The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 61% Audience Score 500+ Ratings U.S. Col. Billy Mitchell (Gary Cooper) is a decorated World War I veteran airman frustrated by the military's mistreatment of the flying program. With military brass and many in the government still favoring battleships, Mitchell sees funding cut to aviation, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of pilots. When Mitchell publicly accuses his superiors of ineptitude, he is court-martialed. At the trial, Congressman Frank Reid (Ralph Bellamy) advises Mitchell, who faces Maj. Guillion (Rod Steiger). Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (8) Critics Reviews
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Geoff Andrew Time Out With Cooper as the crusading officer, one is never in any doubt as to the correctness and sincerity of his views (Mitchell was posthumously rehabilitated in 1947), while Steiger puts in one of his inimitably flashy performances as the prosecuting attorney Feb 5, 2018 Full Review The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Variety Staff Variety The picture is a real kick in the shins for the cult of blind military obedience and the lesson which is laid on the line relates to Pearl Harbor. Oct 23, 2007 Full Review The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap A quintessential Gary Cooper role in this portrait of the forgotten father of modern aviation, the sort of picture Golden Age Hollywood churned out with surprising speed and skill. Rated: 4/5 Oct 5, 2020 Full Review The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Though not one of Preminger's stronger films, it's still worth seeing this fact-based courtroom drama starring Gary Cooper. Rated: B- Aug 24, 2012 Full Review The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Fernando F. Croce CinePassion The only certainty that remains is the need to ask questions Sep 5, 2009 Full Review The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Film4 Away from the courtroom, the film is less riveting, though Cooper is consistently impressive. Oct 23, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (13) audience reviews

Steve D Too slow to really work. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/29/23 Full Review van h This is a classic. Well acted and follows the true story fairly well. This was much less biased than Judgement at Nuremberg. A must see. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The core of the movie, revolving around the courtroom drama and the one man crusade to improve the air service, is mildly entertaining with good pacing. However, when it comes to some of the histrionics, like the foretelling of the attack on pearl harbor or ultra sonic air speed, the movie becomes absurd and shows its true propaganda colors. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member A film worth adding to your collection. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member There is not much to dislike about this movie, great cast and director, excellent screenplay, superb production. I did find it slow moving at times, and somehow this film doesn't soar to the greatness it should have. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member THE COURT-MARTIAL OF BILLY MITCHELL (1955) Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

Cast & Crew

Otto Preminger Director Gary Cooper Col. Billy Mitchell Charles Bickford Gen. Jimmy Guthrie Ralph Bellamy Congressman Frank R. Reid Rod Steiger Maj. Allan Guillion Elizabeth Montgomery Margaret Lansdowne
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The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis U.S. Col. Billy Mitchell (Gary Cooper) is a decorated World War I veteran airman frustrated by the military's mistreatment of the flying program. With military brass and many in the government still favoring battleships, Mitchell sees funding cut to aviation, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of pilots. When Mitchell publicly accuses his superiors of ineptitude, he is court-martialed. At the trial, Congressman Frank Reid (Ralph Bellamy) advises Mitchell, who faces Maj. Guillion (Rod Steiger).

Director
Otto Preminger

Producer
Milton Sperling

Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Genre
History, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 31, 1955, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 19, 2018

Runtime
1h 40m
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

How accurate is the court-martial of Billy Mitchell? ›

Overall, for historical accuracy "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell" is solid on the central story and fictional on the margins. This DVD transfer, however, borders on dreadful. Colors are washed out and voice levels shift slightly over and over. But it's well worth watching.

How long did Billy Mitchell court-martial last? ›

The court-martial began in early November and lasted for seven weeks. The youngest of the 13 judges was Major General Douglas MacArthur, who later described the order to sit on Mitchell's court-martial as "one of the most distasteful orders I ever received." Of the thirteen judges, (Charles Pelot Summerall, William S.

Is the trial of Billy Mitchell a true story? ›

Gary Cooper's Billy Mitchell, despite deviations from the real story, is a remarkably accurate picture of a dedicated officer with unrestrained hubris whose public and volatile denunciations of Army and Navy superiors for numerous fatal crashes led to his then highly-publicized court-martial.

What movie is based on Billy Mitchell? ›

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell is a 1955 American CinemaScope biographical drama film directed by Otto Preminger, and starring Gary Cooper and co-starring Charles Bickford, Ralph Bellamy, Rod Steiger, and Elizabeth Montgomery in her film debut.

Did Billy Mitchell predict Pearl Harbor? ›

Afterward, Mitchell made an inspection tour of the Pacific and the Far East, after which he made his famous prediction that the Japanese would attack Pearl Harbor on a Sunday morning.

What was the charge crime for which he was found guilty at General Mitchell's court-martial? ›

His outspoken advocacy resulted in the famous Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, in which a military court consisting of twelve senior Army officers found Mitchell guilty of insubordination. He was reduced in rank and suspended for five years without pay.

Did Billy Mitchell sue the regular show? ›

A court judge. eventually ruled to dismiss Mitchell's case against Regular Show. and threw the claims out of court. after finding the portrayal to be in line with the First Amendment.

Did Billy Mitchell get the Medal of Honor? ›

In 1946 Congress posthumously awarded Billy Mitchell a Special Congressional Medal of Honor (the only one of its kind) for his pioneer work in American military aviation.

Who has the Donkey Kong world record? ›

There the current record-holder is Robbie Lakeman, who achieved a score of 1,272,800 in 2021. Update: This article has been updated to further clarify that Billy Mitchell's stores were restored on Twin Galaxies' historical record database, not the modern leaderboards.

Was Billy Mitchell exonerated? ›

Mitchell was suspended for five years without pay; he elected to resign. Years later the new Air Force would look at the court-marital to determine if its hero could be exonerated. But the facts were clear: Mitchell was guilty, even if for a worthy cause.

Has a general ever been court-martialed? ›

It is a mix never seen before in an Air Force court-martial. The only other Air Force general to have been court-martialed, Maj. Gen. William Cooley, was convicted of abusive sexual contact in 2022 by military judge alone.

What did Billy Mitchell do to Jamie Mitchell? ›

After he was left without either of his parents, teenager Jamie went to live with his uncle Billy. However, he wasn't treated well in his care, and Billy would often be violent towards him. He was taken in by godfather and distant relative Phil, when he found out about Billy's cruelty and even witnessed an attack.

Where is Billy Mitchell buried? ›

Billy Mitchell died on February 19, 1936, and was buried at the Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After his death, President Roosevelt elevated him to the rank of Major General.

What relation is Billy Mitchell to Phil? ›

The extended Mitchell family is introduced in 1998; Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder) is taken in by Phil as he flees from his abusive guardian and uncle, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick). Billy, Phil and Grant's cousin, moves to Walford as well, and becomes a lackey for the Mitchell brothers and their schemes.

Where can I watch the court martial of Billy Mitchell? ›

Watch The Court Martial of Billy-Mitchell | Prime Video.

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