The McConnell Story (1955) | Rotten Tomatoes
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      The McConnell Story

      Released Sep 29, 1955 1h 47m Drama List
      Reviews 42% Audience Score Fewer than 50 Ratings Joseph "Mac" McConnell Jr. (Alan Ladd) dreams of piloting airplanes, so much that he goes AWOL from an Army base to take flying lessons. When the military police go looking for him, Mac hitches a ride with Bob (Robert Ellis), a teenager who takes him home to meet the family, including Bob's sister, Pearl (June Allyson). Mac and Pearl eventually marry, but she worries whenever he sets foot in a plane -- especially when he's chosen as a test pilot for the new Sabre jet. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Larry K. B Historical account of the 1st Top Gun “Maverick” without all the hotdogging! Highly recommend this movie based on the life of Mac McConnell with top stars of their time Alan Ladd and June Allyson. The McConnell story takes you through WWII to the Korean War. Mac ends up being a test pilot much like Chuck Yeager and helps usher in the jet age. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review Debra Ann P I liked the soft side of Alan Ladd as the war hero. The movie was very believable due to the fine acting of June and Alan. The script was well written and the photography was excellent. Debra Ann Petitan Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review don h "The McConnell Story" is the (mostly) true story of Air Force Capt. Joseph McConnell, Jr., who shot down 16 enemy jets in the Korean War. He is America's all-time top-scoring jet ace and was a huge national hero in the 1950s. The film stars Hollywood A-Listers Alan Ladd, June Allyson and James Whittmore. The film was released in 1955, so if you're not into the 1950s film genre and film esthetics, acting style, etc., then you might not like the movie. I'm a big McConnell admirerer and history buff. Ironically, the film completely misses Capt. McConnell's most amazing and exciting missions like when he was shot down and later when he and his wingman Lt. Dean Abbott took on 28 enemy jets — and won! McConnell's personality in real life was quiet and modest, from very humble origins. But he was a helluva warrior and a maverick who challenged authority and broke the rules. He was the real ‘Top Gun' 30 years before the fictional movie "Top Gun" was made. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member well crafted bio-pic of capt joe mcconnell Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A Jet-Age Pioneer Remembered Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Joseph "Mac" McConnell Jr. (Alan Ladd) dreams of piloting airplanes, so much that he goes AWOL from an Army base to take flying lessons. When the military police go looking for him, Mac hitches a ride with Bob (Robert Ellis), a teenager who takes him home to meet the family, including Bob's sister, Pearl (June Allyson). Mac and Pearl eventually marry, but she worries whenever he sets foot in a plane -- especially when he's chosen as a test pilot for the new Sabre jet.
      Director
      Gordon Douglas
      Producer
      Henry Blanke
      Production Co
      Warner Bros.
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 29, 1955, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 17, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 47m