The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell is a 1955 drama film directed by Otto Preminger and starring Gary Cooper, Charles Bickford, Ralph Bellamy, Rod Steiger, and Elizabeth Montgomery.
The film is a dramatization of the notorious 1925 court-martial of U.S. Army General William "Billy" Mitchell (Cooper), for publicly complaining about the High Command's dismissal and neglect of the aerial fighting forces following two disasters.
The film debut of Elizabeth Montgomery, it also features her fellow future TV stars Jack Lord, Peter Graves, and Darren McGavin in supporting roles.
This film features examples of:
- Armchair Military: Mitchell's complaint stems from the High Command's dismissal and neglect of the aerial fighting forces.
- Bittersweet Ending: The court finds Mitchell guilty, but he has presented his case to the public, which is considered a win since he wanted to raise awareness about the state of the Air Service.
- Colonel Badass: Even when demoted from brigadier general to colonel, Mitchell shows that he is brave and fearless when confronting and expressing his disagreement to his superiors.
- Court-martialed: Mitchell is court-martialled for for his public complaints about the High Command.
- Doomed Moral Victor
- A Father to His Men: It's clear that Mitchell's criticisms come from caring deeply about his men, such as his friend Zachary Lansdowne, who was killed in one of the two disasters that he witnessed.
- Foregone Conclusion: Given that it's based on a true story, at the time of the film's release most people probably knew already that Mitchell will not win the case.
- Mitchell's own ideals on air warfare are also this, as well as
Vindicated by History. Mitchell's entire concept of air warfare is later proven to be roughly accurate by WWII. The entire film, Billy references the fact that in less than two decades the entire world will be covered by the growing range of aircraft.
- Mitchell's own ideals on air warfare are also this, as well as
- It Will Never Catch On: Mentioned through the first half of the film. Various political and military leaders fail to see aircraft of any kind as anything more than novelties, and that wars will still be "won" by the Army and Navy. Which at the time was very much Truth in Television.
- Kangaroo Court: Played with; while Mitchell is indeed in the right regarding the treatment of the Air Corps, under military law Billy did indeed break the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Despite this, the court is clearly trying to railroad Mitchell instead of considering his points.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: Billy's entire ideal is that while he wants to fight for the air service, he can't do it in a way that damages the integrity of the US military. Billy's congressional ally notes that this hamstrings every attempt to get a legal victory.
- Meaningful Background Event: During Mitchell's attacks on the target ship, a Japanese naval officer is seen among the international observers. Japan had an alliance with the United Kingdom and had fought with the Entente Powers in World War I, so it's not as farfetched.
- Never My Fault: Basically the military's approach to Mitchell's criticisms, as the fact that they are accurate is constantly shot down.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Mitchell, who is concerned about the neglect of the aerial fighting forces. His superiors, not so much.
