Toward the Unknown, from 1956, is a post-Korean war drama directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring William Holden, Lloyd Nolan, and Virginia Leith. It's a Holden film I've never seen before, so when I saw it on the TCM schedule recently, I made it a point to set the DVR.
Major Lincoln Bond (Holden) arrives at Edwards Air Force Base longing for a second chance. Having been captured during the Korean War, Linc eventually caved to the pressure. Fourteen months of brainwashing and mental torture brought him to the breaking point, and he ultimately signed a confession, an action which agonized him so much that he tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists. Now that the war is over, Linc's reputation within the Air Force is poor.
Linc yearns for a job test-flying; however, the top brass don't know if they can count on him under stress, so he is turned down and given a different job. Eventually, though, Linc is given a chance, and while on a test flight, something doesn't seem right to him and he makes an emergency landing. No one else believes there is a problem...they are sure Linc just can't handle stress and that he hit the emotional/mental panic button, just like he caved to the stress in Korea. With everyone doubting him, Linc begins to doubt himself. Will he ever get a chance to redeem himself?
In addition to the main storyline, there is also a romantic subplot. Linc's old girlfriend, Connie (Virginia Leith), from whom he withdrew after Korea, works at Edwards AFB. She is none other than the girlfriend of the general. So, while the main storyline, with all the test flights and aeronautical maneuvers, was a bit technical for me, the personal storyline captured my interest and made this film enjoyable for me.
This film is available through Amazon, in DVD remastered format. I don't really know what that means, but it's there. If you are a fan of aviation and/or the space program, I'm pretty sure you'll want to see this movie. Also, if you are a William Holden fan, as I am, you will want to see this. He's in the most successful years of his career at this point...looking fabulous and acting brilliantly too.
Happy viewing!!
