Task Force (1949)

69% of users liked it
(115 ratings)

In pageant-like fashion, Warner Bros.' Task Force traces the history of the American aircraft carrier, as experienced by a group of naval air aces. Gary Cooper plays Admiral Jonathan L. Scott, who on the verge of retirement remembers his struggle to win recognition of the importance of aircraft… More In pageant-like fashion, Warner Bros.' Task Force traces the history of the American aircraft carrier, as experienced by a group of naval air aces. Gary Cooper plays Admiral Jonathan L. Scott, who on the verge of retirement remembers his struggle to win recognition of the importance of aircraft carriers. The story begins in 1921, when Scott and his friend Pete Richard (Walter Brennan) were making dangerous landings on the primitive 65-foot carrier Langley. Scott's outspokenness wins him few friends among the brass, and after he publicly insults a Japanese diplomat on the subject of his beloved carriers, he is shunted away to a desk job. Naturally, once Pearl Harbor is attacked, Scott is vindicated. While his wife Mary (Jane Wyatt) waits patiently at home, Scott serves in World War II with distinction, guiding his carrier through a maze of Japanese artillery and kamikazes. Filmed in Technicolor, Task Force makes good use of actual color battle footage filmed by the Signal Corps. A brief clip from Task Force shows up in the drive-in movie scene in James Cagney's White Heat (1949). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 56 min.
Directed By: Delmer Daves
Written By: Delmer Daves
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 30, 1949 Wide
On DVD: Nov 10, 1993
Studio: Warner Brothers

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though not one of Gary Cooper's or director Daves' best pictures, this is a passably engaging chronicle of theAmerican aircraft carriers from the 1920s to WWII.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film flies by at a fast pace, as it offers a sweeping history lesson of Naval aviation.

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Cast

            Gary Cooper as Jonathan L. Scott

            Jane Wyatt as Mary Morgan

            Wayne Morris as McKinney

            Walter Brennan as Pete Richard

            Julie London as Barbara McKinney

            Bruce Bennett as McClusky

            Jack Holt as Reeves

            Stanley Ridges as Bentley

            John Ridgely as Dixie Rankin

            Richard Rober as Jack Southern

            Art Baker as Senator Vincent

            Moroni Olsen as Ames

            Ray Montgomery as Pilot

            Harlan Warde as Timmy

            James Holden as Tom Cooper

            Rory Mallinson as Jerry Morgan

            John Gallaudet as Jennings

            Warren Douglas as Winston

            Fred Clark
            
            Sally Corner as Mrs. Secretary

            Joe Forte as Presidential Representative

            Alex Gerry as Chairman

            William Gould as Mr. Secretary

            Reed Howes as Officer

            William Hudson as Lt. Leenhouts

            Tetsu Komai as Japanese Representative

            Mary Lawrence as Ruth Rankin

            Mickey McCardle as Lindsay

            John McGuire as Supply Officer

            Dick Paxton as Pilot

            Robert Rockwell as Lieutenant Kelly

            Basil Ruysdael as Admiral

            Charles Sherlock as Capt. Wren

            Kenneth Tobey as Capt. Williamson

            Laura Treadwell as Mrs. Ames

            Charles Williams as Luggage Clerk

            Tommy Walker as Lieutenant

            W. Beal Wong as Japanese Naval Attache

            Charles Waldron Jr. as Aide

            Paul MacWilliams as Harrison

            Mal Merrihugh as Jones
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