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Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
November 1944 (USA)
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Tagline:
Heart-Warming Romance . . . Stark, Sensational Drama! Thrills! Action! Adventure! ...Ripped From The Heart!
Plot:
In the wake of Pearl Harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a secret bombing mission which will take the war to the Japanese homeland. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Aircraft Carrier
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Bomber
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China
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Japan
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Doolittle Raid
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Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Van Johnson: 1916 - 2008
(From IMDb News. 14 December 2008, 1:27 PM, PST)
Actor Van Johnson Dies
(From WENN. 12 December 2008, 11:34 AM, PST)
(From IMDb News. 14 December 2008, 1:27 PM, PST)
Actor Van Johnson Dies
(From WENN. 12 December 2008, 11:34 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A very accurate account of a major World War II event.
more (41 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Van Johnson | ... | Ted Lawson - Crew of the Ruptured Duck | |
| Robert Walker | ... | David Thatcher - Crew of the Ruptured Duck | |
| Tim Murdock | ... | Dean Davenport - Crew of the Ruptured Duck | |
| Don DeFore | ... | Charles McClure - Crew of the Ruptured Duck | |
| Herbert Gunn | ... | Bob Clever - Crew of the Ruptured Duck (as Gordon McDonald) | |
| Phyllis Thaxter | ... | Ellen Lawson | |
| Stephen McNally | ... | 'Doc' White (as Horace McNally) | |
| John R. Reilly | ... | 'Shorty' Manch | |
| Robert Mitchum | ... | Bob Gray | |
| Scott McKay | ... | Davey Jones | |
| Donald Curtis | ... | Lieut. Randall | |
| Louis Jean Heydt | ... | Lieut. Miller | |
| William 'Bill' Phillips | ... | Don Smith (as Wm. 'Bill' Phillips) | |
| Douglas Cowan | ... | 'Brick' Holstrom | |
| Paul Langton | ... | Captain 'Ski' York |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
138 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #10248) |
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) |
Canada:PG (video rating) |
Australia:PG |
Finland:S |
Spain:T |
Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Actual footage of the B-25 Mitchell bombers taking off from the U.S.S. Hornet was used in the film.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: The map that Col. Doolittle shows the crews at the beginning of the mission training indicating the location of the four auxiliary airfields has no relationship at all with the Eglin Army Air Field reservation or the northwest Gulfcoast of Florida where the training took place.
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Quotes:
Ellen Lawson:
Oh, Ted, I'm going to write you a letter every day you're gone. I know they won't deliver them. I won't even mail them, but I'm going to write them anyway. That way we'll kind of be in touch. That way we'll feel close.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in "MGM: When the Lion Roars" (1992)
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Soundtrack:
The Army Air Corps Song
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (41 total)
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Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is the most accurate portrayal of the Doolittle Raid on Japan during World War II. Whenever a movie is made from a book, there are usually changes made for "dramatic effect". However, there does not seem to be any such changes in this movie, as there is plenty of drama in the original story. Most of the dialogue was taken directly from the book by the same name. There are some scenes that may seem to be "propaganda" or "corny", but one must remember that in 1943, the atmosphere was different in the United States and the rest of the world. All of the characters in the movie were real life people from the Doolittle Raid and from accounts in the book and other sources, they are accurately portrayed by the actors in the movie. The main character, Ted Lawson, was the original technical advisor, but he was replaced by Dean Davenport (Lawson's co-pilot) after Lawson was re-called to active duty. Most of the flying scenes were done with actual B-25's accurately marked and even the take-off, which was done on a sound stage, used real aircraft on an aircraft carrier mock-up. The scenes that used miniatures were also well done for the time period (before digital effects). The movie "Pearl Harbor" also has an account of the Doolittle Raid, but it is very, very inaccurate. This movie is worth watching for everyone who has a desire to see historical events and is a must for all aviation and military buffs.