The Big Lift (1950)

In the tense aftermath of World War II, the city of Berlin becomes a battleground of political maneuvering as the Soviet Union establishes blockades on all terrestrial and aquatic routes, aiming to starve the Western sectors into submission. Allied forces, with the resolute backing of Berlin's citizenry, launch an audacious airlift mission, supplying the beleaguered city through the skies. Caught in this turbulent vortex of history are two U.S. Air Force servicemen, Sgt. Danny MacCullough and M/Sgt. Hank Kowalski. MacCullough, a determined airman, navigates his way from Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt to Tempelhof Field in Berlin, ferrying essential supplies. His seemingly monotonous routine is disrupted when he meets Frederica Burkhardt, a German war widow at Tempelhof. This encounter sparks an intense longing in him to explore the heart of Berlin and to delve into the life of the enigmatic Frederica. Kowalski, on the other hand, is a ground control approach operator at Tempelhof, nursing deep anti-German sentiments birthed from his harrowing experiences in a German POW camp during the war. He finds himself in an unexpected liaison with Gerda, a naïve Fraulein sheltered from the harsh realities of the world by Nazi propaganda. As the airlift mission continues against the backdrop of a city teetering on the edge, Kowalski and MacCullough's lives intertwine in unexpected ways. MacCullough's burgeoning love for Frederica faces numerous hurdles, including the distrust from his comrade Kowalski. Concurrently, they find themselves embroiled in a web of espionage, political unrest, and personal dilemmas, giving them a startling glimpse into the gritty realities of occupied Berlin. "The Big Lift" is thus a compelling blend of semi-documentary and fiction, weaving an intricate tapestry of personal narratives within the historic Berlin Airlift. It is a gripping tale of love, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of humanity amidst the cruel game of power politics.

The Big Lift is an action movie featuring Montgomery Clift.

The Big Lift is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, Public Domain Movies, The Film Detective and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Pure Flix and fuboTV.

It is also possible to buy The Big Lift on Amazon Video and FlixFling.