CALL TO GLORY
US, 1984, 96 minutes, Colour.
Craig T. Nelson, Cindy Pickett, Elisabeth Shue, Anthony Edwards, Keenan Wynn, Rosemary Forsyth, G.D. Spradlin.
Directed by Thomas Carter.
Call to Glory is an American telemovie with a focus on the events of October 1962, the Kennedys, Castro and the Cuban missiles. The film also focuses on aerial surveillance and has many fine action sequences in the air. The film belongs to the '80s - part of the patriotic atmosphere during the Reagan administration. it looks on the past when the world was on the brink and the intervention of a strong president, the work of the armed forces and their contribution to American and world safety.
Underlying the action military sequences is the expected American family background the setting of the '60s, clashes in family, deaths and grief, heroism.
1. An interesting and entertaining telemovie? Of the 80s? the 60s?
2. The perspective on the US? The tone and the title, the emphasis on the past, the call to glory in the 60S?
3. The interspersing of the film with footage of the 60s: the various political personalities, the Kennedys, Adlai Stevenson? The Cuban situation, the missiles, the world on the brink of nuclear war?
4. A services story, the aerial sequences?
5. The focus on the American family: the father and his military and air skills, communication, seeing the party at the picnic and the ordinariness of the opening? The father called out of this atmosphere for his work? Espionage on Cuba, his men, the volunteers, the best friend and his death, the funeral? The tough daughter and her school work, friends, wanting to fly? Her going beyond the border, jail, her father bailing her out? The little boy and his being withdrawn silent? His wife and the marriage, a services wife? Her letting the boy go to training, anxiety about her daughter, forbidding her to fly? the therapist? The father and his using the old planes for flying, his granddaughter? The friends and neighbours, town life, school, flying school, relationships?
6. Cuba and the military personnel, the orders, volunteers, information? October 1962? Backdown, dangers? Death and honour?
7. The title and the U.S.A. in the 80s?
