Twelve O'Clock High

On this week's Force Material podcast, we're going back to Rian Johnson's film camp to break down how Twelve O'Clock High could influence The Last Jedi!

The 1949 film, directed by Henry King, tells the story of a US Bomber unit stationed in England during the darkest days of World War II.

Gregory Peck, as Brigadier General Frank Savage, is tasked with getting "maximum effort" out of the unit's pilots, and leads them on increasingly daring raids — at no small cost to his own health.

Twelve O'Clock High was one of six films that director Rian Johnson required the cast and crew of The Last Jedi to watch as part of his 'film camp' before production began. 

Johnson told Empire that Twelve O'Clock High was "a big touchstone" for The Last Jedi, "for the feel and look of the aerial combat, as well as the dynamic between the pilots".

This week, as we count down to the release of The Last Jedi, Baz and I watch Twelve O'Clock High to dissect how its pioneering depiction of post-traumatic stress disorder could influence what happens next to Poe Dameron, Paige Tico and the rest of Black Squadron!