The Big Lift

directed by George Seaton
Category: "War"
Year of Release:1950
Date Added:09/06/2024
Date Watched:09/06/2024
Description:Set during the Berlin Air Lift when Russia blocked access to Berlin. Flight Engineer Danny meets a German widow, Frederica. He's constantly flying back and forth, but whenever he has leave in Berlin, they spend time together, and Danny soon falls in love. Danny's friend, Air Traffic Controller Hank (Paul Douglas) hates Germans because of his wartime experience as a POW. He hangs out with a German woman, Gerda, but he treats her poorly — until Danny points out that he's acting like the very people he hates. He begins to teach Gerda about America and democracy. He doesn't trust Frederica and warns Danny, but Danny doesn't listen. As he's about to be sent home, he goes through all the steps to marry her. On the day of their wedding, a neighbor hands Danny a letter from Frederica to her lover in America, explaining how she's just using Danny to get out of Berlin. He leaves her and goes home along. Hank decides to stay in Berlin until the airlift is over. Gerda also decides to stay because, now that she knows about democracy, she figures Germany needs people who know the truth.
My Rating:7

Reviews for The Big Lift

Review - Big Lift, The

The story was sad — both because of the false love affair and because of the German suffering for their own bad choices. The entire movie was shot on location in Berlin, and all the military personnel — except for the two main actors — were actual military. But it didn't seem like it. The director did a very good job of coaching them to be very natural.

Reviewed by Roger on 2024-09-06 13:51:01

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