Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Strategic Air Command Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 14, 2017

Anthony Mann's "Strategic Air Command" (1955) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. The only bonus feature on the disc is an original theatrical trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

What do you think?

There is footage in this film that rivals some of the breathtaking material that you would see in the various big Cinerama productions from the 1950s. The film was shot in VistaVision but with a very similar awareness of the format’s native aesthetic qualities.

Retired pilot Dutch Holland (Jimmy Stewart, It's a Wonderful Life) is visited by old friend Gen. Rusty Castle (James Millican) and told that SAC wants him back. Rather reluctantly, Dutch ditches his baseball career and tells his wife Sally (June Allyson, Too Young To Kiss) to pack their bags.

At Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Dutch begins a series of grueling training exercises that make him wonder if he can still do the job that he was brought for -- he has no trouble with the mechanical information but his physical and especially mental condition make him feel very uncomfortable. Nevertheless, he completes the training course and soon after begins flying a B-36 bomber. Around the same time, however, Sally also becomes pregnant, and the more time Dutch spends flying, the more she begins to worry about the future of their marriage. Eventually, Dutch begins flying a big Boeing B-47 Stratojet that could carry atomic bombs, but as he becomes more and more comfortable with his duties a serious shoulder injury presents him with a difficult dilemma.

A published story by Beirne Lay Jr. is credited as an inspiration for Anthony Mann’s film, but it is probably fair to speculate that Stewart was just as influential, possibly even more, in giving the film its final plot and structure. His big military experience must have been invaluable for the excellent aerial photography and on-board detailed descriptions of the planes and their capabilities.

The film essentially moves in two different directions at the same time, though, and some of the overlapping is a bit shaky. The focus of attention of course is on the aging baseball player who rediscovers his passion for flying but also comes to realize that the evolution of military technology brings entirely new responsibilities. Stewart is very good for the role because he basically puts a human face on the pilot and it becomes very easy to understand the pressure that he deals with while he also tries to be a good husband. On the other hand, in certain parts there is a tendency to overemphasize the technical material and the film quickly becomes as dry as an archival instructional documentary. The factual information can be very interesting, but when these switches occur it is quite clear that the film targets a very different audience.

Ultimately, this is a film that should appeal primarily to long-time admirers of Stewart’s work and viewers interested in military planes and technology from the Cold War-era. Everyone else will likely walk away from it slightly underwhelmed.

Strategic Air Command Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Anthony Mann's Strategic Air Command arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

The film was shot in VistaVision and ideally it should very vibrant and lush on Blu-ray. The film does not appear to have undergone an extensive restoration, but the current master is actually quite good. Clarity, in particular, could range from good to very good, while during the daylight footage depth is surprisingly pleasing. The best news is that there are no traces of past or recent digital corrections and as a result there are no alarming anomalies. Colors are stable and healthy, though there is no doubt in my mind that saturation should be better. The existing range of nuances is actually quite decent, but during the darker footage some light black crush can be spotted. Image stability is excellent. Finally, a few tiny specks can be spotted, but there are no distracting debris, cuts, large damage marks, or stains. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Strategic Air Command Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I am unsure what type of remastering work might have been done when the master was prepared, but in terms of clarity and depth there are no obvious anomalies to report. Also, there are no traces of aging, such as background pops and hiss, crackle, or distortions. Overall balance is good.

Strategic Air Command Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original U.S. trailer for Strategic Air Command. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Strategic Air Command Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I am pretty sure that Anthony Mann's Strategic Air Command was never officially released on DVD in the United States, so this recent Blu-ray release from Olive Films is most welcome. I found the film to be surprisingly informative but a bit dry at times, which is why I assume that it will likely resonate well with history buffs. If you are interested in seeing it because you like Jimmy Stewart's work, I would say that a blind-buy is not appropriate for reasons that I have highlighted in the review. RECOMMENDED (but primarily to history buffs).