Destination Tokyo (1943)

In order to provide information for the first air raid over Tokyo, a U.S. submarine sneaks into Tokyo Bay and places a spy team ashore.

Director:

Delmer Daves

Writers:

Steve Fisher (original story), Delmer Daves (screen play)

Stars:

Cary Grant, John Garfield, Alan Hale

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cary Grant	...	Capt. Cassidy
John Garfield	...	Wolf
Alan Hale	...	'Cookie' Wainwright
John Ridgely	...	Reserve Officer Raymond
Dane Clark	...	Tin Can
Warner Anderson	...	Andy
William Prince	...	Pills
Robert Hutton	...	Tommy Adams
Tom Tully	...	Mike Conners
Faye Emerson	...	Mrs. Cassidy
Peter Whitney	...	Dakota
Warren Douglas	...	Larry
John Forsythe	...	Sparks
John Alvin	...	Sound Man
Bill Kennedy	...	Torpedo Gunnery Officer

Storyline

Made during World War II, this chronicles a voyage of a U.S. submarine on a secret mission to the very shores of Japan. Much of the film is spent developing the cast of characters that populate the sub.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine crew | u.s. military | submarine | secret mission | propaganda | 

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Taglines:

Explosive ! . . . And As Big As The Broad Pacific !

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Genres:

Adventure | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

31 December 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bestemming Tokio

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Copperfin submarine was an exact scale model of a real US Navy submarine. However, for reasons of military security, equipment and operating mechanisms were of varying kinds and varieties not found on US submarines so the enemy could not get an accurate picture of what the interior of a Navy submarine looked like.

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Goofs

As the sub departs from S.F., passing under the G.G bridge, a mountain is seen behind the boat. There is no 'mountain' in that location. The only real mountain anywhere nearby is Mount Tamalpais (< 2,600 ft), and it is north of the bridge, which is off screen to the left.

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Quotes

Capt. Cassidy: There was a democratic movement in Japan after the last war. What happened?
Reserve Officer Raymond: The leaders were assassinated.
Andy - Executive Officer: Well, what about the people?
Capt. Cassidy: They have no voice now. Starvation is the big stick, isn't it, Raymond?
Reserve Officer Raymond: That's right, sir. The big wage is seven dollars a week. They have no unions, no free press... nothing.
Capt. Cassidy: They do what they're told.
Reserve Officer Raymond: I'm afraid most of them believe what they're told - like that "hero" who knifed your torpedo man. They've been sold a swindle, and they accept it.
Andy - Executive Officer: But how can ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood on Trial (1976)

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Soundtracks

O Little Town of Bethlehem
(1868) (uncredited)
Music by Lewis H. Redner
Lyrics by Phillips Brooks (1867)
Sung and Played by the submarine crew at Christmas

User Reviews

terrific movie, led by terrific leading man

This movie is a great example of a thriller, not looking to be a non-fiction account of a WWII sub, just a great story with a group of true professionals. Cary Grant was so compelling in this role that Tony Curtis said he based his famous part in Some Like It Hot on Cary Grant's performance in this picture, and that Curtis always wanted to do a movie with Grant on a submarine from that moment forward---and of course got his wish with Operation Petticoat. A previous reviewer slammed this movie for its anti-Japanese propaganda. Perhaps a slight bit of history would help. Statisitically, an American POW was FOUR times likely to die as a prisoner of the Japanese than of the Germans. The end of the war saved the lives of thousands of Americans because their treatment in Japanese camps was so horrifying. Six foot tall sailors weighing 100 pounds was not an uncommon site. The same Japanese military also starved its own people in places like Okinawa to feed itself, and I would hope that all people would now be familiar with the 'rape of Nanking,' so what was called propaganda was more just the way of the world at the time. This is one reason that the people who fought for America during World War II are revered and treasured so much.