Mission over Korea (Columbia Pictures) (1953)

Action Hit Honors U. S. Spotter Plane Pilots ‘Over Korea’ (General Advance) The story of the men who fly the Army’s unarmed spotter planes—the flying eyes of the artillery—is told for the first time in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea,’ which arrives at the ..... Theatre Pee ae with John Hodiak, John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan starred. The exploits of the big men in the small Cub planes, the light, one-motored, hill-hopping jobs which have become famous in Korea for their yeoman work in dropping supplies, in transporting the wounded and in artillery spotting, are given their due in “Mission Over Korea.” Hodiak plays a flying officer who is plunged into the blazing inferno of the early Korea fighting and sweats it out with Derek, a brother officer, in dan. gerous actions against enemy guerrillas, tanks and infantrymen. He is the solid man of the team while Derek is a flakhappy hellion. While attempting to relieve an encircled battalion, Derek recklessly takes on some enemy tanks against orders. Before Hodiak can rescue him, his plane is disabled and he is seriously wounded. Derek flies Hodiak to a base hospital. Then, in the final action, he acts as a pointer for jets to go into action against infiltrating enemy tanks. In “Mission Over Korea,” Hodiak and Derek are teamed again after a dual appearance in “Ambush at Tomahak Creek.” Miss Totter is cast as an Army nurse attracted to Derek, while Miss O’Sullivan portrays the wife Hodiak leaves behind him. The new action adventure was written for the screen by Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., Eugene Ling and Martin L. Goldsmith. Robert Cohn produced the film and Fred F. Sears directed it. Studied Korean For his role in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea,” John Derek, who stars with John Hodiak, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan at the Theatre, studied the Korean language. Derek took lessons in the Oriental language from a Korean student who also appears in the thrilling action adventure of the Army’s observation plane pilots. Mat 1-A; Still No. 59 ROMANTIC RESPITE in Columbia's “Mission Over Korea,” at the Bn Ra SE NERY oa Theatre, is shared by John Derek and Audrey Totter. John Hodiak and Maureen O'Sullivan also star. “Mission Over Korea” Mat 2-A; Still No. 79 JOHN HODIAK and JOHN DEREK share stellar honors with Maureen O'Sullivan and Audrey Totter in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea,” new air adventure film at the Poe eee Theatre. Hodiak Rides Again: This Time, a Plane! Actor John Hodiak is grateful indeed that he does not have to take to horses in his newest film for Columbia Pictures, “Mission Over Korea,” in which he is starred with John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan at the Theatre. Hodiak’s last two Columbia assignments, “Ambush at Tomahawk Gap” and “Conquest of Cochise,” called for a lot of hard riding and exacting horsemanship. For an actor with a special allergy when it comes to equine activities, this was none too pleasant. In his current offering, Hodiak rides again. Only this time in an Army cub plane, the “flying eyes” of the artillery, as an Army pilot during the early days of the Korean conflict. Hodiak’s career before he came to Hollywood was far removed from planes and horses. He was a star radio actor, appearing as a heavy in a variety of soap operas, often finding it necessary to rush from one program to another with split-second timing.. When Hodiak created the popular Al Capp character of Little Abner over the air, his deep, resonant voice and expert timing and talent—caught Hollywood’s attention. He was literally drafted for pictures and has remained to become one of filmdom’s most popular stars. Featured in “Mission Over Korea” are Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman and Richard Bowers. A trio of writers, Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., Eugene Ling and Martin L. Goldsmith, penned the screen play. Fred F. Sears directed the new action adventure and Robert Cohn produced. ” ‘Korea’ Action Film Features Song Hit “Gomen-Nasai,” Japanese song hit immensely popular with American troops stationed in the Orient, and which is also finding favor in America, is heard in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea,’ which stars John Hodiak, John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan at the Theatre. Richard Bowers, former Army corporal who originally recorded the tune while stationed in Japan, sings the song in the film. “Gomen-Nasai” (Forgive Me) has English lyrics by Benedict Mayers, ex-Army sergeant, and music by Japanese composer Raymond Hattori. John Derek Varies His Screen Roles Type-casting is unknown to actor John Derek. His meteoric rise to stardom began with his portrayal of the sullen Nick Romano in Columbia Pictures’ “Knock On Any Door,” and led to his present role as that of an intrepid Army pilot in Columbia’s action-packed adventure, “Mission Over Korea,” also starring John Hodiak, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan at thew enees Theatre. Between these films has been nothing but casting variety. His big chance came with his first screen appearance in the “Knock On Any Door” role. Following its release, Derek shot to the top of many a popularity poll and turned into the most valuable “find” of 1949. Columbia, which now had him under contract, next cast him in a dramatic part in “All the King’s Men,” the Pulitzer Prize book which was turned into an Academy Award best picture. Then the studio cast him in the starring role of Robin Hood’s son in “Rogues of Sherwood Forest.” He played college football in “Saturday’s Hero,” was a dashing young Italian in “Mask of the Avenger,” a sensitive youth who kills his best friend in “The Family Secret.” He played a newspaper reporter in “Scandal Sheet,” a swashbuckler in “Prince of Pirates.” After that he starred in Columbia’s “The Last Posse,’ and “Ambush at Tomahawk Gap,” and followed up with “Thunderbirds.” Currently John stars in ‘Mission Over Korea.” Featured in ‘Mission Over Korea,” the story of the guys who fly the Army’s spotter planes, are Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman and Richard Bowers. The screen play, penned by Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., Eugene Ling and Martin L. Goldsmith, was directed by Fred F. Sears. Robert Cohn produced the film. Can Talk A’Plenty Before she established herself in the movies, Audrey Totter, who portrays an Army nurse in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Mission Over Korea,” which also stars John Hodiak, John Derek and Maureen O’Sullivan at _ the Del dines Ae Theatre, was known as the girl of 1,000 voices. Before Hollywood beckoned, she appeared in innumerable “soap operas” on the radio and created the star role on the popular CBS radio show, “Meet Millie.” Mission Over Korea’ Salutes U. 5. Artillery’s Flying Eyes’ (Review) The courageous exploits of the men who fly the Army’s tiny Cub observation planes, those unarmed spotter craft which operate behind the enemy’s lines, are told for the first time on the screen in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea.” The new action adventure, which opened yesterday at the ............ Theatre, stars John Hodiak, John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan. In their light, one-motored planes, these pilots have won ‘Korea’ Nurse Role For Audrey Totter From her many trips to the battlefronts all over the world, Audrey Totter came to have tremendous respect and admiration for U. S. Army nurses. So when she heard that a role in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Mission Over. Bootes,” the os 240. 25. Theatre’s stirring action adventure of the guys who fly the Army’s spotter planes, cailed for a front line Army nurse, Miss Totter snatched at, and obtained, the role. Miss Totter, who stars with John Hodiak, John Derek and Maureen O’Sullivan in “Mission Over Korea, had no difficulty learning how to portray a nurse; she is married to a doctor who personally coached her in the role. Returns to Screen Maureen O’Sullivan, who made one of her rare screen appearances in recent years in “Where Danger Lives,” returns to the screen once again in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea,” exciting action adventure of the men who fly the Army’s tiny Cub observation planes. Also starred with Miss O’Sullivan in the new drama at [| A I es Theatre are John Hodiak, John Derek and Audrey Totter. Back John Hodiak is back in uniform again. Hodiak, who wore khaki in “Command Decision” and “Battleground,” pilots the Army’s tiny artillery observation Cub planes in Columbia Pictures’ “Mission over Korea,” also starring John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sulvar at tHe aka Theatre. in Uniform everlasting fame. In addition to being the flying eyes of the artillery, they do valiant work in dropping supplies to isolated infantrymen and in transporting the wounded to base hospitals. In “Mission Over Korea” Hodiak plays one of these gallant guys who sees action in the early days of the Korean fighting. Assigned to his unit is a reckless flak-happy pilot, played by Derek, who is constantly getting into trouble. Together they see action against enemy guerrillas, tanks and infantrymen. Derek, disobeying orders, guns for enemy tanks with a bazooka attached to his plane. He is forced down. Hodiak is unable to rescue him when he is sent to supply an encircled battalion. Derek walks out unharmed and flies Hodiak, seriously wounded by enemy gunfire, back to a base hospital. Then, with members of his ground crew, Derek again goes aloft, spots infiltrating enemy tanks and calls the jets down on them before he, in turn, is wounded. As the ill-fated officer of the Army’s observation and rescue planes, Hodiak gives a solid performance and as the_ sober, trustworthy flyer makes a fine foil to Derek’s reckless airman. Miss Totter is fine as the Army nurse to whom Derek is attracted and Miss O’Sullivan registers poignantly as the wife Hodiak leaves behind. Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman and Richard Bowers are featured as G.I.’s. Written for the screen by Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., Eugene Ling and Martin L. Goldsmith, ‘“Mission Over Korea” was directed by Fred F. Sears and produced by Robert Cohn. ‘Mission Over Korea’ Columbia Pictures’ “Mission Over Korea,’ the new actionpacked adventure starring John Hodiak, John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O’Sullivan, opens at the ............ OWS arr oe The story of the guys who fly the Army’s unarmed spotter planes, ‘Mission Over Korea” features Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman and Richard Bowers in the supporting cast. Screen play of the new thriller was written by Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., Eugene Ling and Martin L. Goldsmith. ‘Mission Over Ko rea” was directed by Fred F. Sears and produced by Robert Cohn. “Mission Over Korea” Mat 2-B; Still No. 34 “MISSION OVER KOREA,” Columbia drama of America’s unarmed spotter plane pilots, stars John Hodiak, center, John Derek and Maureen O'Sullivan, above, and Audrey Totter at the Theatre. Page 11