One of the many virtues of this excellent series is that its episodes vary a good deal in style. Some are straight stories of war concerning flying daylight bombing missions over Germany, which was the job of the 918th; while others are character studies of men in uniform under stress, with little action, as such, with the emphasis on drama. 12 O'Clock High was a series of many moods, which is why I find it so watchable.
The Threat is one of the more offbeat entries in the series, concerning Axis Sally's prediction that Gen. Savage will be killed on a certain day at certain time. At first it appears to be a hoax, an attempt to rattle the general and his various subordinates, with its implication that there's someone on the base in league with the enemy.
Then little things begin to happen that cause people to wonder if something is up. There are some suspicious characters working on the base, one a German-American nurse with an apparent grudge against Savage. The script, by Jack Turley, is tightly constructed; and the direction of Ralph Senensky is outstanding, as the camera always seems to be in the right place to pick up on the actions and reactions of the various characters.
The Threat plays out more like a murder mystery than an episode of a TV series set in England during World War II. But it's a murder mystery that may or may not end in murder. As the plot develops, the "invisible noose" around Gen. Savage's neck continues to tighten. Aside from a telegraphed ending this episode delivers the goods in spades, aided in large measure by Robert Lansing's outstanding performance as an officer under even more pressure than usual. Guest star Laurence Naismith gives a wonderful, sly performance as the village barber who gives very close shaves and who, on his days off, likes to go fishing.
The Threat is one of the more offbeat entries in the series, concerning Axis Sally's prediction that Gen. Savage will be killed on a certain day at certain time. At first it appears to be a hoax, an attempt to rattle the general and his various subordinates, with its implication that there's someone on the base in league with the enemy.
Then little things begin to happen that cause people to wonder if something is up. There are some suspicious characters working on the base, one a German-American nurse with an apparent grudge against Savage. The script, by Jack Turley, is tightly constructed; and the direction of Ralph Senensky is outstanding, as the camera always seems to be in the right place to pick up on the actions and reactions of the various characters.
The Threat plays out more like a murder mystery than an episode of a TV series set in England during World War II. But it's a murder mystery that may or may not end in murder. As the plot develops, the "invisible noose" around Gen. Savage's neck continues to tighten. Aside from a telegraphed ending this episode delivers the goods in spades, aided in large measure by Robert Lansing's outstanding performance as an officer under even more pressure than usual. Guest star Laurence Naismith gives a wonderful, sly performance as the village barber who gives very close shaves and who, on his days off, likes to go fishing.
