Flat Top

Flat Top (also released as Eagles of the Fleet) is a 1952 American drama war film filmed in Cinecolor, directed by Lesley Selander and starring Sterling Hayden, with early appearances from Phyllis Coates, Jack Larson, Richard Carlson, and William Schallert. The film earned William Austin an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing in 1953. Plot The film begins on board an aircraft carrier off from the coast of Korea during the Korean War. Commander Collier (Hayden) is the Commander Air Group (CAG), or Air Boss, in charge of air operations on the carrier, or 'flat top'. When asked about how he first handled his job, he goes back to the time of World War II, where the rest of the film takes place. Told in flashback form, Collier recounts the war in the Pacific, working flight ops on the same carrier as the Fighter Squadron Commander with a new Executive Officer, LT Joe Rogers (Carlson), and getting a group of fighter pilots ready for the tough fight to come against the Japanese. Cast Sterling Hayden as Cmdr. Dan Collier Richard Carlson as Lt. (j.g.) Joe Rodgers William Phipps as Red Kelley (as Bill Phipps) John Bromfield as Ens. Snakehips McKay Keith Larsen as Ens. Barney Smith / Barney Oldfield William Schallert as Ens. Longfellow Todd Karns as Judge Phyllis Coates as Dorothy Collier Dave Willock as Willie Walter Coy as Air Group Commander Jack Larson as "Scuttlebutt" Sailor See also Sterling Hayden filmography