Exclusive“Above and Beyond” (1952): Courage, Duty, and the Mission That Changed History

While we slumber and sleep The sun leaps up, up from the deep Daylight born, born at the leap Rapid, dominant, free Above, within the utmost sea It is time to arise To race, to race for the promised prize The sun flies, the wind blows We are strong, we are free And high is beyond the stars and the sea Okay. Spill it. I'm glad you're here, Lucy. Real glad. You said that before. For you, for Paul, but more important for the bass. What does that mean? Look, I'm gonna lay this right on the line. Alright. These men are seasoned combat veterans, the best in the business. But Harry says Paul treats them like they're still at Kelly Field. The talk is that they're good enough for Eisenhower, but not for Tibbetts. That's standard sour grapes and you know it. Look, honey, Paul's only human. We all know what happened in Africa. It's only natural that when he gets his first command he should try to make an impression and get those eagles back. Don't you ever say a thing like that to me again, Marge. Look, Lucy. Whatever Paul's done, he's done because it's part of his job. Oh, Paul's going way overboard. Passes for this, passes for that. You can't buy a jar of pickles around here without passing a loyalty test. Listen, Marge, when a man has a job like this to do, sometimes he has to go above and beyond. I'm Tiffany Brannan. I'm Rebecca Brannan. Welcome to Real Thoughts on Cinema. One of the biggest cinematic events in recent years was the phenomenon known as Barbenheimer. In the summer of 2023, two very different blockbuster films hit theaters around the same time. The girly, frivolous Barbie and the grim, biographical Oppenheimer. The latter of the two films in this strange pairing was actually a very serious depiction of the real-life scientist in charge of the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Although this film was darker and more grim than I deemed necessary, it created renewed interest, especially among younger people, about some very important events that happened during World War II, leading up to the end of the conflict with Japan. There are a couple of notable films from the golden era of Hollywood about the making and the dropping of the atomic bomb. One of the best of these is Above and Beyond from 1952. This film was made by MGM, directed and produced by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. It stars Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker, and James Whitmore. This is the story of real-life military hero Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr. The movie begins during World War II as he's stationed in Africa. When he refuses to risk his crew's life unnecessarily by doing repeated, daring, low-bombing runs, he earns the ire of an important general. However, he also earns the respect of a different general who sees that he has the integrity and the courage necessary for a dangerous job. This general brings him back to the United States to begin working on the refitting of the B-29, an important new aircraft for the war. It's a dangerous and thankless job, but he knows that Paul, or Tibb as he's often called, is just the right man for the job to have this long engagement in Kansas. One of the reasons why Tibb is such a great soldier is that he's willing to sacrifice his personal happiness for the greater good. Although he's been married for several years to his beloved Lucy, they've spent around six weeks living together as a married couple. However, she has one young son and is soon expecting another. Eventually, after finishing the B-29 project, Paul is given another dangerous and top-secret assignment. He is going to work on the Manhattan Project in the development of an atomic bomb which could end the war. He believes in the idea, yet this project is so top-secret that even most of the men working on it have no idea what they're really endeavoring to do. With this unusual project, under the codename Operation Silverplate, Paul is given carte blanche to choose a remote location, which ends up being Wendover, and to pick the best of the trade to come and work there and develop just the right technique and technology to drop the atomic bomb. He even is able to bring his wife and two young sons out to Wendover to be with him. However, as he is unable to tell even Lucy what they're really working to do, Paul's friendships, nerves, and marriage are strained to the breaking point. This movie is really interesting because it's actually based very much on real events. Almost to the point of being like a documentary. Yeah, it's like a docudrama. While at the same time being very entertaining and very much a Hollywood production. This movie was made several years after the war, but the information had just been declassified. I find that so interesting in the opening scroll, it says that this information was just declassified, so this is the first time they were able to present really any details about this in a film. Interestingly, some of the most noteworthy things which are inaccurate about this film involve the atomic bomb itself, and the reason is that that still was classified. People didn't know what it looked like, even the film crew couldn't find out. But this really was intended as a tribute to the real-life hero, Paul Tibbets, who continued to have a very impressive military career after this. That's right, he became a Brigadier General. Yes. That was actually after this film was made. And he lived a long life, well into the 21st century. He later wrote a biography, but this movie is such a powerful and poignant depiction of one of the most important yet controversial aspects of World War II. It's easy to show America going against the Nazis or our response to Pearl Harbor, but to show the atomic bomb, which was controversial and a difficult moral issue before, during, and after it happened. And especially as the decades wore on, people began to look back and say it was perhaps unnecessary violence. So it's really interesting to see how this movie depicts it. I think researching the real man, Carl Tibbets, the most interesting thing to me was how in some interviews he talked about his feeling on the morality of the issue, because that was what everybody was talking about, obviously, and it's touched on in this film, absolutely. And before becoming a pilot for a while, when he was young, when he was going to college, he thought he wanted to be a doctor. So he was studying medicine, and his roommate, who was a doctor, told him once about some of his fellow classmates who had washed out of medical school and ended up in drug sales, and he said the reason that they couldn't make it was they got too emotionally sympathetic toward the patients, and so they were unable to give them the necessary medical care as a result. And he realized it's the same thing being a bomber pilot. When he was flying his first missions, he observed how they had some poor accuracy on their aim with bombs, so a lot of civilians were killed as a result. And that was really the first time he was looking and thinking, innocent people are dying, those aren't even soldiers, we're just killing civilians. But then he remembered that doctor telling him that, and that made him realize morality can't really enter into it. My job as a bomber pilot is to drop the bombs, to fulfill my mission, and there's no such thing as morality in war. It's just you can't think about that, and so he was able to sleep clearly because of that. I think looking back, movies made during or shortly after World War II, from a modern perspective, people look back and say, oh, this was propaganda, it was so pro-American that it's almost unrealistic. But I think that's a very narrow-minded view, and if you look deeper into the World War II movies made during and shortly after the war, you see that they weren't afraid to confront the tough topics and the difficult moral issues which, you know, Americans were facing during the war. Yeah, that's a good point. The moral issues that were presented in the newspapers, that the soldiers were facing, that their families were facing, and the reality of the fact that this movie isn't particularly about the making of the atomic bomb. That's very true. Like Oppenheimer is, or there's another classic film from the 40s that's more about that. This is about the soldiers, particularly the pilots, who are involved with the dropping of the bomb, which is basically the same moral issue. But the idea, could this horrifically deadly bomb sort of end future warfare? Now, it didn't, but the good thing is, looking back, seeing how horrifically deadly it is, is that the two atomic bombs dropped during World War II are the only time that atomic bombs have been used. Right. Basically, ever since then, all the important military powers of the world have been threatening each other with nuclear warfare, but that's the only time it's actually been done, because America proved just how deadly it is. We have more Cold Wars now because of that. But I think the most unflinching moment, well, there are a couple of really unflinching moments in the movie, the first being when the general presents this concept to Paul. He gives him a little... A buzzer. A buzzer, yeah, to press, and he says, if you could press this buzzer and end the war immediately... Saving millions of lives. But you would kill 100,000 innocent people. Would you do it? And he thinks about it for a moment, and then he presses it. And I think that really reflects... That moment is probably a Hollywood fabrication, but it reflects the fact that decades later, even when he was very old and he'd seen all the ramifications of what happened in Japan, you know, decades of the fact that there was the horrible nuclear damage, but Paul Tibbets in real life was still committed to the idea that that was the right thing to do at the time. Japan started it. But more importantly, people on both sides would have continued to die if he didn't end that conflict. Right. Around the same time the atomic bomb was being developed, they were planning this mass Allied invasion of Japan, and then some people were doing statistics like how many casualties they thought there would be, and it was just millions of soldiers' lives that were going to be lost. It was just an overwhelming amount of casualties and loss of life. And just during the year, like 1944 to 1945, just like the last real year of the war, there were like a million casualties on our side in the war with Japan. Just during that last year was the bulk of deaths. So it was just becoming so horrific. And Japan wouldn't listen to reason and didn't want to settle. So he said several times, I would do it again if it had to be done to end the war. And what's an interesting thing is the whole moral question often comes down to like, did you have to drop it over a populated area? All you really needed to do was show them that you had this, that you could use this weapon like we were talking about. What do we do now? We just threaten each other with them. But we had to drop two. Yeah. The first one, which I'm a little unclear on exactly how many people were killed by it. No one's positive because they're unsure exactly how many people were in the city at the time. In the film they say 80,000. And that probably is what they said on the radio at the time. Somewhere in that area, let's say like 80,000 to 100,000 people. And if you look at photographs from above like Hiroshima before and after, it's wild. It's like nothing is there anymore. Because not only the bomb, but then the firestorm that followed like burned down what was left of the city. And it still didn't make an impression or not enough of an impression because then we had to go and bomb Nagasaki before they would finally surrender. Unconditional surrender, yeah. So that does show it. But the contrast to that, that's the bold side saying I'm unafraid to do this. But the other side is seeing how it deep down does torture Paul in the moment when his wife, having no idea what it is that he's developing at Wendover, is looking at their sleeping children and says that watching them sleep makes her sad because she thinks of all the children who might be being killed by bombs in the war. And he just snaps at her saying don't ever say anything like that again to me. Because he's a father, he's a sensitive, compassionate person and he knows innocent people are dying because of the war. And he says like what kind of a world would be if we don't end this war. And he believes that. To his dying day, Colonel Tibbets or General Tibbets eventually believed that. But that doesn't mean that there wasn't some guilt associated. And to bring this story to life, they had to have some really great actors. So in the role of Colonel Tibbets they had Robert Taylor. In what was considered one of his most powerful roles to date. Many people really noticed what a great actor he was. And this is, you know, he made his start in the mid-30s as a very, you know, like a glamour boy. A very pretty young man. Often times being in lighter romantic comedy films after his sort of breakout role in Camille, which was pretty dramatic. As you see with quite a few actors, his first couple of roles that really got him out there were actually quite dramatic. And then he kind of settled into this just kind of typical, you know, handsome leading man. Yeah, sort of formulaic. The perfect profile. But yeah, later on, like after the war I think he was able to transition. He had been very active in the war, he served a lot. And you see that in him. He's aged a lot since the, you know, early 40s. Yeah, absolutely. So although he looks older than 29, older than Tibbets actually looked at the time. I think it's very appropriate to have a man who looks a little world weary. Yeah. Because Tibbets is in the middle of a war and it's tough and he is weaned down. And the amazing thing about making biopics when the person is still alive is that you can have that person's input. Yes. Colonel Tibbets was very involved in making this film. And when he and Robert Taylor met for the first time, they found they had a lot in common. They both enjoyed shooting and they were both flyers. Because Robert Taylor was actually a Navy flying instructor during the war. So I think that really gives him a very realistic... Yeah, he knew what it was to be a pilot and to serve his country. That he could draw on his real-life experiences in the war. He's not just an actor, he had really gone through that. He was familiar with that. So it's a very real part for him. Now, a lot of movies are very male-centered. Sometimes not even having female characters as they're all about combat. Interestingly, this movie has very little combat. Almost none. That's true. Instead, it's about training. A lot of it on the home front. And to give it this perspective, showing how... The challenge is for the wives and children as well. The film is actually narrated by his wife, Lucy. Played by Eleanor Parker. Who gives a very deep emotional performance. Showing the conflict which she faces, especially during the time in Wendover. She wants to support her husband. She wants to be a good military wife. Yet, on the other hand, she has two children. Her husband hasn't been there for most of the time. He wasn't there when she gave birth to either child. And then when they finally are living together for the longest extended time. In Wendover. She's facing really rough conditions. And she doesn't mind that so much as the change she sees in Paul. It really disturbs her to see how he is just so harsh and strict about things. She wants to defend him at first. With friends saying he's going overboard. No, no, he's just doing his job. But over time she starts to think he is just on a power trip. I've put some of the blame on her friend. She's very close, she's like a sister. Saying that to her, you know. There's a seed of doubt planted in her mind. Marge and her, Marge's husband, Harry. Who is Paul's best friend. But even the closest group of these people have no idea what he's doing. And what they're doing. They know they're preparing to drop some kind of bomb. But nobody suspects just how important it is. It's kind of standard Hollywood style. Especially in something this dramatic, this intense. To put in some kind of light things. One of the only comedic moments in the film. Is that he has to explain to her when he first brings her to Wendover. Who these men in the white suits are. They're the atomic engineers, the scientists. So he says, well they're sanitation workers. And then later on finds that she's called one of them into the house to fix their sink. It's like, that's a Hollywood thing. That really happened. That was crazy to me when I read that. She actually dragged this poor guy in to unplug the drain. It's just, you can't make these things up, you know. Fact is, not only stranger, but sometimes funnier than stranger. Yes, that's true. So they drew on that. And a great combination of a lot of the other military men you see. Are also based on real people. Such as Major Uwanda. Played by James Whitmore. Alongside characters who are sort of fabricated. Or a combination of multiple characters. Like the main general. He wasn't the name of a real person. And that interaction at the beginning. Where he gets into that little confrontation with that general. That was based on something that really happened to him as well. Yes. Now the interesting thing is. In the film, the general wins the argument, right? In real life, he actually acquiesced. And they flew the mission at 20,000 feet. I found that interesting. That is interesting. I think for the dramatic purposes of the story. It worked better that he just kind of got into a fuss with them. And he remained his enemy. I think it's interesting that what inspired this movie. Was concerns in the military. At the high divorce rates. Particularly in the Air Force. With the dangerous flight pilots. Because it was such a high stress job. It put a great strain on marriages. Relationships. Often times with, as we see. At the beginning of the movie. Yes, it is wartime. But Tibbets says, I haven't seen my wife in two years. He's never even met his son. And then just when they're planning a little short weekend getaway. He's called to do some other mission. And then when they are together. They might as well not be. It almost puts more of a strain on their relationship than when they were apart. Constantly. Oh, I have to go. Can't you have one meal at home? No, I have to go. Where are you going? He can't tell her. I told you, it's none of your business, Lucy. So she just feels like she's not part of his life at all. So that's really the reason why this movie was made about a real person. And it focused on his wife and children as well. So that you could see the impact it had on their relationship. And their whole family. And because it is, I think, a very realistic depiction of World War II. It really has that spirit of the 1940s. There's talk about gas rationing. And the clothes that the women wear really reflect the kind of simple clothes. Clothes which military wives would have worn. My outfit is inspired by Lucy's general style when she's around the house. But particularly one outfit where she has a straight pencil skirt. A large belt. Sort of a plain blouse with a cardigan over it. And a little scarf around her neck. A couple of times when she meets Paul at the airport. She's wearing a little beret like this. My outfit is inspired by a costume which Lucy's friend Marge wears. In the first scene in which we see her in Wendover. It is a dark colored pencil skirt with a matching sweater. And a cardigan over it. But she still shows her feminine style with a necklace and matching earrings. And in a few other scenes she wears a small hat. The history of World War II is such an important chapter in American history. Particularly of the 20th century. And world history. It shaped the world. It shaped warfare after that. It shaped so many cultures in Europe and in Asia. So it's really important to understand not only the textbook events. But the culture. The idea and the feelings of America behind that. And it's harder to figure out how people were thinking and feeling during the War of 1812. Or the Civil War or the Revolutionary War. We can read the writings of the time. And explore perhaps through the literature and song. But of the more modern conflicts. Like World War II really being the earliest. We can see vivid examples. Whether in Technicolor or black and white. But with sound and up close and personal depictions. Of real events. Real military conflicts. Real places and real people. And see exactly what went into these events. And there are some great documentaries from this time. But even more impacting and more palatable for newbies to the genre. Are these movies which blend fact with a more palatable and more entertaining fiction. Using great actors. Some of the best in both the lead roles and the supporting roles. And it really just makes you want to find out more about World War II. See more of the work of these actors. And just contemplate the moral issues of warfare. As war never really goes away. There's always some military conflict. But to consider what America's place should be in the world. As a military power. A peacekeeper. And to see the real events of these earth changing scenarios. I think it's sad in our culture today. That looking back on events like World War II. I feel like we tend to kind of take a negative view of it. From obviously war is terrible. We should take a negative view of it. But like America's. Like you say people say well this is propaganda. I just feel like there's this kind of anti-American feeling. Almost looking at World War II. And people focus so much on the destruction. And how horrible. Like a lot of people think the atomic bomb was so terrible. And obviously it is terrible. But I think it's so important to look at things like this. And to really see what went into it. And how we were really just trying to avoid further bloodshed. Because the main focus at that point was just end the conflict. Make the war shorter. Because it had gone on for so long. Then the conflict in Europe had ended. And there was still this ongoing conflict with Japan. And it just needed to end. There were many different titles which they had when working on this movie. Many of them a lot more specific about Tibbets in particular. But ultimately I think it's very appropriate that they chose the title Above and Beyond. Because ultimately this movie isn't just about Paul Tibbets. And it isn't just about the dropping of the atomic bomb. It's about the fact that in World War II. And in every other type of American history. There have been those brave patriots. Who were willing to sacrifice their actual lives. As well as the happiness in their personal lives. To go above and beyond the call of duty. This movie is available to rent or to buy on streaming platforms. Such as Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and several other noteworthy streaming platforms. It's also available in a nicely remastered copy on DVD. Which you can get on Amazon, on Barnes and Noble and even on eBay. American patriotism is something which was very carefully upheld during the classic era. Films like Above and Beyond really show the spirit of patriotism. That so many men especially in the service had. To sacrifice their lives and their well-being for our country. Join us next time as we talk about a very unique film. All about a young woman who decides against all odds to serve her country politically. Thank you for watching. Goodbye.