COMMAND DECISION

US, 1949, 112 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Brian Donlevy, Charles Bickford, John Hodiak, Richard Quine, Edward Arnold, Marshall Thompson, Cameron Mitchell, Ray Collins.
Directed by Sam Wood.

A World War II film made soon after the war, it is partly a tribute but also a critique of America’s involvement in the war, at least as regards preparations, responsibilities for bombing raids, public relations and morale boosting. The film was based on a play and is opened out with some action sequences, especially when Clark Gable has to bring down a pilot who eventually crashes. However, the film follows the play in its staging of scenes, long speeches, dramatic interaction.

Directed by Sam Wood, a stylish director whose range includes the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races, the original Goodbye Mr. Chips and such action films as For Whom the Bell Tolls. The cast is expert and Clark Gable gives a very strong performance in the central role but is matched by Walter Pidgeon and Brian Donlevy. While the focus is World War II and its dilemmas, the issues discussed and the indications of cover-up are more relevant to later decades. The film still has a great deal of relevance.

1 . The impact of the film in the post war years? The tribute, the tradition of propaganda war films? The nature of the critique? The purpose of the film?

2. The film based on a play - the drama, interaction, speeches? How well was the screenplay opened out?

3. M.G.M. production values, black and white photography, the Miklos Rosza score? The all male cast and their dramatic talent? The stylish production, action sequences?

4. World War II and 1948? The experience of the war, involvement in Europe, the Pacific? Victory and assessment? The cold war era? How does World War II seem in later decades? New assessments, attitudes to war, the truth, reportage, cover-ups, heroism, decisions?

5. The significance of the title and indication of themes? Responsibility and personal involvement, the need for overview of strategy, security risks, morale boosting, finance, sacrifice for greater good?

6. Americans in Britain - the British base, handling situations in a foreign country? The raids and the skills required? The necessity of the bombing, the factories? Mistakes? The cost in lives and planes? Congressional visits and investigations? Reporting and the need for morale boosting?

7. The realities of war and the way these were presented, life on the base, the relentlessness of the raids, the influence of politics, pre-war finance, the need for morale boosting and American opinion, stories, Photos, public relations?

8. The personal interaction, clashes, power struggles, persuading others of point of view, changing of command, etc.?

9. Clark Gable as Casey Dennis? His strength of presence, his role in Command, his sustaining of the loosest the interaction with John? Kane and his visit, the interaction? The clashes about the bombing targets? Blackmail? The visit of the congressman? Friendship with Martin, Garnett and his presence, succeeding Dennis? The raids and the effect, the loss of planes and men? The sequence with Dennis guiding down the pilot who crashes? His relationship with Evans and his assistants? His personal involvement with the men, his not knowing the details of their lives? His reaction to the congressman, the discussion with Kane with the voices coming from the other room? Pressures, the reaction to Martin's death, the telling off of Congressman Malcolm? The transfer, the nostalgia, the support of Garnett? The transfer to the Pacific? The American hero? strengths, weaknesses?

10. Kane and his Command? His talk, P.R. work, secrecy, decisions? His voicing of opposite opinions to those of Dennis - and the audience being able to gauge the correctness of views?

11. Garnett and his talk, hopes for the Pacific, his relationship with Martin? His having to take over? The importance of Lancing and his strategic advice? His final advice for the target? The personal touch and Martin's death?

12. Martin and his missions, the personal story, the birth of his son, his death? The importance of the bombing mistake and Goldberg’s reaction, his sense of guilt?

13. Evans and his role as assistant, his way of dealing with situations, diplomacy? Discussions with Garnett? Transferring with Dennis?

14. Congressmen and their visits, pomposity, investigations? The talk about losses? The relationship between Malcolm and Jenks? The giving of the medal and the interruption of the news of Martin's death? Jenks’ reaction?

15. Brockhurst and his role as reporter, his criticisms, hindrance, later wanting to help?

16. The portrait of the individual men? Prescott and his press relationship work? Lee and his drinking and the encounter with Garnett? Good men, skilled, tired?

17. The film as a character study? An exploration of war and its significance? Its continuing relevance?