Eagles of the Fleet

Part of BFI collection "They Stand Ready."

Sterling Hayden is the stiff-necked Naval Air commander ("Collier") who arrives on his carrier to command an already established - but very green - air squadron. The story of how he licks them into shape is pretty ordinary - they have a lieutenant (Richard Carlson) who acts a bit like their dad, trying to shield them from the harshness of their new skipper - but as they all start to work together... well, you know the drill ... (think Twelve O'Clock High (1949)). It's an oddly constructed effort from Lesley Selander. The acting is adequate, Hayden never was my favourite star, but the editing between the sterile studio shots and the actuality of aerial warfare is really pretty poor, indeed the fact that this is in colour probably doesn't really help it on the authenticity front either. It doesn't shy away from the tragedy of warfare, either - the boys get their fair share of bad news, but it's all just a bit too formulaic - even for then. Passes the time.