Paratroop Command (1959): Cast & Plot
Paratroop Command is a 1959 war drama directed by William Witney, starring Richard Bakalyan as Charlie, Jack Hogan and Hal Needham. It runs 1 hour 11 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 11m (71 min)
- Director
- William Witney
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Paratroop Command About?
The premise of Paratroop Command without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
When Charlie enlists as a paratrooper in North Africa, a tragic mistake leads him to kill a fellow American soldier disguised as a Nazi to eliminate an enemy stronghold. Ostracized by his unit, including his childhood friend Ace, he must redeem himself by delivering a generator across an exposed road while under fire from German forces.
Paratroop Command Themes & Keywords
· 24 tags- psychotronic film
- friendly fire
- army uniform
- u.s. military
- paratrooper
- american in italy
- 20th century
- 1940s
- world war two
- world war two in europe
- european theatre of world war two
- italy
+12 more Show fewer
- world war two in italy
- man
- world war two soldier
- military
- u.s. soldier
- enemy
- german soldier
- death
- shot to death
- weapon
- automatic weapon
- hand grenade
Paratroop Command Cast & Characters
Richard Bakalyan leads the cast as Charlie, with Jack Hogan as Ace and Hal Needham as German (uncredited). Directed by William Witney; 18 actors are credited in all.
- Director William Witney
-
Richard Bakalyan as Charlie - Jack Hogan as Ace
-
Hal Needham as German (uncredited) - Joe Yrigoyen as German Driver (uncredited)
Also Starring in Paratroop Command
· 14 more- James Beck Cowboy
- Ken Lynch Lieutenant
- Jimmy Murphy Sergeant
- Tom Steele German (uncredited)
- Sydney Lassick Interpreter
- Robert Conrad Art (uncredited)
- Dick Crockett German (uncredited)
- Carey Loftin Fritz (uncredited)
- Jeff Morris Pigpen
- Brad Trumbull Pilot
- Paul Busch German Captain
- Patricia Huston Amy
- Carolyn Hughes Gina
- Dude Criswell Hans (uncredited)
More from William Witney
More films directed by William Witney: Darktown Strutters, I Escaped from Devil’s Island, Tarzan’s Jungle Rebellion and 40 Guns to Apache Pass.
Paratroop Command Plot Summary
What happens in Paratroop Command from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Charlie Richard Bakalyan is a paratrooper who becomes the target of ridicule from Ace Jack Hogan after he remains still during an attempted ambush on a group of German soldiers. This misjudgment fuels the unit’s scorn, especially when Charlie accidentally kills Cowboy James Beck, a friend who was wearing a German uniform to infiltrate enemy lines and was apparently pointing a gun at the rest of the squad. Ace, Cowboy’s best friend, threatens Charlie, and the narrative follows their fraught dynamic across the Sicily campaign as Ace makes two separate attempts to kill him, both unsuccessful. In Salerno, Ace delivers a dying curse on Charlie, sealing their turbulent history in the memories of those who serve with them.
Full summary
The whole story of Paratroop Command, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Paratroop Command?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- 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
- Question 10: not answered
In which war is the story set?
Seen Paratroop Command?
Movies Like Paratroop Command
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Parachute Battalion, Commandos and Tank Commandos.
Paratroop Command FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Paratroop Command, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Paratroop Command?
Paratroop Command runs 1 hour 11 minutes (71 minutes).
When was Paratroop Command released?
Paratroop Command was released on February 1, 1959.
Who directed Paratroop Command?
Paratroop Command was directed by William Witney.
More films by William Witney Who is in the cast of Paratroop Command?
Paratroop Command stars Richard Bakalyan as Charlie, Jack Hogan as Ace and Hal Needham as German (uncredited), among 18 credited actors.
Does Paratroop Command have a post-credit scene?
No. Paratroop Command has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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