"Appointment at Liege" is a very good episode of "12 O'Clock High" because it talks about something we seldom like to talk about...the psychological effects of war. Most films and TV shows have a very detached and antiseptic view of war...and this one shows two men who are driven over the edge by it.
Major Gus Denver was away and his crew went on a bombing mission without him. The plane was shot down and all the men were lost....and Gus' reaction to this is strange. Instead of grieving or acting scared or angry, Gus is gung ho about returning to action. What his commander doesn't know at first is that Gus is determined to get himself (and his new crew) killed to somehow try to make amends for losing his previous crew.
I appreciated how Gus SEEMED healthy and was praised by General Savage's superiors, Savage could tell the man just wasn't in his right mind. I also appreciated how one of Gus' crew members literally lost it and had to be restrained because he lost him mind.... BOTH of which are possible reactions to the hellish conditions in war. Overall, a very realistic and appreciated episode due to excellent writing and acting.
By the way, this is NOT a major complaint, but like too many movies and TV shows, some of the characters sport hair that isn't even close to realistic for the era. Nancy Kovack's hairdo is strictly 1960s...and not even close to regulation hair as well.
Major Gus Denver was away and his crew went on a bombing mission without him. The plane was shot down and all the men were lost....and Gus' reaction to this is strange. Instead of grieving or acting scared or angry, Gus is gung ho about returning to action. What his commander doesn't know at first is that Gus is determined to get himself (and his new crew) killed to somehow try to make amends for losing his previous crew.
I appreciated how Gus SEEMED healthy and was praised by General Savage's superiors, Savage could tell the man just wasn't in his right mind. I also appreciated how one of Gus' crew members literally lost it and had to be restrained because he lost him mind.... BOTH of which are possible reactions to the hellish conditions in war. Overall, a very realistic and appreciated episode due to excellent writing and acting.
By the way, this is NOT a major complaint, but like too many movies and TV shows, some of the characters sport hair that isn't even close to realistic for the era. Nancy Kovack's hairdo is strictly 1960s...and not even close to regulation hair as well.
