Barnes & Noble

One of the best World War II movies ever made, Tora! Tora! Tora! lavishly and meticulously restages the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor -- and does so with a zeal for authenticity that borders on the documentary. The real-life story unfolds simultaneously from both American and Japanese points of view; in an unusual filmmaking gambit, Hollywood director Richard Fleischer helms the scenes featuring American principals Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten, E. G. Marshall, and James Whitmore, while Japanese directors Toshio Masuda and Kinji Fukasaka handle those with Soh Yamamura, Tatsuya Mihashi, Takahiro Tamura, and Eijoro Tono. This approach results in a more balanced presentation of the facts, including dramatizations of the misinterpretations and blundering that bedeviled both sides in the days leading up to the attack. Famous historical personalities are accurately portrayed, actual locations are utilized wherever possible, and the actors play their parts with restraint. A well-deserved Oscar went to special-effects giants A. D. Flowers and L. B. Abbott for their amazingly realistic re-creation of the Sunday-morning bombing. Refreshingly free of the mindless jingoism that characterizes many WWII movies, Tora! Tora! Tora! stands head and shoulders above most others because it attaches equal importance to showmanship and accuracy. Fleischer and Japanese-film historian Stewart Galbraith supply a commentary for the Special Edition DVD, which also includes the documentary Day of Infamy. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

This 25-million dollar epic collaboration accurately recreates the events that led to the Japanese attack on the American naval base during World War II. With Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the wheels are set in motion by Japan to plan the attack. After internal differences in the government, the Japanese quickly mobilize plans for the assault. Key American personnel ignored warnings of the possibility of Japanese aggression. The first part of the film divides scenes from both countries. Part two contains spectacular battle scenes of the bombing that destroyed the American naval base of operations in Hawaii. Governmental errors on both sides add to the confusion, but the Japanese ultimately carry out the deadly mission. The film did well in Japan, did not do well in the he United States, and took years to make back the production costs. It remains an insightful and well crafted World War II action drama that was the result of years of negotiations between the two countries. Dan Pavlides

Product Details

• UPC: 024543013181
• Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital, stereo, monaural
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English, Español
• Time: 2:24:00
• Sales Rank: 6,584

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Wwii Collection
• The Great Fox War Movies
• Anthology of War on Film Collection

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