Ball Player Takes To The Air On LHC

In Director Anthony Mann’s 1955 release Strategic Air Command, Jimmy Stewart is Robert “Dutch” Holland, a baseball player for the St Louis Cardinals under owner Tom Doyle (Jay C Flippen) who along with his wife Sally Holland (June Allyson), daughter of Pastor Father Dr Thorne (James Bell) and  Mrs Thorne (Rosemary Decamp)  is enjoying Spring Training in Florida and has just signed a lucrative contract. 

What he doesn’t know is that his Reserve Commission in the United States Air Force that he retired from as a B-29 Bomber pilot and Lt Colonel is about to interrupt the peace of his baseball career when his old friend General Rusty Castle (James Millican) shows up at the stadium and later at the Holland Home by invitation to their housewarming party to tell Dutch that he is being recalled to Air Force duty. Dutch argues vehemently against it based on his age, not having been near a plane in nearly seven years and never a jet, Then there is his baseball career. But he is told there is now way around it as the decision comes from General Castle’s boss General Hawkes (Frank Lovejoy) who says no exceptions to everyone in Dutch’s Classification being recalled.

Upon reporting for duty, he can see this is not the same Air Force he retired from. But he is reunited with his B-29 Flight Engineer Sgt Bible (M.A.S.H.’s Harry Morgan).

The schedule Lt Col Holland is now required to keep and even the readiness to report for duty anytime even on his off days and a B-36 crash in Greenland just as Sally has their daughter Hope and he joins the new B-47 wing begins to take a toll on the relationship. Especially when Dutch has the chance to get back to Civilian life and baseball at the end of his 21 month tenure and the family was back in Florida getting to watch some Cardinals baseball but he chooses on his own to remain in the Air Force.

But a shoulder injury that he suffered in the plane crash but never saw the Flight Surgeon about nearly costs him another plane and the SAC (Strategic Air Command) is forced to release him.

If you’re a military aircraft fan, a Jimmy Stewart Fan or a baseball fan, you’ll really enjoy this full color feature! Below are some clips from it.

 

I’ll see you next time here on Losh-Man’s Hollywood Classics!