User Reviews

Staging the acting scenes live (with filmed material for airplanes and outdoor footage) adds to the impact of the drama in this "based on a true story" episode of TV's "Climax!" series.

Michael Rennie is perfectly cast as a stiff, no-nonsense (and hard to like) Brisith officer from the RAF sent for training with an American crew on flying an airborne refueling tanking. Emphasis is on the dangerous fuel they're carrying, highly flammable, and the story stresses friction between the Brit and the Yanks.

Adding human interest is Patricia Cutts (RIP, another of so many show biz suicides) as Rennie's wife, as supportive and friendly as all-get-out. The screenplay cleverly manages to include her input to the way the frightening mission turns out, a touch I really appreciated.

A story speaking of Air Force pilots in charge of flying aboard giant air crafts made to refuel other huge bombardiers whilst they are not on the ground. Of course, much of the story doesn't take place in the sky but at the base, a good pretext for a character study, relationship between pilots and other officers. The usual scheme from this angle, including the family ( wives and kids) element. You could have the same with a topic about astronauts or submarine officers between two missions into the depths. It seems to be inspired from actual events. Nothing new actually, except, I repeat, that this story doesn't speak of bombardier's crews but tank air crafts ones, as it could have spoken about fire fighting planes pilots. Al Salmi and Mike Rennie in roles where they would have never been together in a regular big screen feature. After watching it,I realize that's more a document than a thrilling product. You can waste it. No problem.