The High and the Mighty

Film historian Leonard Maltin calls this 1954 all-star opus “the granddaddy of all airborne disaster films,” and if it doesn't seem as impressive to today's viewers as it did to theatergoers 50 years ago, that's only because it's been ripped off so many times since. John Wayne, whose Batjac Productions made the movie, heads a sensational cast in the gripping story of a passenger flight that runs into serious trouble while en route from Hawaii to the mainland. Wayne plays an intrepid pilot haunted by a past tragedy but duty-bound to bring the plane down safely; Robert Stack is superb as his younger co-pilot; and a plethora of top-flight character actors and former stars--including Claire Trevor, Laraine Day, Paul Kelly, and Phil Harris--deliver equally effective performances. A super-slick production directed by the legendary William Wellman, The High and the Mighty has been out of circulation for many years, and it makes a triumphant DVD debut with a sparkling transfer and a slew of extras. Maltin, a human encyclopedia of vintage-movie knowledge, is joined by Wellman's son and several surviving cast members for a chatty commentary peppered with fascinating facts and anecdotes, some of which are repeated in the dozen or so featurettes--running from five to 20 minutes in length, and found on the supplemental disc--exploring various aspects of the production. A strong contender for best classic DVD of the year, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (E. Hulse)