The Big Lift
1950 · Movie · NR · 120 min · ★ 6.9 · 50% critics
Set during the Berlin Airlift, this postwar drama follows two American servicemen trying to keep supplies moving into a blockaded city while navigating romance, prejudice, and daily life among the ruins of Germany. It blends military duty with a snapshot of a divided, struggling Berlin.
Where to watch
Watch free on Hoopla, Pluto TV, Tubi +3 more — also streaming on fuboTV, MGM+ and Great American Pure Flix.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Free
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Details
- Years
- 1950
- Release date
- 1950-04-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 50/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (27 votes)
About
You may like this if you enjoy wartime romance mixed with real history and a semi-documentary feel, especially if Yanks or Battle Cry appeal to you; Not for you if you want fast pacing or a plot-first drama.
Pros: authentic postwar Berlin; strong atmosphere; interesting historical backdrop | Cons: thin story; slow pacing; propaganda tone
Themes
- berlin, germany
- u.s. air force
- woman between two men
- airlift
- post war germany
- aviation
- semi-documentary
- war bride
- airfield
- berlin airlift
- air force base
- forced landing
- +2 more
Cast & crew
Montgomery Clift
as Sgt. 1st Class Danny MacCullough
Paul Douglas
as MSgt. Henry "Hank" Kowalski
Cornell Borchers
as Frederica Burkhardt
Bruni Löbel
as Gerda
O.E. Hasse
as Stieber
- DM
Dante V. Morel
as Capt. Dante V. Morel
- JM
John R. Mason
as Capt. John R. Mason
- GP
Gail R. Plush
as Capt. Gail R. Plush
- MB
Mack Blevins
as Capt. Mack Blevins
- WS
William A. Stewart
as Capt. William A. Stewart
Directed by George Seaton