All of these great film score composers had two things in common. They were classically trained composers, mostly in European conservatories, and were influenced by the music of the Immortal Sergei Vasilievitch Rachmaninoff. This mighty composition is a sui generis example.
"The High and the Mighty" was the first movie I ever saw. I was 5, and my AF family was stationed in the Azores. The opening credits were playing as we walked down the darkened aisle of the theater, and this theme, which is the first tune I ever heard that was played on decent speakers instead of on a small record player, sent chills down my spine. It can still have that effect.
This song reminds me of a better day for our country. Gosh, you can hear it unless you are really dumb. This was an era of peace, hope, and love. Now, we have war raging everywhere, and are led by an evil man. I just feel deep inside my bones, that we are about to be punished for being decrepit. May God help us all. We have fallen, and wrecked what blessing we ever had.