Command Decision (1948)

75% of users liked it
(101 ratings)

Command Decision is a stagebound but consummately acted adaptation of William Wister Haines' Broadway play. Clark Gable, starring in the role essayed on Broadway by Paul Kelly, plays Air Force Brigadier General "Casey" Dennis. With time at a premium, Dennis sends waves of bomber squadrons into… More Command Decision is a stagebound but consummately acted adaptation of William Wister Haines' Broadway play. Clark Gable, starring in the role essayed on Broadway by Paul Kelly, plays Air Force Brigadier General "Casey" Dennis. With time at a premium, Dennis sends waves of bomber squadrons into Germany to knock out the enemy's jet plane factories. Though Dennis seems utterly unconcerned about the fate of his pilots (even his superior officer Walter Pidgeon is appalled by the heavy losses), the audience knows that his duty is exacting a severe emotional toll on him. Thanks to pressure from a misguided US senator, "butcher" Dennis is replaced by the supposedly more humane Brian Donlevy. But Donlevy realizes that Gable's decisions were the correct ones, and he vows to continue his predecessor's "suicide missions". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Sam Wood
Written By: William R. Laidlaw, George Froeschel
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 23, 1948 Wide
On DVD: Jun 5, 2007

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Strong MGM WWII drama with large star roster, serious story.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Chatty and sometimes gripping but always crisp WW II drama.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

Another War movie from MGM. This one stars Clark Gable who plays Gen Casey Dennis. Dennis is leading a fight against the Germans with his squadrons of bombers knocking out factory's that are developing and building jets for the German air force, the Germans are sure to win the… More
Another War movie from MGM. This one stars Clark Gable who plays Gen Casey Dennis. Dennis is leading a fight against the Germans with his squadrons of bombers knocking out factory's that are developing and building jets for the German air force, the Germans are sure to win the war with this fighter. Losses are high on each days bombing. 320 men killed the first day 580 men killed the second. Should he be relieved of his command. This movie was taken from a play, and is quite excellent. 4 Stars
cody f

Amazing!!! Great script(based on a play) and flawless acting from the whole cast. This film is all dialog with almost no action, a big detour from most WWII films. This movie doesn't need action because the story is captivating and the acting is top notch from everyone. I was… More
Amazing!!! Great script(based on a play) and flawless acting from the whole cast. This film is all dialog with almost no action, a big detour from most WWII films. This movie doesn't need action because the story is captivating and the acting is top notch from everyone. I was really surprised I have never heard of this one, and wasn't shocked when I heard that audiences didn't care for it when it was released because of lack of action.I am not going into detail of the story because you must find out for yourself. It centers around a General(Gable) who is losing planes and men at a alarming rate for a mysterious reason. Everyone is against him,the top brass, the press,and many of his own soldiers, but is their a method to his madness? Walter Pidgeon and Gable really drive this film with great direction from Sam Wood and a perfect supporting cast.The story moves at breakneck speed and is driven by total dialog. A must see!

Cast

            Clark Gable as Brig. Gen. K.C. "Casey" Dennis

            Walter Pidgeon as Maj. Gen. Roland G. Kane

            Van Johnson as Tech. Sgt. Immanuel T. Evans

            Brian Donlevy as Brig. Gen. Clifton L. Garnet

            Charles Bickford as Elmer Brockhurst

            John Hodiak as Col. Edward R. Martin

            Edward Arnold as Congressman Arthur Malcolm

            Richard Quine as Maj. George Rockton

            Cameron Mitchell as Lt. Ansel Goldberg

            Clinton Sundberg as Maj. Homer V. Prescott

            Ray Collins as Maj. Desmond Lansing

            Warner Anderson as Col. Earnest Haley

            John McIntire as Maj. Belding Davis

            Moroni Olsen as Congressman Stone

            John Ridgely as James Carwood

            Michael Steele as Capt. Lucius M. Jenks

            Edward Earle as Congressman Watson

            Mack Williams as Lt. Col. Virgil Jackson

            James Millican as Maj. Garrett Davenport

            Gregg Barton as Sergeant

            Bruce Cowling as Operations Officer

            Sam Flint as Congressman

            Don Haggerty as Command Officer

            Alvin Hammer as Sergeant Cahill

            Holmes Herbert as Chairman

            John James as Officer

            Marten Lamont as Officer of R.A.F

            William Leicester as Chauffeur

            Barry Nelson as Voice over loudspeaker

            William 'Bill' Phillips as Jeep Driver

            Marshall Thompson as Cap. George Washington Lee

            Henry Hall as Congressman

            George Offerman as Waiter

            Peter Martin as Command Sergeant
See full cast