Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

A dramatization of the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor and the series of American blunders that allowed it to happen.

Directors:

Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku

Writers:

Larry Forrester (screenplay), Hideo Oguni (screenplay)

Stars:

Martin Balsam, Sô Yamamura, Jason Robards

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Balsam	...	Admiral Kimmel
Sô Yamamura	...	Admiral Yamamoto (as Soh Yamamura)
Joseph Cotten	...	Henry Stimson
Tatsuya Mihashi	...	Commander Genda
E.G. Marshall	...	Colonel Bratton
Takahiro Tamura	...	Lt. Commander Fuchida
James Whitmore	...	Admiral Halsey
Eijirô Tôno	...	Admiral Nagumo (as Eijiro Tono)
Wesley Addy	...	Lt. Commander Kramer
Shôgo Shimada	...	Ambassador Nomura (as Shogo Shimada)
Frank Aletter	...	Lt. Commander Thomas
Koreya Senda	...	Prince Konoye
Leon Ames	...	Frank Knox
Jun Usami	...	Admiral Yoshida (as Junya Usami)
Richard Anderson	...	Captain John Earle

Storyline

In 1941 the Japanese are at odds with the United States on a number of issues which they are attempting to resolve via their Washington embassy. In case this diplomacy fails, the military are hatching plans for a surprise early Sunday morning air attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbour. American intelligence is breaking the Japanese diplomatic messages but few high-ups are prepared to believe that an attack is likely, let alone where or how it might come.

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Plot Keywords:

attack | pearl harbor | navy | hawaii | u.s. navy | 

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Taglines:

The incredible attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Japan USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

23 September 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Тора! Тора! Тора!

Filming Locations:

Ashiya, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$14,500,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Elmo Williams, Richard Fleischer

Technical Specs

Runtime:

144 min 160 min (Extended Japanese Edition 2009)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) Mono (some 35 mm prints) 4-Track Stereo (some 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shôgo Shimada and Hisao Toake, who played Ambassadors Nomura and Kurusu, were the only cast members to work with both the Japanese and American units. Shimada's English language dialog was looped by Paul Frees.

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Goofs

At the dance attended by Army airmen in khakis, all wear black shoes. The Army wore brown shoes with all uniforms except dress blues until 1957.

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Quotes

Fisherman: [annoyed by Fuchida's planes flying past him during a training flight] Navy pilots attract geisha girls, but they frighten the fish!

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Connections

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005)

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Soundtracks

The Star-Spangled Banner
Music based on "The Anacreontic Song" by John Stafford Smith
[Played on ship by Navy band as zeroes attack.]

User Reviews

One of the best WW2 movies ever.

Tora! Tora! Tora! has long been a favorite of this WW2 buff. Considering I have had 34 years to study and learn about the war since the film first was shown, I still maintain it is almost unbeatable in terms of realism and historical accuracy. An added attraction for me has always been it's total lack of a love interest. Unlike the recent "Pearl Harbor", T!T!T! is not complicated by any silly love stories. While by recent standards the movie may seem slow paced and plodding, the details of the events leading up to the attack is gratifying to see and actually educational. The attack action is thrilling, well paced, and in its use of models, actual planes and other equipment,is extremely realistic with few distracting anachronisms. Be aware that this is definitely not a movie to watch if you are in a hurry.