The High and the Mighty

I first read "The High and The Mighty" in a Reader's Digest Condensed Books version and, later, the entire book, courtesy of the Manhasset, NY, public library, followed by the movie. If you love aviation, especially the Gann descriptions which put you in the cockpit with Dan Roman as he struggles with his pilot to squeeze every drop of avgas to produce more air miles, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. Gann's "Fate Is the Hunter" perhaps contains more aviation data, but H & M combines aviation thrills with the individual lives of the passengers and crew. The characters stick with you over the years. I haven't read the book in more than 35 years, yet the names remain...stewardess Spalding, copilot Roman, navigator Leonard, the aging Mr. Briscoe, Sally, Hobie and all the rest. Gann brings these characters home to you in a way few authors can match.//I'd like to find a hard copy edition some day, but the thought struck me tonight that a second ! best opportunity might be to contact Reader's Digest for their copy of the condensed version of "The High and The Mighty." Finally, I strongly hope that John Wayne's family gives public access to the movie version of this great story. Any suggestions on how to move this along? Please let me know. I'll be glad to help.

Gann had a special gift in his ability to capture the everyday people and events of life and carry them into an unexpected and revealing landscape. This 45 year old story is somewhat dated, but remains engaging and well crafted. I'm still looking for a signed copy.

If you flew in passenger aircraft during the piston era of the '40-50s and love airplanes, you must read this book. Readers learn what it was like to navigate by the stars, deal with cantankerous radial engines, set throttle, propeller and mixture controls while a paradoid passenger tries to vent his frustration on his wife's former boyfriend. Flying portions are gripping as co-pilot and lead character Dan Roman tries to find out what's wrong with a DC-4 before it's too late. Dan is the experienced, yet tragic, character played by John Wayne in the movie by the same name--another must for airplane buffs but, unfortunately, the Wayne trust refuses to rerelease the rights. Fast forward through the passenger dramas, however, because they lack much relevance to the 1990s, assuming they had relevance in the 1950s. All told, the book is one of Ernie Gann's finest, if not the finest. You won't regret the time it takes to find a copy.

This book is arguably the most famous one written by noted aviator and writer, Ernie Gann. It was made into an oscar nominated movie and the theme song won the oscar that year (1955). Once you've read the book or seen the movie, you realize where all of the other aviation epics (realistic movies, spoofs or unintentional spoofs like the Airport series) got all of their ideas. Due to ownership disputes, the movie is not available anymore. If anyone out there has a homemade copy, let me know

[email protected] The High and the Mighty will not let you put it down. An ill-fated airplane fight brings out the best and the worst in the passangers. For an airplane you won't forget, this is a must. Please visit me at Butler, Luthe