The japanese story of the battle of midway, prepared by u. The battle took place over four days between june 4th and june 7th in 1942. The film provides a relatively brief account of the japanese attack of american ships at midway atoll. Interrupted, 1999 create an entertaining movie that craftily creates a place in the present. The famed ww2 battle has been the subject of several films. This film provides an interesting narrative of the events leading up to the battle of midway. Mar, 2010 the battle of midway chronicles a significant moment in u.
Jun 04, 20 this week marks the anniversary of the battle of midway, which is near and dear to all us navy types. Naval reserve at the time and on temporary duty at midway island during the battle as a photographic and intelligence officer. A commander in the navy and later head of a photographic unit in the office of strategic services, ford arrived on midway island not expecting to stay long. I just wish there were more footage of this conflict. The battle of midway, directed by john ford, provides a relatively.
So, from a historical viewpoint it is an important film. Lincoln 1939 and my darling clementine 1946, but the focus here is on ordinary. Learn more about this statesponsored film in the docuseries five came back. The situation as the last of the midway planes withdrew is summed up in the report of admiral nimitz. Part of this additional footage is available as a bonus feature on the universal pictures home entertainment dvd of midway. The first was a documentary directed by john ford, a commander in the u. Subsequently, the movie midway, directed by jack smight, was released in 1976. So did they send the big director out there thinking theyd get film of a critical battle.
By june 1942, the japanese navy has swept across the pacific. Midway, an american film about the battle, directed by jack smight. Midway is east 1952 episode 4 from a 26episode series about naval combat during world war ii. The battle of midway was a decisive naval battle in the pacific theater of world war ii that took place on 47 june 1942, six months after japans attack on pearl harbor and one month after the battle of the coral sea. A carnival barker foolishly releases his 400 pound gorilla, who then literally goes bananas on a rampage of raw rape. That portion of the documentary was fascinating and made the film worth. The course to midway, a comprehensive overview created by bill spencer and hosted by the united states navys website. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Navy of the actual battle, releasing an awardwinning documentary called the battle of midway in 1942. The battle of midway is an important historical film.
For anyone at all interested in the battle of midway, the pacific war or the navy, this is a must read. When finally completed, the midway operation was in actuality an. In this dramatization of the battle of midway during world war ii, u. Battle of midway, june 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1942 library. The 1942 battle was the first major american victory in the war and a decisive defeat for the japanese who lost four aircraft carriers in the threeday battle, and the 18minute documentary that ford created from the footage that he and his unit shot in the heat of battle provided the first glimpse of actual american servicemen in battle in world war ii. Naval intelligence from captured japanese documents. This is the actual photographic report of the battle of midway, reads the opening frames of john fords the battle of midway. In an effort to change the course of the war, a united states carrier group is positioned off the coast of midway, tasked with. Battle of midway june 36, 1942, world war ii naval battle, fought almost entirely with aircraft, in which the united states destroyed japans firstline carrier strength and most of its best trained naval pilots.
This film is the most outrageous, grindhouse take on poes murders in the rue morgue ever committed to film. The battle of midway is examined in this 50 minute documentary. The midway forces had struck with full strength, but the japanese were not as yet checked. It is a montage of color footage of the battle of midway with voice overs of various narrators, including johnny governali, donald crisp, henry fonda, and jane darwell. It would certainly be nice if the remaining partswith the actual battle could be uploaded. The official world war ii us government film statement defining the various enemies of the allies and why they must be fought.
A story of hollywood and the second world war contains a detailed account of the documentarys origin and impact. Naval intelligence from captured japanese documents battle of midway movie 1942 u. By attacking midway atoll, at the far western end of the hawaiian chain, the japanese. It is a typical morale booster with much flag waving and stirring music. The japanese attack on midway in june 1942, filmed as it happened.
This was the third of a fivepart look at hollywood directors who made films for the u. Director john ford captures combat footage of the battle of midway. Battle of midway simple english wikipedia, the free. The tv version was 33 minutes longer than the theatrical film. Navy and the imperial japanese navy that played out six months after the attack on pearl harbor. There is virtually no mention of the preparations for the battle of midway, nor of the tactics employed by both the japanese and the us. The battle of midway filmed at the time and directed by john ford was one of four winners of the inaugural, 1942 academy award for best documentary. The americans were reading the japanese navy codes and used that knowledge to sink 3 irreplaceable fleet carriers at midway. The commanding officer can not praise too highly the aggressive fighting spirit of the entire complement of the yorktown and her air group, not only in the battle of midway but in all the actions of the present war in which they have participated. A dramatization of the battle that was widely heralded as a turning point of the pacific theatre of world war ii. As often seen, when a documentary is done by a company from a different. The battle of midway is a 1942 american documentary film short directed by john ford. Approximately six months later, the battle of midway commences on june 4, 1942.
Midway, a different board wargame by avalon hill based on the battle. This puzzles me, the footage on the dvd is good, but there should be more. The imperial japanese navy had been undefeated until. The battle of midway has been featured in several motion pictures. The film, which restages a second world war battle that still has surviving participants, is emptyheaded and irresponsible. The battle of midway is argueably the most important battle of the pacific war. Though it isnt immediately apparent, this films look at the battle of midway revolves largely around one reallife fighter pilot who, as depicted here, wouldnt have been out of. The battle of midway was an important naval battle of world war ii, between the united states and the empire of japan. The film, based on the reallife events of this heroic feat, tells the story of. Battle of midway, 47 june 1942, by the naval historical center. A dramatization of the battle of midway, one of the most decisive naval battles of world war 2, taking place only six months after pearl harbor, and helping turn the tide of the war in the. By attacking midway atoll, at the far western end of the hawaiian chain, the japanese hoped to lure the us pacific fleet into the open sea and destroy it. The battle of midway was an epic wwii clash between the u. Midway centers on the battle of midway, a clash between the american.
It is a montage of color footage of the battle of midway with voice overs of. The film chronicles the battle of midway, a turning point in world war ii in the pacific. It was the turning point of the war in the pacific between the united states and japan. Oral history provided courtesy of the historian, bureau of medicine and surgery on 15 december 1941 i was detached from the u. Midway, an american film about the battle, directed by roland emmerich. About 10 ships had been damaged, of which 1 or 2 ap or ak may have been sunk. Special events were held on what is now midway atoll national wildlife refuge. The first midway movie was a documentary shot by hollywood director john ford with cameramen jack mackenzie, jr.
This documentary follows the battle with footage shot by navy cameramen. The first film about the battle was directed by john ford, who used colour motion picture from u. The damage done to american naval power, along with the decision of the united. Midway games, a video game developer and publisher. The film is comprised mostly of authentic footage from the battle, with. Battle of midway 1976 movie original official theatrical. The true world war ii history behind the midway movie time. Feb 02, 2014 the tv version also has coral sea battle scenes to help the plot build up to the decisive engagement at midway. The 1942 battle was the first major american victory in the war and a decisive defeat for the japanese who lost four aircraft carriers in the threeday battle, and the 18minute documentary that ford created from the footage that he and his unit shot in the heat of. The historical documentary battle of midway travels back to 1942 to investigate the reasons for the united states illprepared entrance into the pacific front of world war ii.
The fourday battle in 1942 took place six months after japans attack on pearl harbor, and saw the u. In my study of ww ii history i read several books about the battle and noted two things of interest among so many others. The battle of midway was one of the most important battles of world war ii. Title battle of midway, june 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1942 summary aerial view of u. The battle of midway presented a victory in vivid color to an american public eager for good war news. However, it is incomplete, as it appears to be the first part of a multipart film. Vengeance will not be complete until japanese sea power is reduced to impotence.
In february 1942 a japanese submarine bombarded the atoll and a few months later, the great naval battle of midway was won, which is regarded as the most important naval battle of the war and the turning point in the pacific theatre of operations. The battle of midway is a 1942 american short documentary film directed by john ford. The sequences on the italian campaign were very good. Selected as a best book of 2011 by military history quarterly deeply researched, shrewdly argued, and powerfully narrated, the battle of midway is a superb work of the historians craft. The american victory effectively ended japans ability to prosecute an offensive war in the pacific. The battle of midway 1942 wwii documentary youtube. A very amateurish piece of film which tells us almost nothing about the battle. Navy fighter planes during the attack on the japanese fleet off midway, and burning japanese ship below. Midway in us theaters november 8, 2019 starring woody harrelson, mandy moore, luke evans, aaron eckhart. This was about a month after the battle of the coral sea, and six months after the japanese attack on pearl harbor.
Chester nimitz henry fonda leads an outnumbered unit in the pacific to break japanese encryption codes. On june 7, 1942, the battle of midwayone of the most decisive u. John fords the battle of midway a film made by accident. Two retired marines both of them 90 years old traveled to midway atoll for the first time in 70 years to commemorate the battle of midway. This document contains extremely graphic descriptions of casualties resulting from this battle source. Wwii turning points the battle of midway the attack on pearl harbor had been a tremendous success for the japanese. Naval school of aviation medicine, pensacola, florida, destined to eventually join the crew of uss yorktown. Everything you need to know about midway movie 2019. Film historian mark harriss 2014 book five came back. Director john ford was an accidental witness to one of americas most important battles of wwii.
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