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IMDbPro

December 7th

  • 19431943
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
913
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
51,511
11,610
December 7th (1943)
DocumentaryActionDrama
"Docudrama" about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and its results, the recovering of the ships, the improving of defense in Hawaii and the US efforts to beat back the Japan... Read all"Docudrama" about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and its results, the recovering of the ships, the improving of defense in Hawaii and the US efforts to beat back the Japanese reinforcements."Docudrama" about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and its results, the recovering of the ships, the improving of defense in Hawaii and the US efforts to beat back the Japanese reinforcements.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
913
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
51,511
11,610
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • John Ford
      • Gregg Toland
    • Writer
      • Budd Schulberg(uncredited)
    • Stars
      • Walter Huston
      • Harry Davenport
      • Dana Andrews
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • John Ford
      • Gregg Toland
    • Writer
      • Budd Schulberg(uncredited)
    • Stars
      • Walter Huston
      • Harry Davenport
      • Dana Andrews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos

    December 7th (1943)
    December 7th (1943)
    December 7th (1943)
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    Top cast

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    Walter Huston
    Walter Huston
    • Uncle Sam 'U.S.'
    Harry Davenport
    Harry Davenport
    • Mr. 'C'
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • Ghost of US Sailor Killed at Pearl Harbor
    Paul Hurst
    Paul Hurst
    • World War I Ghost Soldier
    George O'Brien
    George O'Brien
    • Single Voice of the Dead Servicemen
    • (voice)
    James Kevin McGuinness
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as James K. McGuiness)
    Philip Ahn
    Philip Ahn
    • Shinto Priest
    • (uncredited)
    Addie Allen
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Byrd
    Ralph Byrd
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    James Conaty
    • Wounded Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Hirohito
    Hirohito
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    James E. Kelley
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Mrs. James E. Kelley
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Mrs. William J. Leight
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    William J. Leight
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    'Ducky' Louie
    • Hawaiian Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Lowery
    Robert Lowery
    • Pvt. Joseph L. Lockhart
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • John Ford
      • Gregg Toland
    • Writer
      • Budd Schulberg(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Turner Classic Movies showed the original uncut "censured" version of this movie on 15 September 2015. During the introduction with Ben Mankiewicz and Mark Harris, one of many reasons why the movie was censored was in 1943 it was considered too racist against the Japanese.
    • Goofs
      Showing the events of the Sunday morning attack, the priest at Mass (at Kaneohe, I believe) announces incorrectly that it is the 1st Sunday of Advent. Actually it was the 2nd Sunday of Advent.
    • Quotes

      World War I Ghost Soldier: Six will get you twelve that fifteen to twenty years from now they'll be opening up new sectors in here.

    • Crazy credits
      The War and Navy Departments, producers of the movie, are credited orally by a narrator.
    • Alternate versions
      Special 50th anniversary edition on video released in 1991 is restored to 82-minute length with subtitles added to Japanese language sequences and a descriptive prologue added. The 1943 version was a completely censored 34-minute version with the full version being banned by the US government for being damaging to morale.
    • Connections
      Edited into Task Force (1949)
    • Soundtracks
      Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
      Written by David T. Shaw

      Arranged by Thomas A. Beckett

      Played as background music often

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    December 7TH {Short Theatrical Version} (John Ford and, uncredited, Gregg Toland, 1943) ***
    This is another war documentary by Ford, obviously detailing the nefarious 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour that saw the U.S. finally enter WWII. Ironically, the film was originally made as a feature (running 82 minutes) but was heavily censored by the authorities – despite having been commissioned by President Roosevelt himself! – to the point that it was reduced to a 34-minute short, entered in the Academy Award category for Best Documentary Short and winning the Oscar! For the record, only the edited version was released among the extras on Fox's BECOMING JOHN FORD (2007) DVD and, while I managed to acquire the full-length edition off "You Tube", I opted to only watch the shorter print in view of its being Oscar season!

    Anyway, this makes a much better attempt to tell the whole story than THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY (one imagines the feature being that more comprehensive in this regard!), and only resorts to mawkishness – albeit movingly done regardless – towards the end i.e. when the fallen soldiers 'introduce' themselves to the audience. Needless to say, the Japanese side is depicted in strictly caricatured terms (which was the accepted norm for the duration of the conflict, seen also in contemporary cartoons!)…but, while a Japanese civilian (sympathizing with the invasion) is interviewed, we also get to see how other naturalized Orientals hid evidence (not just store-signs but the Asian calligraphy itself!) of their old country in shame. Again, a number of stars lend their services to provide the accompanying narration: I recognized Walter Huston's voice in this streamlined copy but, reportedly, the likes of Harry Davenport and Dana Andrews were also involved.
    helpful•3
    1
    • Bunuel1976
    • Feb 4, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1943 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Hawaiian
    • Also known as
      • December 7
    • Filming locations
      • Oahu, Hawaii, USA
    • Production companies
      • Navy Department
      • U.S. War Department
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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