Sabre Jet (film)

Sabre Jet

Original film poster
Directed by Louis King
Produced by Carl Kruger
Edward Small (uncredited)
Written by Story:
Carl Kruger
Screenplay:
Dale Eunson
Katherine Albert
Starring Robert Stack
Music by Herschel Burke Gilbert
Cinematography Charles Van Enger
Edited by Arthur H. Nadel
Production
company
Carl Krueger Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release dates
  • September 4, 1953 (1953-09-04) (United States)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Sabre Jet is a 1953 War film shot in Cinecolor and released by United Artists. It stars Robert Stack and was directed by Louis King. It was based on a story by the producer Carl Kruger with the screenplay written by the husband and wife playwright and screenwriting team of Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert. The film was mostly shot at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas[1] and featured extensive use of actual combat film footage.

Plot

The United States Air Force at Itazuke Air Base during the Korean War has a visitor: Jane Carter, a female journalist who wishes to do a feature story on the wives of the American pilots. Jane admits to the wing commander General Hale that she is the wife of one of his squadron leaders, Colonel Gil Manton. This is news to everyone.

Gil and Jane have been separated for two years. Jane prefers life under her former name as a major journalist with frequent travel, while Gil prefers a wife who will stay home and have a family. Gil is not only upset that Jane left their anniversary celebration to get a story from the wife of a Death Row prisoner about to be executed, but Gil feels Jane callously used and exploited the woman for a story. Gil has kept their separation a secret as a divorce would hurt his career.

Jane meets the wives and learns their motivations and that though they are open with each other, they hide their fears from their husbands lest it affect their performance.

Meanwhile, in the Korean War, military intelligence has discovered an enemy air base with jet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 and piston engine Yakovlev Yak-9 aircraft threatening the United Nations forces. General Hale wishes to lead a carefully synchronized combined airstrike of Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers escorted by North American F-86 Sabre to deal with the enemy aircraft and F-80 Shooting Star ground-attack aircraft to destroy the enemy’s anti-aircraft defenses. General Hale’s superiors are sympathetic but inform the General that approval for such a massive combined operation can take a long time to approve. General Hale replies that the wet season in North Korea will begin in a week that would make the operation impossible after it has begun.[2]

General Hale disobeys orders by personally flying an F-86 reconnaissance aircraft without escort over the target. After he is aloft, intelligence discovers the airbase is located elsewhere and that what the General is flying over is a trap full of anti-aircraft and enemy fighter planes.

The General is shot down with Gil taking command of the wing to lead the operation. Jane is with the General's wife Marge when Gil breaks the news of the loss of the General. Marge's incredible composure and courage brings Jane to tears that makes her reevaluate her marriage and behavior towards Gil.

Cast

Production

The film used a number of flying aces as advisers.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/21646/Sabre-Jet/notes.html
  2. ↑ pp. 94-95 Call, Steven Selling Air Power: Military Aviation and American Popular Culture After World War II Texas A&M University Press, 28 March 2009
  3. ↑ MOVIELAND BRIEFS Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 17 Apr 1953: B8
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