I saw this show on its original run and loved it as intelligent entertainment then . Seeing it now during the pandemic, with the similar background of uncertainty and death, it still seems topical. And I now can further appreciate the quality of acting and writing inthe first season. Robert Lansing
was superb as the intense General Savage, and there was chemistry with John Larkin's General Crowe, areal sense of friendship and respect.Unfortunately John Larkin had a heart attack on set, and died Jan 29, 1965, age 52.The only further reference to him on the show was "General Crow has been reassigned to Washington." The replacement General apparently was a place keeper till Andrew Duggan in the second season.There was also chemistry between Lansing and Frank Overton, whose portrayal of Major Stovall was exceptional. With his wonderful warm voice and restrained manner, he was the perfect support for General Savage and you can feel the General responding. With Joe Gallagher,
Frank is the same, but there is no sense that Gallagher responds.Frank Overton was the only major actor to last through to entire 2 1/2 seasons.
In season 2 he is portrayed as a bomber pilot, which must have felt ironic to him, since his younger brother John actually was a bomber pilot in the Pacific theater.The last episode of TOH was in January 1967, and Frank Overton died April 24,1967, age 49. He was last seen on TV the night before on Bonanza, and the day after his death was the anniversary of his own fathers death at age 46. Bob Lansing himself would only live to 66 years. All 3 stars of that superb first season of TOH died too soon, just like that many airmen depicted on that show.
Review of 12 O'Clock High
