Back home

Flat Top

12 votes

Producing House

A rock hard commander trains Navy Carrier Pilots during the Second World War

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1952-10-26

Runtime: 83 mins

Director: Lesley Selander

Writer: Steve Fisher

Spoken language: English

Genres: Drama, Action, War

Original title: Flat Top

Production Companies: Monogram Pictures

Production Countries: United States of America

Reviews

G

Geronimo1967
The army and the air force had their go at this plot, so I suppose it was bound to be the navy’s turn. Richard Carlson in the man expected to take over the squadron of fliers when their boss gets incapacitated, but instead of the mild-mannered “Joe”, they get the hard as nails “Collier” (Sterling Hayden). He immediately sets the cat amongst the pigeons by grounding one of their popular but reckless number and by proceeding to rule the team with a rod of iron. Naturally, this earns him the enmity of his command but with their carrier about to head into danger against the heavily armed Japanese Imperial Fleet, we all know that discipline is going to be key (and that there is precisely no jeopardy at all with the rest of the plot!). Carlsen tries a little here, but Hayden is about as wooden as the deck of the USS Princeton upon which much of this was filmed. In the end, it’s really all about some impressive aerial photography of training sessions and dogfights that is fairly clearly sourced from archive. It’s feel-good wartime fayre but its mediocrity isn’t much to write home about.
2025-07-07

Recommendations

Tora! Tora! Tora!
3.5

Tora! Tora! Tora!

1970-01-26

In the summer of 1941, the United States and Japan seem on the brink of war after constant embargos

The Caine Mutiny
3.6

The Caine Mutiny

1954-06-24

When a US Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardize his ship, the first office

Mississippi Burning
3.8

Mississippi Burning

1988-12-08

Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the co

The Hunt for Red October
3.7

The Hunt for Red October

1990-03-02

A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast un

Crimson Tide
3.6

Crimson Tide

1995-05-12

After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide

Under Siege
3.1

Under Siege

1992-10-08

A disgruntled ex-CIA operative, his assistant and their assembled group of terrorists seize a battle

Airport '77
2.8

Airport '77

1977-03-11

Flight 23 has crashed in the Bermuda Triangle after a hijacking gone wrong. Now the surviving passen

Behind Enemy Lines
3.2

Behind Enemy Lines

2001-11-30

While flying a routine reconnaissance mission over Bosnia, fighter pilot Lt. Chris Burnett photograp

G.I. Jane
3.2

G.I. Jane

1997-08-19

In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven, the U.S. Navy begins a program that

The Sand Pebbles
3.6

The Sand Pebbles

1966-12-20

Engineer Jake Holman arrives aboard the gunboat USS San Pablo, assigned to patrol a tributary of the

Antwone Fisher
3.5

Antwone Fisher

2002-12-19

A sailor prone to violent outbursts is sent to a naval psychiatrist for help. Refusing at first to o

No Way Out
3.5

No Way Out

1987-08-14

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell , and they share a passionate fling. Farrell

Men of Honor
3.7

Men of Honor

2000-09-13

Against formidable odds -- and an old-school diving instructor embittered by the U.S. Navy's new, le

Midway
3.3

Midway

1976-06-18

This war drama depicts the U.S. and Japanese forces in the naval Battle of Midway, which became a tu

Annapolis
3.4

Annapolis

2006-01-27

Jake Huard, from a shipbuilders family, promised his dying mother he'ld make it to Anapolis Naval Ac

Top Gun
3.5

Top Gun

1986-05-16

For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being acc

A Few Good Men
3.8

A Few Good Men

1992-12-11

When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assi

Farewell to the King
3

Farewell to the King

1989-03-03

An American soldier who escapes the execution of his comrades by Japanese soldiers in Borneo during

The Wings of Eagles
3.1

The Wings of Eagles

1957-01-31

The story of Frank W. "Spig" Wead - a Navy-flyer turned screenwriter.

The Americanization of Emily
3.3

The Americanization of Emily

1964-10-27

American sailor Charlie Madison falls for a pretty Englishwoman while trying to avoid a senseless an