The story of the 1941 Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor, and the series of preceding American blunders that aggravated its effectiveness.
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Title: Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Martin Balsam | ... | Admiral Husband E. Kimmel | |
| Sô Yamamura | ... | Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto | |
| Jason Robards | ... | General Walter C. Short | |
| Joseph Cotten | ... | Henry L. Stimson | |
| Tatsuya Mihashi | ... | Commander Minoru Genda | |
| E.G. Marshall | ... | Colonel Rufus S. Bratton | |
| Takahiro Tamura | ... | Lt. Commander Fuchida | |
| James Whitmore | ... | Admiral William F. Halsey | |
| Eijirô Tôno | ... | Admiral Chuici Nagumo (as Eijiro Tono) | |
| Wesley Addy | ... | Lt. Commander Alvin D. Kramer | |
| Shôgo Shimada | ... | Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura | |
| Frank Aletter | ... | Lt. Commander Thomas | |
| Koreya Senda | ... | Prince Fumimaro Konoye | |
| Leon Ames | ... | Frank Knox | |
| Jun Usami | ... | Admiral Zengo Yoshida | |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
This dramatic retelling of the Pearl Harbor attack details everything in the days that led up to that tragic moment in American history. As United States and Japanese relations strain over the U.S. embargo of raw materials, Air Staff Officer Minoru Genda (Tatsuya Mihashi) plans the preemptive strike against the United States. Although American intelligence agencies intercept Japanese communications hinting at the attack, they are unwilling to believe such a strike could ever occur on U.S. soil. Written by Jwelch5742
Plot Keywords:
naval aviation | sneak attack | burning ship | japanese military | u.s. military |Taglines:
The incredible attack on Pearl Harbor as told from both the American and Japanese sides. See more »Parents Guide:
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Mrs. Kramer: Well, I was...
Lt. Commander Kramer: Please, take me to the White House.
Mrs. Kramer: Well, if you'd told me we were invited to the White House, I would have dressed. You know Mrs. Roosevelt. Although she's very informal personally, I've heard she's a stickler for protocol.
Lt. Commander Kramer: Darling, will you shut up and drive.
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Music by Harry Warren
Played during the cocktail party on Saturday night, Dec. 6.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Producer Elmo Williams wanted to make the film as historically accurate as possible. After he put together an initial script, he sought out Professor Gordon W. Prange, regarded as the foremost authority on the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of Dr. Prange's books, "Tora! Tora! Tora!" had been a huge bestseller in Japan, and provided source material for this film. Williams asked Dr. Prange to check the script scene by scene for accuracy. Prange made numerous corrections and suggestions. See more »Goofs
When Adm. Kimmel arrives at headquarters during the attack, two officers exit the building and casually walk away. No one would've been walking casually that morning. See more »Quotes
Lt. Commander Kramer: You're late!Mrs. Kramer: Well, I was...
Lt. Commander Kramer: Please, take me to the White House.
Mrs. Kramer: Well, if you'd told me we were invited to the White House, I would have dressed. You know Mrs. Roosevelt. Although she's very informal personally, I've heard she's a stickler for protocol.
Lt. Commander Kramer: Darling, will you shut up and drive.
See more »
Crazy Credits
For the U.S. version, the next to last of the main credits reads "Japanese Sequences Directed by Toshio Masuda Kinji Fukasaku" and the last credit reads, "Directed by Richard Fleischer." For the version released in Japan, the next to last credit reads, "American Sequences Directed by Richard Fleischer" and the final credit reads, "Directed by Toshio Masuda Kinji Fukasaku." See more »Alternate Versions
The Japanese release runs roughly ten minutes longer and contains two sequences not included in other versions: Admiral Yamamoto visiting the Imperial Palace and talking with Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Kido, and a comical scene between two cooks about the carrier Akagi that explains how the International Date Line works. Also, for obvious reasons, the Japanese characters' dialogue is not given on-screen English subtitles. See more »Soundtracks
At LastMusic by Harry Warren
Played during the cocktail party on Saturday night, Dec. 6.
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Details
Release Date:
23 September 1970 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Tora! Tora! Tora! See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$25,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
I just finished reading a great book on the history of Japan in the Second World War, "Rising Sun" by John Toland, and decided to watch Tora! Tora! Tora! again.
This is a great movie and immaculately accurate down to the last detail, such as how the Japanese trained for the attack on Pearl Harbor at Kagoshima City on Ryukyu Island. The book describes how the pilots in crews of three, zoomed down over the mountains behind the city, over the pier, and dropped torpedoes at a breakwater 300 yards away. The movie had all these details. Throughout, it was accurate even down to the exact wording of communications and quotes from the various people involved.
I loved how the Japanese directed the Japanese parts and vice versa for the Americans. It really told both sides of the story.
Technically as a film though, it has limitations. Some of the models used are kind of cheesy, but some are actually pretty good. But hey, it was 1970, this is before Star Wars even. And a lot of the acting is pretty wooden.
If you're looking for great special effects, and not much substance, see Pearl Harbor. If you're interested in the story, the "why", and figures involved in this historic event, definitely see Tora! Tora! Tora!.
Better yet, read the book I referenced above - it won the Pulitzer Prize and you won't be able to put it down - and you will be spellbound by this movie knowing all the background and reasons for the Japanese attack, and all the details about the characters.