Flat Top (film)

Flat Top (also released as Eagles of the Fleet) is a 1952 American drama war film filmed in Cinecolor, directed by Lesley Selander and starring Sterling Hayden, with early appearances from Phyllis Coates, Jack Larson, Richard Carlson, and William Schallert.^[1] The film earned William Austin an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing in 1953.^[2]

Flat Top
Directed by	Lesley Selander
Written by	Steve Fisher
Produced by	Walter Mirisch
Starring	Sterling Hayden Richard Carlson
Cinematography	Harry Neumann
Edited by	William Austin
Music by	Marlin Skiles
Distributed by	Monogram Pictures
Release date	October 26, 1952 (1952-10-26)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

On board an aircraft carrier off from the coast of Korea during the Korean War, Commander Collier is the Commander Air Group (CAG), or Air Boss, in charge of air operations on the carrier, or 'flat top'. When asked about how he first handled his job, he goes back to the time of World War II, where the rest of the film takes place. Told in flashback form, Collier recounts the war in the Pacific, working flight ops on the same carrier as the Fighter Squadron Commander with a new Executive Officer, LT Joe Rogers, and getting a group of fighter pilots ready for the tough fight to come against the Japanese.

Cast

• Sterling Hayden as Cmdr. Dan Collier
• Richard Carlson as Lt. (j.g.) Joe Rodgers
• William Phipps as Red Kelley (as Bill Phipps)
• John Bromfield as Ens. Snakehips McKay
• Keith Larsen as Ens. Barney Smith / Barney Oldfield
• William Schallert as Ens. Longfellow
• Todd Karns as Judge
• Phyllis Coates as Dorothy Collier
• Dave Willock as Willie
• Walter Coy as Air Group Commander
• Jack Larson as "Scuttlebutt" Sailor

See also

• Sterling Hayden filmography