The Court-Martial Of Billy Mitchell (1955)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047956/



The true story of the U.S. Army General who was first demoted and then court martialed for pushing and arguing in favor for the formation of an independent Air Force in the period after World War I.

This was at the time when the U.S. Armed Forces was only composed of the Navy, the Army and the Marines.

The Pentagon didn't exist.

The Department of Defense was then called the War Department.

The Navy had all the military and political clout and influence in Washington.

They still believed that all future wars will be fought and won not by boots on the ground, but by ships and their 6 inch guns.

Directed by one of the best American directors ever to work during the 1940's to 1960's, Otto Preminger;

starring Gary Cooper and a cast of little known actors at the time during the early years of their careers: Peter Graves, Rod Steiger, Jack Lord, Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched), Darren McGavin.

This is a powerful film about the man who is rightfully called the Father of the U.S. Air Force.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchell

A final note:

In 1924, Mitchell also predicted in a 324 pages report, future war with Japan which included details of attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan. Of course he was ignored by his superiors.

By the way, one of the 12 Army Generals who presided over Mitchell's court martial as judges was Major General (2-stars) Douglas McArthur.

5/5