I have no idea why this is being called Brink of Hell... it's true title, as seen in theatres in 1956 is "Toward the Unknown"... I know... I was there.
I've read several of the reviews of this movie and you can certainly ascertain the age of some reviewers. I lived this period of time growing up as an Air Force kid and being around these planes and pilots and the politics of the day. So let me address a couple of points...
First, what makes this movie so good is the fact the "acting" does not seem like acting at all. For instance, Virginia Leith's performance as the love interest to William Holden is very much how real life actually is.
Why is this not on DVD? ... because the Holden family, after his death felt this movie did not uphold his image properly due to him playing someone who signed a confession as a North Korean POW. Small minded morons as this is one of Holden's very best and most accurate performances. Lloyd Nolan's performance as the commanding General of the flight test centre is spot on.
Having lived in my early teens during this golden age of aviation I can tell you this is the most accurate aviation movie I have ever seen and with the most accurately portrayed people (aside from the General's aide which was just a tad too silly). This movie is how flying was and still is in many cases. No huge explosions or shoot em ups... no super heroes.
I'm an ex military pilot and have seen just about every aviation movie made... Top Gun is a joke... the Right Stuff is a cartoon and a total injustice to the book.
This movie is how it was... a true time capsule.
I've read several of the reviews of this movie and you can certainly ascertain the age of some reviewers. I lived this period of time growing up as an Air Force kid and being around these planes and pilots and the politics of the day. So let me address a couple of points...
First, what makes this movie so good is the fact the "acting" does not seem like acting at all. For instance, Virginia Leith's performance as the love interest to William Holden is very much how real life actually is.
Why is this not on DVD? ... because the Holden family, after his death felt this movie did not uphold his image properly due to him playing someone who signed a confession as a North Korean POW. Small minded morons as this is one of Holden's very best and most accurate performances. Lloyd Nolan's performance as the commanding General of the flight test centre is spot on.
Having lived in my early teens during this golden age of aviation I can tell you this is the most accurate aviation movie I have ever seen and with the most accurately portrayed people (aside from the General's aide which was just a tad too silly). This movie is how flying was and still is in many cases. No huge explosions or shoot em ups... no super heroes.
I'm an ex military pilot and have seen just about every aviation movie made... Top Gun is a joke... the Right Stuff is a cartoon and a total injustice to the book.
This movie is how it was... a true time capsule.