Top of the World

Before there was Top Gun, there was Top of the World. The U. S. Air Force is the star of the picture with extensive USAF footage. Aviation fans will love seeing the footage of an array of planes.

The love melodrama on the ground never really takes off and you won't need to buckle your seat belts for the climactic rescue mission.

The film would have benefited greatly from wide-screen cinematography instead of the 4:3 aspect ratio. I imagine the filmmakers were forced to go 4:3 to match the film acquired by USAF.

Performances by all the leads are okay. Supporting cast, particularly of the endangered crew, are, unfortunately, underdeveloped.

The names of the two actresses were Evelyn Keys and Nancy Gates. I think it was Nancy Gates I was helping with her boots. Without digging out the pictures I cannot be 100% sure. Because I need more lines I will tell you a little about my military service. Basic training was at Parks AFB, California. Tech School was 1 year of Aircraft & Engine School at Sheppard AFB, Oklahoma. Then Altas AFB, Oklahoma for one week. Then Donaldson AFB, South Carolina. next it was Eillson AFB, Alaska for one week then to Ladd AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska. Then to Palm Beach AFB, Florida. Then TDY to Sheppard AFB for 6 month advanced tech school. From Palm Beach AFB to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Then to Keesler AFB, Mississippi for one year Ground Radio Maintence Tech School. Next McGuire AFB New Jersey. Next Daharan Air Base, Saudi Arabia for one year. Next three years at Ladd AFS at Weisbaden, Germany. Next Montgomery AFB, Alabama. Next back to Keesler AFB, Mississippi for one year for advanced Electronics School. Next Mt. Laguna AFS, California. Next Sparavon AFS, Alaska for one year. Next and last North Turo AFS Mass. where I retired.

Wilbur C. Watts, TSGT USAF Ret., 100% Service Connected Disabled

Every actor from that time and their cousin is in this movie. You expect that from a major movie but what is it about "Top of the World" that drew them in?

Maj. Lee Gannon (Dale Robertson) is too old and too slow to be a jet pilot. Strange that is why I left the reserves. To add to that his Ex-wife is not doing so well with a joint of her own in Alaska that see gage back alimony checks.

Wait he has a choice of leaving the force or transferring (here it comes) to Alaska. You guessed it and as the story unfolds, we get a glimpse of the past, present and possible futures.

There are love triangles inside triangles and so forth. A real tesseract.

On top of that we get to see Top of the World. A secret mission that is kept up with the daily news.

We have a real tearjerker here.

Keep your fingers crosse.

Looks like they showed a lot of B36 Peacemakers at the last minute.

Apparently this isn't easy to find. The new Sony/MGM digital broadcast network dug it out of their vaults and aired it several times recently.

I saw one of those broadcasts, and found ti to be mostly an interesting adventure film whenever the main plot device of a weather tracking expedition to nearby the North Pole is involved, and the rescue of the Air Force men who end up stranded there.

It was much less interesting when dealing with the melodramatic subplot of the two major officers and their girls, and who would get which girl. That part was pretty unappealing and, in terms of being realistic, quite obtuse. It seemed added on to the major plot in order to bring ladies into the theater. Ladies of the 1950s that is, not modern girls.

Still the adventure aspect is fun, and especially the rescue of the last man on the crumbling ice island.

Director Lewis R Foster gave very few war films, this one and the terrific THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE. This one is just a waste of time for any viewer but a rare film, very hard to find. THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE too, but the difference is that the lastest is really worth the search and the watch. Just forget this one, TOP OF THE WORLD mix up of romance and war time. The bland and wooden Dale Robertson doesn't help very much to enhance the quality of this movie. I had never seen it before and I don't regret. Now, I have seen it and in a few seconds I will have forgotten it. But that's up to you to decide.