{"id":53005,"date":"2020-11-07T14:40:45","date_gmt":"2020-11-07T21:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53005"},"modified":"2020-11-17T16:44:47","modified_gmt":"2020-11-17T23:44:47","slug":"thirty-seconds-over-tokyo-1944","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53005","title":{"rendered":"Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You men are here because you volunteered.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster-202x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-53006\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster-202x300.png 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster-688x1024.png 688w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster-181x270.png 181w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Poster.png 749w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn retaliation for the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Lt. Colonel James Doolittle (Spencer Tracy) solicits volunteer pilots &#8212; including Lt. Dawson (Van Johnson), whose wife (Phyllis Thaxter) is newly pregnant &#8212; to engage in an aerial attack on Japan.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Airplanes and Pilots<\/li>\n<li>Mervyn LeRoy Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Mitchum Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Walker Films<\/li>\n<li>Spencer Tracy Films<\/li>\n<li>Van Johnson<\/li>\n<li>World War II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMervyn LeRoy directed and Dalton Trumbo scripted this adaptation of a journalistic memoir about <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ted_W._Lawson\">T.W. Lawson<\/a>, a pilot during the notorious<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doolittle_Raid\">Doolittle Raid<\/a> who lost part of a leg after a crash landing near the island of Nantien. It&#8217;s well-crafted patriotic fare, taking time to firmly establish the willingness (and bravery) of all the men who volunteered for this secret mission; the amazing lives (and women) they left behind); and how challenging it was for the men to learn how to engage in bold new aerial tactics with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/North_American_B-25_Mitchell\">B-25 bombers<\/a>. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/451\/thirty-seconds-over-tokyo#articles-reviews\">TCM<\/a>: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;MGM notified the War Department that they had three goals in making the film: to improve public morale, to dispel rumors that the Army and Navy were not working together effectively during the war and to generate support for China&#8217;s part of the war effort by showing how the Chinese Army and peasants helped downed U.S. flyers escape the Japanese. The studio did not, however, mention that the Chinese helping the downed flyers were Communist guerillas.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-1024x634.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"396\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-1536x951.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese-436x270.png 436w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Chinese.png 1649w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, it&#8217;s refreshing to see the sincere effort put into demonstrating Sino-American collaboration: while none emerge as fully-rounded protagonists, the Chinese characters are at least shown to possess humanity and compassion. (As Lawson tells Dr. Yung [Benson Fong]: &#8220;You&#8217;re our kind of people.&#8221;) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-1024x656.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"410\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-1024x656.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-128x82.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-768x492.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-1536x984.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong-422x270.png 422w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Fong.png 1607w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With that said, Thaxter&#8217;s character is written (and portrayed) in an overly earnest fashion (does the couple <em>ever<\/em> stop their mutual adoration club?)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-1024x641.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53566\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-1024x641.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-768x481.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-1536x962.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple-431x270.png 431w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Couple.png 1627w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and emergent stars Walker and Mitchum aren&#8217;t given big enough roles. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-1024x634.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"396\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-1536x951.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker-436x270.png 436w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Walker.png 1645w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-1024x635.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"397\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-1024x635.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-1536x952.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum-436x270.png 436w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Mitchum.png 1612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This film will primarily be of interest to WWII aerial buffs. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine cinematography and (Oscar-winning) special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-1024x646.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"404\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-1024x646.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-768x485.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-1536x970.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2-428x270.png 428w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography2.png 1627w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-1024x636.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"398\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-1024x636.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-768x477.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-1536x954.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography-435x270.png 435w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Cinematography.png 1653w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-1024x641.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-53009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-1024x641.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-768x481.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-1536x961.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing-432x270.png 432w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Bombing.png 1635w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look for historical purposes. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0037366\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2321war.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=12957&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1944\/11\/16\/archives\/the-screen-thirty-seconds-over-tokyo-a-faithful-mirror-of-capt-ted.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/451\/thirty-seconds-over-tokyo#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You men are here because you volunteered.&#8221; Synopsis: In retaliation for the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Lt. Colonel James Doolittle (Spencer Tracy) solicits volunteer pilots &#8212; including Lt. Dawson (Van Johnson), whose wife (Phyllis Thaxter) is newly pregnant &#8212; to engage in an aerial attack on Japan. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Airplanes and Pilots Mervyn LeRoy Films Robert Mitchum Films Robert Walker Films Spencer Tracy Films Van Johnson World War II Review: Mervyn LeRoy directed and Dalton Trumbo scripted&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53005\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=53005"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53571,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53005\/revisions\/53571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}