savage was given a dishonorable discharge because he never learned to salute and he smoked a carton a day.

[@mariakelly5]

General Savage died flying a B17 in the first episode of season two, you moron!

[@ziblot1235]

Thats where I learned to smoke.In the service non smokers never got a break. We would be doing some hard phys work and the Chief would say, Ok you guys take smoke break the rest of yall keep on working. They really said this, many times.

[@CaptainNavman]

@@ziblot1235 and in the navy that meant we would get a coffee if we did not smoke

[@LarryWhite-kw5mj]

Smoking takes years off your life🎉

[@johnrogan9420]

Pappy...the direct opposite of vp Biden!

[@evapoppen638]

We

[@johnrogan9420]

James Whitmore....out acted the rest of the ensemble

[@johnrogan9420]

"Scratch one ammo dump...will have to owe you for the plane"...based on a real life action by a hero...not vp biden.

[@BrianR.]

Can't stand James Whitmore.

[@burningb2439]

When a FW190 decides to help itself to your flightdeck..you turn to mush with Cannon / MG fire punching through your Plexi glass and Aluminium at meters per second its not X Box or Bonanza..Respect for the many fallen who did it for real.