'The McConnell Story' movie review
(C) Warner Home Video The McConnell Story (1955) Originally titled Tiger in the Sky, The McConnell Story is a standard issue biopic about U.S. Air Force Capt. Joseph C. McConnell, Jr. (Alan Ladd), the top American ace of the Korean War (with 16 credited kills of Soviet-made MiG-15s) and of the entire jet era (as of this writing). Written by Sam Rolfe ( The Naked Spur ) and Ted Sherdeman ( Them! ), The McConnell Story also starred June Allyson as Capt. McConnell’s wife Pearl “Butch” Brown and character actor James Whitmore as Col. Ty “Dad” Wyman, a former enlisted man who is Mac’s friend and Korean War commanding officer. Directed by Gordon Douglas ( Robin and the Seven Hoods, Them! ) The McConnell Story is a typical pro-Air Force movie of the 1950s. Made in part to enhance the new service branch’s public reputation after it was split off from the Army in 1947, Tiger in the Sky began production while Mac was a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base but had t