the Gallant Hours

a 1960 movie starring James Cagney as admiral Halsey. its focus is on the Guadalcanal campaign. Halsey is called in to relieve admiral Ghormley as area commander. as thing go bad here a new pitcher takes over a difficult job. it also give Japanese opinions on this battle. including admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who was executed in this battle. Halsey visits the marines on Guadalcanal as a moral booster. Yamamoto decided to do the same for his ground forces. but a mishandled radio message giving Yamamoto’s entire itinerary falls into the hands of US code breakers.
The 339th Fighter Squadron of the 347th Fighter Group, 13th Air Force, was assigned the mission, since only their P-38 Lightning aircraft possessed the range to intercept and engage. they intercepted Yamamoto’s plane and shot him down. a daring daylight 315 mile raid. taking out Japans top commander. [operation vengence](operation vengence)
If like combat blood gore guts action footage you won’t like this. there is none. it focus’s on the strain of command and life and death decisions made by military leaders of all nations during war.
BTY im trying to obtain a DVD copy but no luck so far.
[[URL=“http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053849/plotsummary”]the gallant hours](the gallant hours)

“There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.” Fleet Admiral William F. ‘Bull’ Halsey Jr.

The Gallant Hours - song, opening and closing scenes from the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPjmta8NYdI

I think that VHS tapes of The Gallant Hours are available from time to time at Amazon.com and eBay.com. But no DVD format that I am aware of yet. I think that you can request that a DVD edition of the movie be made available at Amazon.com and if enough interest is shown by customers they will make known to the studio that there is a demand for it.

I have a VHS tape version of the movie - I like it.

I also have The Wings of Eagles - I find the second half of the movie that takes place during WWII to be very moving. John Wayne stars as Cmdr. Frank “Spig” Wead.

http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Eagles-John-Wayne/dp/B000F0UUJQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198467875&sr=1-2

Frank Wilber “Spig” Wead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Wead](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Isoroku_Yamamoto)

Frank Wilber “Spig” Wead (October 24, 1895 in Illinois - November 15, 1947) U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II…

…Wead returned to the Navy during World War II and helped integrate the use of escort carriers to support the main battle line and beach landings. Frank Wead died in 1947.

the music in gallant hours is very haunting to me. don’t know if that is traditional or made for the movie. I think Cagney did a steller performance here. it was more of a documentary but focued on 1 man which made it more enjoyable to watch. they didn’t add much of hollywood to it at all. they taped that youtube version right off the TV screen.
I don’t have a VCR anymore. mine was toasted in a lightning storm and DVD players are dirt cheap now.
I went back to A&E entainment to see if they have this in DVD. i recently ordered from them the 26 eposide of victory at sea on 4 DVD’s. here’s hoping.
I also had to hunt for another one that was hard to find but I got it. its called the cruel sea. all british. about a flower class corvette named compass rose that hunted Uboats in the atlantic. starring the late Jack Hawkins. this one was hard to locate period. in any format. I have a DVD library with about 45 WW2 movies. so far.
[the cruel sea](the cruel sea) there’s a video clip here.
isn’t that something??? I never knew Frank Wilber “Spig” Wead was a real character. and ive seen wings of eagles a 100 times !!! thanks for the info

The Gallant Hours - song, opening and closing scenes from the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPjmta8NYdI

I think that VHS tapes of The Gallant Hours are available from time to time at Amazon.com and eBay.com. But no DVD format that I am aware of yet. I think that you can request that a DVD edition of the movie be made available at Amazon.com and if enough interest is shown by customers they will make known to the studio that there is a demand for it.

I have a VHS tape version of the movie - I like it.

I also have The Wings of Eagles - I find the second half of the movie that takes place during WWII to be very moving. John Wayne stars as Cmdr. Frank “Spig” Wead.

http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Eagles-John-Wayne/dp/B000F0UUJQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198467875&sr=1-2

Frank Wilber “Spig” Wead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Wead

Frank Wilber “Spig” Wead (October 24, 1895 in Illinois - November 15, 1947) U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II…

…Wead returned to the Navy during World War II and helped integrate the use of escort carriers to support the main battle line and beach landings. Frank Wead died in 1947.

[/quote]

the music in gallant hours is very haunting to me. don’t know if that is traditional or made for the movie. I think Cagney did a steller performance here. it was more of a documentary but focued on 1 man which made it more enjoyable to watch. they didn’t add much of hollywood to it at all. they taped that youtube version right off the TV screen.
I don’t have a VCR anymore. mine was toasted in a lightning storm and DVD players are dirt cheap now.
I went back to A&E entainment to see if they have this in DVD. i recently ordered from them the 26 eposide of victory at sea on 4 DVD’s. here’s hoping.
I also had to hunt for another one that was hard to find but I got it. its called the cruel sea. all british. about a flower class corvette named compass rose that hunted Uboats in the atlantic. starring the late Jack Hawkins. this one was hard to locate period. in any format. I have a DVD library with about 45 WW2 movies. so far.
[[URL=“http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045659/”]the cruel sea](the cruel sea)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Isoroku_Yamamoto) there’s a video clip here.
isn’t that something??? I never knew Frank Wilber “Spig” Wead was a real character. and ive seen wings of eagles a 100 times !!! thanks for the info[/QUOTE]

You’re welcome :slight_smile:

Song - “The Gallant Hours Theme”.
Music and Lyrics by Ward Costello (the actor who portrays Captain “Blacky” Black)
Performed by Roger Wagner Chorale.

From the song:
“I knew a lad who went to sea and left the shore behind him. I knew him well the lad was me and now I cannot find him.”

Closing statement:
“There are no great men. There are only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.”

so it was made for the Movie. thanks. amazon does not carry in DVD. only VHS. TCM dropped it from their inventory. they aired it. same at A&E history channel and BIO.
BUT i did find a DVD copy at some place called ‘red carpet DVD’. I know nothing about them. so I emailed and asked them if it was new or used. there’s a ton of pirate video’s out there…

Thanks for the tip :slight_smile:

Would that be at Red Carpet Video … I take it that there is a back door to get in.
www.redcarpetvideo.com

I get a forbidden message when I try to access the site.

Edited:

Well I guess this link works, but I don’t see any DVD’s:

http://www.redcarpetdvd.com/

your right. forbidden. but thats the wrong address. it:
http://www.redcarpetvideo.net/

here’s gallant hours:
[link](http://www.redcarpetvideo.net/gaho19dvdstj.html)
know anything about this outfit???

Beautiful - many thanks :slight_smile:

This is quite a find. The format says that it is playable worldwide. It looks good. Hopefully they have a decent amount in stock.

im waiting on their email reply. but i may be forced to roll the dice and take my chances…

“He who hesitates is lost” … :wink:

ill order it. and just hope its not a pirate copy.