Command Decision (1948)
Release Date: December 23, 1948
Directed by: Sam Wood
Studio: MGM
Costarring:
Walter Pidgeon
Van Johnson
Brian Donlevy
Available on DVD from Warner Home Video
DearMrGable.com’s Movie of the Month, August 2012
10th Anniversary Celebration Movie of the Week, January 14, 2019
Gable is K.C. Dennis, a and American General in England during World War II. His duty is to plan bombing missions over Germany, at the loss of hundreds of men. Despite objections from fellow soldiers and Congressmen, he continues his mission because he believes it is key to the U.S. victory over Germany.
Quote-able Gable
“You better drive around to the other side of the hangar.” first line
“I have no time for correspondence. Tell public relations to handle it.”‘
“You’re not pretty enough for a nurse.”
“It was my decision and I made it!”
“Sir, if we don’t finish the job now, the men in the planes we’ve lost so far will have been lost for nothing!”
“Someday you’re going to wisecrack yourself right into the infantry, sergeant.”
“Woody, if I have to fight you in order to fight the Germans, you don’t leave me any choice.”
“Wars are lost by waiting.”
“There’s no room in this job for a personal slant.”
“There’s only one thing you can do for them–make every one of them count. See that they’re not used up for nothing. Maybe you can keep their kid brothers from coming over here.”
“Good-bye, sergeant.” last line
Behind the Scenes
Based on a popular play written by William Wister Haines.
The only Gable film in which there is no love story. The cast was entirely male.
Robert Taylor was originally cast but dropped out during pre-production and was replaced by Walter Pidgeon.
The film received bad reviews, many stating it was “too talky” and appeared to be like someone just filmed a play, rather than a film adaption of a play. It flopped at the box office as well, earning only $3.7 million globally.
MGM received thousands of letters from angry female Gable fans complaining that there was no romance in the picture.