Command Decision (1948): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Command Decision is a 1948 war drama directed by Sam Wood, starring Charles Bickford as Elmer Brockhurst, John Ridgely and Clark Gable. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Sam Wood
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Command Decision About?
The premise of Command Decision without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film explores the inner lives of heroes, cowards, fighters, braggarts and liars, revealing what truly moves them. Meanwhile, senior commanders wrestle with a brutal choice: to bomb German factories producing advanced jet fighters, knowing the operation will incur massive civilian and military casualties.
Command Decision Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- military operation
- military strategy
- u.s. army air forces
- aerial bombardment
- archive footage
- night bombing
- daylight bombing
- london england
- post mission briefing
- aerial surveillance photograph
- reference to hermann goering
- politics
+38 more Show fewer
- wristwatch
- me 262
- ambulance
- bailing out
- deuce and a half
- roast chicken
- teletype machine
- playing tic tac toe
- publicity photograph
- silver star
- death of a friend
- drunken
- relieved of command
- promotion
- transfer
- aerial camera shot
- mission
- military uniform
- u.s. military
- jet
- factory
- tic tac toe
- bombing raid
- reference to amelia earhart
- cigar smoking
- douglas dc 3
- battle map
- birth of son
- flare gun
- checking one's watch
- difficult decison
- reference to thomas edison
- reference to marconi
- reference to william billy mitchell
- magnifying glass
- exploding airplane
- bailing out of an airplane
- chart
Where to Watch Command Decision
Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Command Decision Cast & Characters
Charles Bickford leads the cast as Elmer Brockhurst, with John Ridgely as James Carwood and Clark Gable as Brigadier General K.C. 'Casey' Dennis. Directed by Sam Wood; 21 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sam Wood
-
Charles Bickford as Elmer Brockhurst - John Ridgely as James Carwood
-
Clark Gable as Brigadier General K.C. 'Casey' Dennis - Michael Steele as Capt. Lucius Malcolm Jenks
Also Starring in Command Decision
· 17 more- Brian Donlevy Brigadier General Clifton I. Garnet
- Walter Pidgeon Major General Roland Goodlow Kane
- Warner Anderson Col. Earnest Haley
- John Hodiak Col. Edward Rayton Martin
- Mack Williams Lt. Col. Virgil Jackson
- Moroni Olsen Congressman Stone
- Edward Earle Congressman Watson
- Edward Arnold Congressman Arthur Malcolm
- Van Johnson Technical Sergeant Immanuel T. Evans
- Cameron Mitchell Lt. Ansel Goldberg
- John McIntire Maj. Belding Davis
- James Millican Maj. Garrett Davenport
- Ray Collins Maj. Desmond Lansing
- Marshall Thompson Capt. George Washington Bellpepper Lee
- Richard Quine Maj. George Rockton
- Clinton Sundberg Maj. Homer V. Prescott
Show all 21 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John Cannon Officer (uncredited)
Command Decision Plot Summary
What happens in Command Decision from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1943, at the English Ministry of Information, war correspondents Elmer “Brockie” Brockhurst Charles Bickford and James Carwood John Ridgely attend the daily bombing mission briefings, where the mood among the press and commanders is uneasy. The RAF representative talks of light losses, but the PRO of the Eighth Air Force reports record casualties, casting a pall over the room. Carwood questions whether any target can excuse such losses, while Brockhurst hints that the U.S. commander may be more invested in the war than in appearances. The two men watch B-17s roar into the sky, and Brockhurst presses a question about a high-profile pilot named Captain Jenks, seeking clarity that refuses to come.
Full summary
The whole story of Command Decision, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Command Decision?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which actor portrays Brigadier-General Dennis in the film?
Command Decision Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Suprema decisione” and “Sublime decisión”.
- Also known as
-
- Suprema decisione
- Sublime decisión
- Trágica Decisão
- Tragique décision
- Командное решение
- De flög i gryningen
Seen Command Decision?
Movies Like Command Decision
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Battle of the Commandos, Decision Before Dawn and Commandos Strike at Dawn.
Command Decision FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Command Decision, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Command Decision?
Command Decision runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Command Decision released?
Command Decision was released on December 23, 1948.
Who directed Command Decision?
Command Decision was directed by Sam Wood.
More films by Sam Wood Who is in the cast of Command Decision?
Command Decision stars Charles Bickford as Elmer Brockhurst, John Ridgely as James Carwood and Clark Gable as Brigadier General K.C. 'Casey' Dennis, among 21 credited actors.
Where can I watch Command Decision?
In the US, Command Decision is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
Does Command Decision have a post-credit scene?
No. Command Decision has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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