Weak script, and historically not very accurate. The battle scenes, mostly taken from actual WW2 battle footage, were certainly worth watching though.

I have just watched this on TCM,and thought it was a very good film.It was a lot more realistic than most 1940s war films,and i was convinced that they were using real archive footage,which was the reason why the film suddenly changes to colour.I thought this was a great idea as special effects back then couldn't have shown the effects of mass destruction that was caused on US Naval ships.And this being a very important film needs to put its point across,so real archive footage does engross the viewer more.Gary Cooper was a fine actor of his generation,very convincing in his portrayal of Scott,the captain.Although i did have a chuckle when they said Scottie is on the Enterprise,i kept expecting someone to say beam him up.In all a very well made film shame its not on sale in the UK.

I first saw this movie late one night when I couldn't sleep. For those of us that study the history of military aviation, this movie is a God-send! The "between wars" US military had a dismal understanding of aviation. And this film shows what Naval aviators had to contend with. The film depicts, correctly, the backward "John Paul Jones" thinking of the Naval brass at the time. The film covers some 20 years but does it very well. Gary Cooper plays the role of a Naval aviator better than he plays most of his roles. And seeing Walter Brennen as a Navy admiral was different. I grew up watching him as "Grandpa McCoy." Aside from the "movie" stuff, the film is a very good history lesson. Most people can't believe that we had one of the worst air fleets in the world during the inter-war period. And it was because of the 19th century thinking of the senior brass. But for airplane nuts like myself, seeing the old Boeing F4B's, Curtiss Goshawks and Grumman F2F's and F3F's actually in the air was the most wonderful part of the movie. If you get a chance to see it, do so.

Task Force gives an excellent account of the earlie years of carrier aviation, right from the 1922 Arms Limitation Conference and the old USS Langly through to the Korean war with the Essex class ships and the jet planes. I especially like that the movie features the real USS Saratoga and USS Enterprise. I think that the movie excellently shows the struggle to gain acknowledgement for carrier aviation, right up to the the attack on Pearl Harbour were the Japanese showed the U.S. how to utilize their carriers. Also the way certain characters has been in-cooperated in the script, the character of Pete Richards bears a striking recemblance to the life of Adm. Marc Mitcher, and also Adm. Yamamotos earlier assignments in Washington D.C. and old Captain Joe Reeves role in carrier aviation are brilliantly portrayed. Finally, Gary Cooper is an excellent choice of actor for the part of Captain Scott, his posture and seriousness makes fore a real officer and gentleman (there should also be something for the ladies !?)