The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
Directed by Otto Preminger. 100 mins (1955)
Gary Cooper - Col. Billy Mitchell
A dramatization of the American general and his court martial for publically complaining about High Command’s dismissal and neglect of the aerial fighting forces.
Also starring Charles Bickford, Ralph Bellamy, Rod Steiger, Elizabeth Montgomery, Jack Lord, Peter Graves and Darren McGavin.
Based on real events. Gen. Frank R. McCoy, one of the court-martial's judges, served as a pallbearer at Mitchell's funeral in 1935, ten years after the trial. The appearance of Major H. H. ("Hap") Arnold, played by Robert Brubaker in the film, is significant, for it was he who would authorize the famed Doolittle air attack on Tokyo in April 1942. The raid consisted of B-25 Mitchell bombers - named in honor of Billy Mitchell.
Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.
Tagline - He defied the army and navy . . . and they gave him a Court Martial!