The High and the Mighty
“The 2-Year Best-Seller Sensation! The Year's Greatest Cast!”
Synopsis
Dan Roman is a veteran pilot haunted by a tragic past. Now relegated to second-in-command cockpit assignments he finds himself on a routine Honolulu-to-San Francisco flight that takes a terrifying turn when disaster strikes high above the Pacific Ocean after the point of no return.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The High and the Mighty - TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-11-10
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
John Wayne
Dan Roman
Claire Trevor
May Holst
Laraine Day
Lydia Rice
Robert Stack
John Sullivan
Jan Sterling
Sally McKee
Phil Harris
Ed Joseph
Robert Newton
Gustave Pardee
David Brian
Ken Childs
Paul Kelly
Donald Flaherty
Sidney Blackmer
Humphrey Agnew
Julie Bishop
Lillian Pardee
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
Gonzales
John Howard
Howard Rice
Wally Brown
Lenny Wilby, navigator
William Campbell
Hobie Wheeler
Ann Doran
Clara Joseph
John Qualen
Jose Locota
Paul Fix
Frank Briscoe
Release History & Theatrical Window
Los Angeles, California
Festival / Special Debut
July 3, 1954
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 11, 2007
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- William A. Wellman
- Screenplay & Story
- Ernest K. Gann
- Original Score
- Dimitri Tiomkin
- Original Title
- The High and the Mighty
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 27m
- Production Studios
- Wayne-Fellows Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
William A. Wellman
Ernest K. Gann
Dimitri Tiomkin
Archie Stout
Ralph Dawson
John Wayne, Robert Fellows
Department Leadership Roster
Archie Stout
Director of Photography
Ernest K. Gann
Screenplay
John Wayne
Producer
Robert Fellows
Producer
William A. Wellman
Director
Ralph Dawson
Editor
Dimitri Tiomkin
Original Music Composer
Gwen Wakeling
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The High and the Mighty.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The High and the Mighty.
list0
John Wayne Film Collection
A chronological collection of films featuring John Wayne, spanning his early uncredited appearances and B-westerns through his major Hollywood roles and final film, The Shootist. Includes credited and verified uncredited acting appearances, while excluding television appearances, archival-footage documentaries, and films in which Wayne served only as a producer or director.
Golden Globes - Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Winners 1943-2025
Golden Globes winners archive (Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Winners 1943-2025)
Academy Awards - Best Original Score Winners 1934-2025
Academy Awards winners archive (Best Original Score Winners 1934-2025)
Missing Mine
MovieList
Movies from TV Guide
Similar Titles to The High and the Mighty
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
5.6
6.1
6.6
7.2
6.8
7.4
6.3
5.1
6.5
7.7
5.7
6.2
6.8
7.2
5.7
5.1
7.2
7.6
4.6
More Like The High and the Mighty
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The High and the Mighty
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The High and the Mighty about?
Dan Roman is a veteran pilot haunted by a tragic past. Now relegated to second-in-command cockpit assignments he finds himself on a routine Honolulu-to-San Francisco flight that takes a terrifying turn when disaster strikes high above the Pacific Ocean after the point of no return.
Who directed The High and the Mighty?
The High and the Mighty was directed by William A. Wellman.
Who stars in The High and the Mighty?
The principal cast of The High and the Mighty includes John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Laraine Day, Robert Stack, Jan Sterling.
When was The High and the Mighty released and how long is it?
The High and the Mighty was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 2h 27m.
Who composed the musical score for The High and the Mighty?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The High and the Mighty was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin.
Is The High and the Mighty based on a book or true story?
The High and the Mighty is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Ernest K. Gann".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The High and the Mighty?
The High and the Mighty holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).