Above and Beyond (1952)

67% of users liked it
(131 ratings)

Above and Beyond is the story of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as told from the perspective of the man who flew the mission. Robert Taylor stars as Col. Paul Tibbetts, commander of the Enola Gay. Once selected for this extremely dangerous mission, Tibbetts must hand-pick a crew worthy of the… More Above and Beyond is the story of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as told from the perspective of the man who flew the mission. Robert Taylor stars as Col. Paul Tibbetts, commander of the Enola Gay. Once selected for this extremely dangerous mission, Tibbetts must hand-pick a crew worthy of the task. He is also forced to keep his mission a closely guarded secret, even unto withholding all information from his loving and patient wife Lucey (Eleanor Parker). The film concentrates on the strain placed upon Tibbetts, his crew and their families in the crucial days before the "big drop". The bombing itself is handled with taste and decorum, though the horror and mixed emotions of the moment are brilliantly conveyed on the faces of Tibbetts and his men. Above and Beyond represents a rare noncomedy endeavor from the writer-director team of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 21, 1952 Wide
On DVD: Jun 22, 1994
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Spirited flag-waver about doing a controversial mission beyond one's duty.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though the story of Col. Paul Thibbetts (Robert Taylor), the pilot who dropped the bomb on Hirsohima, is interesting, the movie is compromised by having too many domestic scenes with his wife (Eleanor Parker).

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cindy I

Robert Taylor is (was) so pretty, I'll watch anything he's in. Luckily he made some decent movies over the years -- Waterloo Bridge, Rogue Cop, Camille, Johnny Eager. Above and Beyond is one of the better ones. It's the true story (I'm sure Hollywood-ized as much… More
Robert Taylor is (was) so pretty, I'll watch anything he's in. Luckily he made some decent movies over the years -- Waterloo Bridge, Rogue Cop, Camille, Johnny Eager. Above and Beyond is one of the better ones. It's the true story (I'm sure Hollywood-ized as much as they could get away with) of Col. Paul Tibbets, the pilot who flew the Enola Gay to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This film basically gave Americans an idea of what actually was going on before and during the decision to bomb Japan. Not a war movie, but a movie about war, and in particular the "war at home." Eleamor Parker plays Tibbets' wife Lucy, who goes through hell in trying to hold her marriage together with a man who holds all sorts of secrets he's forbidden to share with her, almost to the point of divorcet. He's not allowed to tell her about the plans for Japan, so she assumes the problem must be with him or her. It's torturous for both of them. The title of the film I felt was significant for not only what the pilots were being asked to do, but also for what Tibbets was required to do -- keep secrets from his family, weeks and months away from home, pretend his marriage is no longer a priority -- going "above and beyond the call of duty" in protecting the mission. I was surprised by my reaction to the scenes where the bomb is being dropped, and the aftermath -- burning streets, flattened buildings -- seen from the sky (was that real footage or faked?). I actually teared up at the thought of what these men had to do, and what the survivors on the ground were going through, and just how horrific -- although likely necessary (the jury's still out in my mind) -- the whole thing was. Robert Taylor to me has always been under-rated. Yeah, most of his characterizations are probably just him playing himself, but doesn't Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and many others basically do the same thing? He's not a GREAT actor, but he's convinced me well enough numerous times. But even when he's bad, he's still good....yummy.

Cast

            Robert Taylor as Col. Paul Tibbets

            Eleanor Parker as Lucy Tibbets

            James Whitmore as Maj. Uanna

            Larry Keating as Maj. Gen. Vernon C. Brent

            Larry Gates as Capt. Parsons

            Marilyn Erskine as Marge Bratton

            Robert Burton as Gen. Samuel E. Roberts

            Hayden Rorke as Dr. Ramsey

            Jack Raine as Dr. Fiske

            Jonathan Cott as Dutch Van Kirk

            Jeff Richards as Thomas Ferebee

            Dick Simmons as Bob Lewis

            Patrick Conway as Radio Operator

            William Lester as Driver

            Barbara Ruick as Mary Malone

            Jim Backus as Gen. Curtis E. LeMay

            John Baer as Captain

            Robert Forrest as MP Officer

            Robert Fuller as Extra

            Frank Gerstle as Sgt. Wilson

            Richard Grayson as Officer On Train

            Dabbs Greer as Haddock

            John Hedloe as Lt. Malone

            Lee MacGregor as Gen. Robert's Aide

            Roger McGee as Johnson

            Sammy McKim as Captain

            Ewing Mitchell as Gen. Wolfe

            John M. Pickard as Miller

            Gregory Walcott as Burns

            Harlan Warde as Chaplain Downey

            Crane Whitley as Gen. Corlane

            Mack Williams as Gen. Irvine

            Lawrence Dobkin as Dr. Van Dyke

            Steve Dunne as Major Harry Bratton

            John Close as Co-pilot

            Dorothy Kennedy as Nurse

            G. Pat Collins as Maj. Gen. Creston

            John R. McKee as Wyatt Duzenbury

            Don Gibson as Dexter
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