THE McCONNELL STORY
US, 1955, 107 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, June Allyson, James Whitmore.
Directed by Gordon Douglas.
The Mc Connell Story is a conventional film of the fifties. A hero with a bit of daring in his background going to higher things for patriotic and personal reasons, with a supportive and understanding wife. The setting is the Korean War and the antipathy towards Communists and the fight, especially with the Air Force. This is made clear in the introduction and dedication of the film and the propaganda-style dialogue of the fifties. Within these conventions, the film in quits well made and shows Joe Mc Connell Junior, the air ace of the first jets used in the Korean war.
1. An entertaining biography, family film, war film?
2. The conventions of the fifties: the atmosphere of the cold war, the suspicion of Communism, the morale boosting needed for the Korean War and its aftermath, patriotism? The conventions of the American hero, the American wife, the American soldier? American patriotism? How does this seem in retrospect?
3. Colour photography, romantic score? American and Korean locations? The flying sequences? The war sequences?
4. The fact that the film was based on fact? The credibility? The explanations given for Joe McConnell’s? life, his death? How credible were the characters?
5. The initial presentation of Mc Connell, flying, bailing out? His leave without pass, clash with his superior officer? The encounter with the family and especially with Pearl and her nickname of Butch? His proposing at the fight, the marriage and the subsequent apology of the officer? His involvement in his medical course in flying? The motivation for his flying? Motivation for involvement in the Korean war? His skill in downing planes and the achievement in the first jet war? His tiredness? His accepting of the commission to text the planes? Why didn't he bale out at the end? His love for his wife, their romantic sequences, their domestic sequences with his daughter, with the neighbours and the reception? The house party? How credible an American hero?
6. The presentation of Pearl: the initial encounter, her romancing him. seeking out the officers for permission to marry, her continued support in the dingy apartment, waiting for him during the war, at home? Her outburst at the party? The news of his death and her acceptance of the meaning of his sacrifice at the end? The American housewife heroine?
7. Whitman as an ordinary soldier, buddy, ally in flying, command in Korea? the testing of the planes? Breaking the news to Butch (and the past help he gave her especially during the pregnancy?), his final lesson to her?
8. The flying sequences and the symbolism? The importance of the war sequences and the final crash?
9. The build-up to Joe’s death and its meaning?
10. Themes of heroism, patriotism, contribution of one's life to progress?
