The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955)
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In this 1955 Otto Preminger film, Gary Cooper stars as World War I hero Brigadier General Billy Mitchell. The film recounts Mitchell's efforts to prove the viability of a strong air force. The hidebound military higher-ups refuse to finance aviation any further, figuring that the strength of the United States lies in its navy. When a friend is killed by flying a faulty plane, Mitchell charges the War and Navy department with incompetence and criminal negligence. When the brass tries to quietly court-martial Mitchell, they are forced into the open by the strength of public opinion, largely in Mitchell's favor. Subjected to the grilling of prosecutor Alan Guillon (Rod Steiger) during his trial, Mitchell sticks to his guns, even outlining a potential Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor unless the military wises up and strengthens its air power. Elizabeth Montgomery makes her film debut in the role of Margaret Landsdowne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 100 mins
Complete Cast:
- Gary Cooper - Brig.-Gen. William Mitchell
- Ralph Bellamy - Congressman Frank Reid
- Elizabeth Montgomery - Margaret Lansdowne
- James Daly - Col. Herbert A. White
- Peter Graves - Capt. Elliott
- Charles Dingle - Sen. Fullerton
- Tom McKee - Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker
- Robert Brubaker - Maj. H.H. Arnold
- Ian Wolfe - Calvin Coolidge
- Steve Holland - Stu Stewart
- Carleton Young - Gen. Pershing's Aide
- Charles Anthony Hughes
- Robert B. Williams - Reporter Tuttle
- Gregory Walcott - Reporter Millikan
- Robert Simon - Adm. Adam Gage
- Ewing Mitchell - Court Judge
- Joel Smith
- Cy Malis - Reporter
- Edward Keane - Court Judge
- Charles Chaplin, Jr. - Reporter
- William Henry - Officer
- Griff Barnett - Civilian Steno
- Charles Bickford - Gen. James Guthrie
- Rod Steiger - Maj. Allen Gullion
- Fred Clark - Col. Moreland
- Jack Lord - Cmdr. Zachary Lansdowne
- Darren McGavin - Russ Peters
- Dayton Lummis - Gen. Douglas MacArthur
- Steve Roberts - Maj. Carl Spaatz
- Phil Arnold - Fiorella La Guardia
- Will Wright - Adm. William S. Sims
- Adam Kennedy - Yip Ryan
- Peter Adams - Officer
- John Maxwell - Court Judge
- Frank Wilcox - Officer Tom
- Max Wagner - Sergeant Major
- Jack Perrin - Court Reporter
- William Fox - Reporter
- George Mayon - Reporter
- Michael Lally - Reporter
- Edna Holland - Woman Secretary
- William Forrest - Commandant FSH
- Herbert Heyes - Gen.John J. Pershing
- Director(s):
- Otto Preminger
- Writer(s):
- Emmett Lavery, Milton Sperling
- Producer(s):
- Milton Sperling
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- Subtitles:
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