TASK FORCE
US, 1949, 116 minutes, Black and white, Colour sequences.
Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Jane Wyatt, Wayne Morris, Julie London, Bruce Bennett, Stanley Ridges, Jack Holt.
Directed by Delmer Daves.
Task Force is a late '40s tribute to the development of aircraft carriers and the kind of warfare with dive-bombers that was so significant in World War Two. Gary Cooper is a solid actor for the lead in this kind of film. He is supported by a cast of character actors from the studios of the '30s and '40s. Walter Brennan gives a, perhaps, uncharacteristic performance as the naval commander. Jane Wyatt is a strong heroine.
The material is conventional enough in terms of comparisons with other war films. However, it is an attempt to pay tribute to the developments during the '20s and '30s from battleships to small aircraft carriers to large aircraft carriers (despite senatorial opposition) which were instrumental in such battles as that of Midway, a centre of this film.
The attack on Pearl Harbor is shown. Actual footage from war correspondents is inserted - black and white photography and, finally, the film moves into colour to incorporate colour actuality.
The film is a flagwaver of the late '40s. It can be considered now as summarising the history of the past, a type of docu-drama.
Direction is by Delmer Daves - maker of humane stories and war films during the '40s (Destination Tokyo.), significant westerns during the '50s (including Broken Arrow) and soap opera romances during the '60s (A Summer Place, etc.).
1. A dramatic war film? The history of American defences in the '20s and '30s? War tribute? The perspective of the late '40s?
2. Warner Bros production values: black and white photography, the transition to colour? The use of actual war correspondents' filmstand the skill in editing them into this film? Musical score?
3. The title of the film: the reminiscences of Scott, the changes in 30 years from the end of World War One to the end of World War Two? Thb focus on the small planes, on the battleships being changed into aircraft carriers, from the opposition of senators and newspapers to the development of the carriers, to the determination of the navy and the air force? The importance of the aircraft carriers, the skill in training, their use during World War Two by both Japanese and Americans? The status of American defences by the end of World War Two?
4. Gary Cooper as Scott: the solid commander, his farewell and reminiscences, young, the group at San Diego, the primitive planes, attempting to land on ships? The accidents? Jerry Morgan's death and Scott having to tell Mary? Scott's friendship with the commander? Going to Washington to lobby politicians and newspapermen? Scott's fiasco in alienating people, including the Japanese attache? meeting Mary again, their marriage? His being exiled to Panama to a desk for years, his surviving? The return in the early '30s, the development of the aircraft carriers, retraining? His relationship with Mary, their moving to-Hawaii, to Annapolis and training? The build~up to Pearl Harbor? The aircraft carrier and his command? The retaliationi the Battle of Midway and his anxiety? The death of his friends? The experience of the war, the bombings, not wanting to abandon ship? In New York when the war ended? His tribute to the men? A strong American character?
5. Walter Brennan as the commander, his knowledge of planes and ships, wanting Scott to lobby, his anger with him, his recalling him in the '30s, their collaboration during-the war? The range of men as pilots, as soldiers,
6. The sketch of Mary, her sadness at her husband's death? Later years, the meeting with Scott, marriage, support, her voice-over comment about the happy years, not wanting him to leave the navy, his work and his friends? In Pearl Harbor, surviving the attack, nursing?
7. The portrait of American senators, their attitudes towards appropriations for defence? Public opinion and the newspaper editors? The build-up of the Japanese - and the attache at the party?
8. The build-up to Pearl Harbor: what people were doing on 7 December, Mass, tennis-playing, work? The attack and its devastation? The staging of the Battle of Midway - and the incorporation of the war action sequences?
9. A film of the '40s, of dramatic interest, of historic interest? A piece of Americana?
