The Big Lift (1950) on Netflix
American airmen fly supplies into blockaded Berlin. Sergeant Danny MacCullough falls for the war widow Frederica Burkhardt, and his friend Hank Kowalski, once a prisoner of war, dislikes Germans.
- Netflix3.2/5
- IMDb6.4/101,960 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Trailer
Plot summary
When the Soviets cut Berlin's road and rail links, the Western sectors can be supplied only from the air. Airmen are brought from Hawaii to an American base at Frankfurt, among them Sergeant Danny MacCullough, a C-54 flight engineer, and his friend Hank Kowalski, who guides landings by radar and, as a former prisoner of war, treats Germans harshly. The crew is honored for making the hundred thousandth flight into Tempelhof, where the war widow Frederica Burkhardt is chosen to thank Danny. A newsman covering the ceremony recruits him for a publicity stunt, and Danny uses it to get a pass into the city and see her again. Hank, for his part, has a German girlfriend, Gerda.
Cast
- Dante V. Morelas Dante V. Morel(Capt. Dante V. Morel)
- John R. Masonas John R. Mason(Capt. John R. Mason)
- Gail R. Plushas Gail R. Plush(Capt. Gail R. Plush)
- Mack Blevinsas Mack Blevins(Capt. Mack Blevins)
- William A. Stewartas William A. Stewart(Capt. William A. Stewart)
- Alfred L. Freiburgeras Alfred L. Freiburger(1st Lt. Alfred L. Freiburger)
- Gerald Aronsas Gerald Arons(1st Lt. Gerald Arons)
Show all 18 cast
- Richard A. Kelloggas Richard A. Kellogg(1st Lt. Richard A. Kellogg)
- Roy R. Steeleas Roy R. Steele(1st Lt. Roy R. Steele)
- James H. Blankenshipas James H. Blankenship(S/Sgt. James H. Blankenship)
- Harold E. Bamfordas Harold E. Bamford(S/Sgt. Harold E. Bamford)
- D.R. Simmonsas D.R. Simmons(S/Sgt. D.R. Simmons)
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Big Lift (1950)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- German actress Hildegard Knef was fired from the film and replaced by relative newcomer Cornell Borchers after director George Seaton and producer William Perlberg learned of her wartime relationship with Ewald von Demandowsky, the Nazi head of Tobis Film.
- George Seaton won over Soviet authorities to shoot inside the Brandenburg Gate, which stood in the Soviet zone, but on the day of filming the Soviets set up loudspeakers to harass the set with propaganda, so the scene was shot silent and dialogue was dubbed in later.
- Montgomery Clift became available for the lead after dropping out of Sunset Blvd. before shooting began on that film, and all his scenes were shot first so he could return to the United States to begin location shooting for A Place in the Sun in October.
- The aerial sequences were filmed from a Fairchild C-82 Packet, often in bad weather to show the conditions the airlift was flown in, using the aircraft's removable rear fuselage to take panoramic shots of up to 170 degrees.
