A GATHERING OF EAGLES

US, 1963, 115 minutes, Colour.
Rock Hudson, Rod Taylor, Mary Peach, Barry Sullivan, Kevin Mc Carhty, Leora Dana, Robert Lansing.
Directed by Delbert Mann.

Reminiscent of the various film tributes to the Armed Forces during the fifties. It shares this admiration for the Strategic Air Command. However, the film was made in the early sixties in the aftermath of Russian scares, Cuban invasion and the Bay of Pigs. It is related in some ways to the nuclear scare films, for instance Seven Days in May and Fail Safe.

It shows the tensions in the personnel in the Strategic Air Command during the rigid training with security and the weaponry that could come into action in times of political crisis. Rock Hudson and Rod Taylor are at home in the central roles. Mary Peach, an English actress, seems out of place. The film tries to show something of the way of life of people isolated within the full time life of the S.A.C.

Directed by Delbert Mann, a maker of many fine human dramas including the Oscar-winning 'Marty'.

1. The atmosphere of the film, the early 1960's, the Kennedy administration and its optimism, the influence of Russian stances, the confrontations with Cuba, the place of the Strategic Air Command?

2. How authentic the atmosphere of the film, the presentation of the various locations, San Francisco and its environment, the presentation of the administration, the strategies in action, complex tests and preparations for combat situations, the picturing of the planes in flight? How credible the authenticity of the film?

3. The significance of the title and its importance? Its tone? Symbolism?

4. The structure of the screenplay and the framework of the inspections without notice? The initial crisis and Hollis's attempt to handle the situation and the failure of the unit? The drama developing on the human level and within the unit till the finale with the second inspection? Its tensions and success? The role of Jim and his being introduced into this situation? going through the experience with the Unit, the ups and downs, morale, training and the crisis of the inspection? What had happened to the Unit during the duration of the
film? What did it reveal about the nature of military life, alertness?

5. Audience response to the nature of the Strategic Air Command, its potential with planes, bombs, strategy plans and communications? For example the initial sequence where Jim was shoving politicians around and demonstrating the immediate communications? Their place in the Cold War? The nature of alerts and people responding whether it was a war situation or merely a practice?

6. The style and ethos of the Strategic Air Command? The importance of morale, personnel, pressures, time, pride? The possibilities of mistakes, the cost of mistakes and rectifying these? How well did the film communicate the urgency of these pressures and their effect on the men?

7. The presentation of leadership issues? Hollis and his being the friendly man not taking any responsibility but giving permission? Jim and the contrast with Hollis, the taking of responsibilities, the hard decisions he had to make especially in terms of human friendship? The discussion about fires burning and Banning’s recommendation that a leader should kindle fires and not be a martinet? The importance of leaders learning how to delegate,for example Garcia? How interesting an analysis and visual presentation of varying types of leadership? leadership dynamics, the exercise of power, influence, authority?

8. The human issues within the framework of morale and leadership? Preoccupation with the job, the telling of the truth, knowing how to handle people, knowing how to deal with people who have made mistakes? The family life and background of the men in the S.A.C.?

9. Rock Hudson's style as Jim Caldvell? The film's explanation of his background? The wondering whether he had enough heel to command, and whether he had enough brains? His gradual taking over, under¬standing the men, exercising command, learning? The various times that he had to wield the hatchet? A man of skills who joined his men for example in the flying of the planes and the crisis with the re¬fuelling and the landing? Friendship with Hollis and working with him, the friendliness and their being pals, the discovery of Hollis refusing to take responsibility and his handling of this situation? The long friendship with Bill and the difficulties in terms of family and friendship of sacking him? Banning and the playing of handball and the discussions about authority, sharing the meal with him? Recommendations to Garcia to delegate and feeling the anger of these men when they were told off? The crisis when the plane spilt petrol and was in danger of exploding, his handling of crises? The background of his marriage - Victoria as English, learning how to adapt, the feminine touch? The quality of their relationship, her feeling that he was too hard? especially with Bill and the family, the jealousy with Hollis? Her reaction and decision to leave, her understanding especially through Bill's wife, her experience in hospital? His crisis with the test and his handling of it?

10. Caldwell as an efficient leader for S.A.C. units? Facing crises and handling them? However, did the audience share the emotional response with Victoria?

11. How credible a character was Victoria? her arrival, English style ; attitudes, home life, work, enjoying Hollis’s company, her reactions against her husband and wanting to leave, her understanding the truth and supporting him?

12. The character of Hollis - his place in the S.A.C., the second-in-command, friendship, efficiency, over friendliness with the men and giving them too much leeway, the shock of his being given the sack, the background of his outings with Victoria, his handling of the situation when Jim was not present for the inspection, his decision about the place going up, the taking of responsibility and the possibilities for the future - how convincingly was this presented?

13. The character of Bill, tbe older man trying to adapt, his skills, drinking? His relationship with his family? The domestic scenes? His drinking, Jim's noticing this and having to sack him? His bitter¬ness? His shooting himself and failing? Jim's strategy in forcing him to take action? The importance of Bill's wife explaining to Victoria that she bad known this crisis all the time?

14. The behaviour of Garcia, his skills, his working too hard and not delegating? Banning and his skills and giving sound advice to Caldwell?

15. The dramatic tension of the inspections, the timing, Happy Jack and his arrival and the various strategies? The finale with the sending up of the planes and the unsureness about success?

16. Jim and his coping with the inspection, his having helped Bill, his travelling in the car, his relationship with Hollis, backing his decisions? The success of the inspection and the optimistic ending?

17. The necessity of this kind of film for American morale? As a piece of Americana? A reflection of the issues of the sixties, how relevant in later decades?