Task Force

I really enjoyed this older movie by the same actor that gave us Sgt. York. It was an excellent older war-era film!

This is a very interesting movie, covering US Naval aviation, from the mid-1920s, through the early 1950s. It includes some original, underpowered, biplane take-off, landing and crash footage, from the USS Langley (CV-1), America’s first aircraft carrier (converted, from a collier, originally the USS Jupiter [AV-3]), as well as original, better-powered, biplane footage, from the original USS Saratoga (CV-3, one of the two Lexington-class carriers, originally built as battle cruisers, in the 1920s, then converted, to carriers), plus film footage from the first, purpose-built, Yorktown-class carrier, named USS Enterprise (CV-6), launched in 1936. The movie starts in low-grade, black and white, typical of 1930s quality; then remains so, for the first 70 minutes or so, after which it converts to quality color film. Why they did that I have no idea. Historically, it’s mostly correct and belongs in the collection of anyone interested, in the era or the subject. This is a definite keeper.

This post-WW II movie is well worth a viewing. The talents of Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan and Jane Wyatt make it a compelling drama, but the real story is the teething problems experienced by naval aviation in its infancy. The opposition to naval aviation by "battleship admirals" and pacifist politicians in the 1920's is nicely portrayed along with the everyday hazards of flying from undersized carriers like the Langley. The film does a good job of portraying the Battle of Midway and the serious fight the Navy faced from the Japanese Kamikazes during the invasion of Okinawa. The movie is unusual in the fact that it is in black and white up to Midway, but it is in color from Okinawa to the end of film, probably due to the availability of color footage from the actual battles late in the war. Most people who grew up from the 1970's on probably don't even knew who Gary Cooper was. This move is a great opportunity to see this A-list actor at his prime!

I am a life long fan of WWII movies especially Naval aviation films. This film is fantastic in that you get to see the development of carrier aviation...and with shots of our first "carrier", the Langley. The war footage is fantastic. An interesting concept of this film is that it starts in B & W and then the last quarter or so resorts to color. The quality of the DVD is just fine for me!

Lots of never seen clips. Great story and good action. History of early naval aviation.

This film obviously has considerable fiction in it. But the struggle to create naval air power was real, there was a genuine fight between the battleship school and the air advocates. Col. Billy Mitchell was a casualty of that fight. Ultimately, the air power clique was successful in its fight. The on set of WW11 did much to help win the fight. The combat footage is superb, and I for one hope it is always preserved for future generations. I happen to like Gary Cooper as an actor, so I guess I am somewhat bias on this film. I recommend this film not just to fan of this actor, but to WW11 students for its combat footage. It reminds somewhat of the Gallant Hours, the movie about Admiral Bill Halsey. JRV

This film is one of the best films made about Naval Aviation and the Carrier War in the Pacific. The film uses a lot of archival US Navy film footage of the early days of carrier aviation through WW-II and up to the beginning of the Korean War.If I am not mistaken the footage near the end of the film of the war ravaged carrier returning to Brooklyn Navy Yard was the USS Franklin severely damaged during the battle of Okinawa in 1945. The acting in this film featuring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan was also superb. Any WW-II movie buff or Naval Aviation Buff should acquire this DVD for their collection.

The movie has no subtitles included. They should release this movie on bluray with a better look and sound.

very good

I have been looking for this DVD for some time.A nice film about the history and development of carrier tactics.

Great movie

Travel along the memory lane : old-fashioned Hollywood movie...

Very nicely told mixture of fact (events) and fiction (characters). The actual combat footage used is terrifiic!