Introduction

12 O’Clock High is an American military drama television series set in World War II.

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It was originally broadcast on ABC-TV for two-and-one-half TV seasons from September 1964 through January 1967 and was based on the 1949 film of the same name.

The series was a co-production of 20th Century Fox Television (Fox had also produced the movie) and QM Productions (one of their few non-law enforcement series).

Outline

The series follows the missions of the fictitious 918th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the US Army Air Forces (USAAF), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, stationed at Archbury Field, England (a fictitious air base).

Twelve O’Clock High Series

• Twelve O’Clock High (1949).
• Twelve O’Clock High: Special Edition (2007).
• 12 O’Clock High: Series 01 (1964-1965).
• 12 O’Clock High: Series 02 (1965-1966).
• 12 O’Clock High: Series 03 (1966-1967).

Trivia

• This show is one of the two QM shows not to display a copyright notice at the beginning, but rather at the end (the other was A Man Called Sloane) and the only one not to display the standard “A QM Production” closing card on the closing credits.
• For the first season, many of the characters from the book and 1949 movie were retained, including Brigadier General Frank Savage, Major Harvey Stovall, Major Cobb, Doc Kaiser, and General Pritchard, albeit played by different actors from in the motion picture.
• In addition to these characters, several other infrequently reappearing characters were introduced, including Captain (later Major) Joseph “Joe” Gallagher, who appeared in two episodes (episodes 1 and 24).
• For the second season, most of the supporting cast from the first season was replaced, with the exception of Major Stovall, Doc Kaiser, and an occasional appearance by General Pritchard.
• Other actors who did reappear after the first season played other characters.
• The first two seasons were filmed in black-and-white, as ABC did not mandate prime time shows to be in colour until the 1966-1967 season, but it also allowed the inclusion of actual World War II combat footage supplied by the US Air Force and the library of 20th Century Fox movies.
• For the third season, the TV series was filmed in colour, but this season only ran for 17 episodes, with the series being cancelled in mid-season.

Production & Filming Details

• Creator(s): Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr.
• Producer(s): Quinn Martin, Frank Glicksman, and William D. Gordon.
• Music: Dominic Frontiere.
• Production: 20th Century Fox Television.
• Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox Television.
• Release Date: 18 September 1964 to 13 January 1967.
• Running Time: 50-51 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqs26cuPaEk