IMDb RATING
6.1/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened.The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened.The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total
Henry Fonda
- Narrator
- (voice)
Jane Darwell
- Narrator
- (voice)
James Roosevelt
- Self - US Army Major
- (as Major Roosevelt)
Donald Crisp
- Main Narrator
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Irving Pichel
- Narrator
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Jimmie Thach
- Self - Naval Aviator
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirector John Ford and cinematographer Joseph H. August were wounded by enemy fire while filming the battle.
- Quotes
Main Narrator: Midway Island. Not much land right enough, but it's our outpost. Your front yard.
- ConnectionsEdited into Ils ont filmé la guerre en couleur (2000)
- SoundtracksAmerica, My Country Tis of Thee
(1832) (uncredited)
Music by Lowell Mason, based on the Music by Henry Carey from "God Save the King" (1744)
Words by Samuel F. Smith
Played in the score and later sung by an offscreen chorus
Featured review
Courageous filming of part of a key battle of WW II
This is a great, short (less than 20 minutes)film of one part of the key battle of the war in the Pacific. Keep it mind, the Battle of Midway was fought in early June, 1942. The darkest days of the Pacific War for America. Pearl Harbor, the Phillipines, Bataan, Corregidor, Wake Island; all American defeats. It is, indeed, a "propaganda" film. Or, at least it was turned into one after John Ford shot it. But the film of the combat itself is no propaganda piece. It took a lot of courage for Ford to stick his cameras out and film while hundreds of Japanese planes struck the island. Many Marines died in the bombing. Ford could easily have been killed. Of necessity, Ford could only film the land portion of the battle, which was an attempt by Japanese naval forces to reduce the island's defenses and then conduct a landing, possibly eventually putting Hawaii in jeopardy with a new, forward Japanese base on Midway. The major part of the battle was a naval battle between carrier forces. An "incredible victory" in the title of the Walter Lord book. Four Japanese aircraft carriers, miles from the filming on Midway itself, were sunk. It was the begging of the end of Japan. The stiff resistance put up by the Marines on Midway, captured by Ford, forced decisions by the Japanese High Command that ultimately led to the sinking of their carriers. Historically interesting film.
helpful•130
- monticellomeadow
- Aug 14, 2008
Details
- Runtime18 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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