Screaming Eagles (film)

Screaming Eagles

Original film poster
Directed by Charles F. Haas
Produced by Samuel Bischoff
David Diamond
Written by Virginia Kellogg
(story)
David Lang
Robert Presnell Jr.
Starring Tom Tryon
Jan Merlin
Jacqueline Beer
Music by Harry Sukman
Cinematography Harry Neumann
Edited by Robert S. Eisen
Distributed by Allied Artists
Release dates
 May 27, 1956 (U.S. release)
Running time
 79 min
Language English

Screaming Eagles is a 1956 black-and-white World War II film directed by Charles F. Haas and released by Allied Artists. It stars Tom Tryon, Jan Merlin and was the film debut of Jacqueline Beer a French Miss Universe 1954 runner up. The story is set during the night of the Normandy Invasion where the 101st Airborne Division jumps into France. The title of the film refers to the nickname of the Division, based on its shoulder sleeve insignia. The film is notable for its large cast of up-and-coming actors.

Plot

Prior to the Normandy landings three replacements are assigned to the 1st Platoon, "D" Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. Amongst them is Private Mason (Tom Tryon) who doesn't get along with his fellow paratroopers but is kept in the unit by his platoon commander Lt. Pauling (Jan Merlin).

Soon after the drop, Lt. Pauling is blinded and Mason learns how to be a paratrooper when he takes care of his Lieutenant.

Cast

Production

Parts of the film were filmed at Fort Benning, Georgia.[1] The technical advisers were Richard Haynes Case a D-Day veteran of the 101st [2] and Werner Klingler, a German film director who also had a role in the film. Case had also acted as an adviser to The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit in the same year.[3]

Jan Merlin recalled that originally he was supposed to play Private Mason due to his reputation for playing villains. As his character was to continually carry the blinded Lieutenant who was to have been played by the much taller Tom Tryon, the two agreed to switch their roles to make things easier.[4] As Tryon usually played heroes he welcomed the change in roles.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=26660&category=Notes
  2. ↑ http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rhcase.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.lvrj.com/news/17182096.html
  4. ↑ http://thethunderchild.com/Conventions/Virginia/Williamsburg/MerlinPeacemaker.html

External links

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