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-   -   Heads Up - "Strategic Air Command" on TV (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/653438-heads-up-strategic-air-command-tv.html)

tdracer 30th Jun 2023 16:58

Started to watch on Prime last night - but streaming wasn't working right for whatever reason (sound dropouts, pauses in the video) that a simple system boot didn't solve. I'll try again tonight.
I did watch long enough to see Jimmy Stewart stare up at a B-36 making a low pass - what a SOUND!

treadigraph 30th Jun 2023 17:49

I got it on DVD and watch it every now and then. I seem to recall reading (on PPRuNe?) that Jimmy Stewart wasn't happy about it being released on VHS/DVD for some reason, glad it was.

Never seen a B-36... how I wish I could hear one fly!

albatross 30th Jun 2023 19:30

Interesting read:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2968/060006008

chevvron 30th Jun 2023 19:33

As I said, I saw one over Chesham (Bucks) heading towards Bovingdon in about 1954. It must have been that date because I was only 5 years old, didn't know much about 'aeroplanes' and we moved house next year. As Bovingdon was only about 4,800ft, I'm pretty sure it didn't land there; I don't remember the noise but I rushed indoors and told my older brother (who was keen on joining the ATC) about it and he hit me saying I was lying!

longer ron 1st Jul 2023 07:49

I think Strategic Air Command is an ok - ish sort of film for us aviation saddos,I always liked James Stewart anyway :)
One of the things I dislike about the film is June Allyson as the wife - that whiney gratey voice just annoys me LOL :)

Alan Baker 1st Jul 2023 09:08

June Allyson pretty much made a career playing whiney gratey voiced wives, often opposite James Stewart but also with Alan Ladd in another aviation saga, The McConnell Story.

Timelord 1st Jul 2023 13:17

The scene that made me laugh was where Jimmy Stewart was explaining to his wife that she shouldn’t be there but then said “ when I see you in that nightgown I change my mind”. The nightgown was loose, ankle length, buttoned up to the neck and with long sleeves. Enough to turn any man’s head.

antisthenes 2nd Jul 2023 08:34

"There are many things I'd say about or call the B-58, but monstrosity wouldn't be one of them ("deathtrap" would be appropriate - the accident rate was horrid)." Common misconception about the B-58, if you take away the accidents in development (not unsurprising for such a quantum leap in technology), the accident rate was perfectly acceptable.
The aircraft could and should have continued service well into the 1970s.

longer ron 2nd Jul 2023 08:40


Originally Posted by Timelord (Post 11459985)
The scene that made me laugh was where Jimmy Stewart was explaining to his wife that she shouldn’t be there but then said “ when I see you in that nightgown I change my mind”. The nightgown was loose, ankle length, buttoned up to the neck and with long sleeves. Enough to turn any man’s head.

Indeed TL - I laughed at that scene myself :)

longer ron 2nd Jul 2023 08:43


Originally Posted by Alan Baker (Post 11459866)
June Allyson pretty much made a career playing whiney gratey voiced wives, often opposite James Stewart but also with Alan Ladd in another aviation saga, The McConnell Story.

Yep I had forgotten she was in that one as well Alan,have not seen that for many years.

Haraka 2nd Jul 2023 09:50

"]The McConnell Story."
a.k.a "Tiger in the Sky" in the .U.K. .


Asturias56 2nd Jul 2023 10:42


Originally Posted by antisthenes (Post 11460330)
"There are many things I'd say about or call the B-58, but monstrosity wouldn't be one of them ("deathtrap" would be appropriate - the accident rate was horrid)." Common misconception about the B-58, if you take away the accidents in development (not unsurprising for such a quantum leap in technology), the accident rate was perfectly acceptable.
The aircraft could and should have continued service well into the 1970s.


It could have (in fact it lasted to 1970) but it was horribly dependent on refuelling support and apparently was extremely expensive in maintenance. And high speed at altitude wasn't much use by then.

bobward 2nd Jul 2023 11:03

I read years ago that a B58 cost more than it's weight in gold, at 'then' prices.

I stood alongside a B36 at Castle Air Museum a few years ago. It really was an 'aloominum' overcast. They also had an inert nuke alongside it.
Looking at it's size, you would need a B36 to carry it!

Didn't June Allyson play wife to Jimmy S in the Glenn Miller Story too?

albatross 2nd Jul 2023 13:58

And just to make life even better. “Winchester 73” was on TV last evening.
IMHO the best “Western” Jimmy ever made.
Read somewhere he wore the same “Cowboy Hat” in every western he ever made.

longer ron 2nd Jul 2023 14:19


Originally Posted by bobward (Post 11460386)
I stood alongside a B36 at Castle Air Museum a few years ago. It really was an 'aloominum' overcast. They also had an inert nuke alongside it.
Looking at it's size, you would need a B36 to carry it!

Yes indeed Bob - we visited there approx 6 years ago and had a good shufti around and under the B36 :eek:


Originally Posted by bobward (Post 11460386)
Didn't June Allyson play wife to Jimmy S in the Glenn Miller Story too?

Aaaargh - yes she did,havent seen that film for many many years LOL

longer ron 2nd Jul 2023 14:25


Originally Posted by albatross (Post 11460476)
Read somewhere he wore the same “Cowboy Hat” in every western he ever made.

He also rode the same Horse in 17 movies - here is a short extract from an article in npr.org (Hollywood Hoofbeats)



James Stewart rode a horse called Pie in 17 westerns, and he tried very, very hard to buy him from his owner, a woman named Stevie Meyers. And she wouldn't sell him, but she did let Stewart ride him in 17 films. And they just became so attuned to each other that in one film, "The Far Country," Stewart had developed such a rapport with him that he was able to get the horse to do something at liberty all by himself when the trainer was not around. They were on this location. The trainer wasn't on the set. And the horse needed to walk from one end of a street to another with no ropes on him or anything, and Stewart just went up to him, he said he whispered in his ear and told him what he needed him to do. And the horse did it. And everyone on the set was absolutely amazed, and Stewart just said, that was Pie. That's what he did. So he absolutely had an incredible bond with the horse.

megan 3rd Jul 2023 01:33


One of the things I dislike about the film is June Allyson as the wife - that whiney gratey voice just annoys me
Funny how we come up with our perceptions, saw the film when it first hit the screens as a very youthful teenager, fell in love with the lady as I found her voice had a husky sensual quality.

reynoldsno1 3rd Jul 2023 05:46

I'm with you Megan!

Flugplatz 3rd Jul 2023 19:58

SAC is also available on the Channel 4 app, in the film category

longer ron 6th Jul 2023 07:30


Originally Posted by Flugplatz (Post 11461357)
SAC is also available on the Channel 4 app, in the film category

Thanks for that info Fp - we watched it last night on the Ch4 website via Amazon Fire - and a lovely crisp copy it is too (blu ray I guess).
Have not seen it for some years and great to watch it in HD for the aircraft scenes,laughed again at the nightdress scene as mentioned above :)

regards LR


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