Dated but still enjoyable classic warlike flagwaver details the conception and execution of the first bombings raids on Tokyo and Yokohama in April 1942 , which took place 131 later the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour , the incident that brought the USA into World War II in December 1941 . In January 1942, when Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle (Spencer Tracy) as the leader of the mission calls for volunteers for a top-secret Army Air Force mission, pilot Lieut. Ted Lawson (Van Johnson) is one of many men to offer his services . Lawson and his B-25 crew, co-pilot Dean Davenport (Murdock) , gunner David Thatcher (Robert Walker) , bombardier Bob Clever (Herbert Gunn) and navigator Charles McClure (Don DeFore) , are sent for a perilous assignment . In the wake of Pearl Harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a secret bombing mission which will take the war to the Japanese homeland . Heart-Warming Romance . . . Stark, Sensational Drama! Thrills! Action! Adventure! ...Ripped From The Heart! . M-G-M's Great Thrill Romance . . Thrilling action ! Adventure !. The true story behind the biggest story of our time ! In the arms of Van Johnson is a girl you'll love, Phyllis Thaxter. He took off from Shangri-la! Her heart flew with him!
A block-buster based on a true story with full of thrills and romance , adding emotion , breathtaking aerial scenes and exciting raid over Japan . Quasi-documentary re-creation of the important happenings , being shot with tension and suspense enough . The story is based on the account of one of the survivors of the retaliatory American american bombing raid , Captain Ted W Lawson well played Van Johnson . This is a decent film, though relies heavily on the heart-warming and maudlin love story between Van Johnson and Phyllis Thaxter . Spencer Tracy is in top form , giving his ordinary exemplary acting as general Doolittle who led the first bombing attack on Tokyo during WWII . We follow Doolittle and his men as they train for the big trek , bomb Tokyo and make their way home on foot throughout China . Van Johnson , Phyllis Thaxter , Robert Walker ,Don DeFore, John Reilly, Stephen McNally, Donald Curtis give effective interpretations as air crew chiefs and other characters . And look for Steve Brodie as well as Blake Edwards in their first screen appearances , furthermore , look out for a young Robert Mitchum .
The motion picture was competently directed by Mervyn LeRoy . He was a typical Hollywood filmmaker who directed a lot of lavish and successful movies, such as : Gold Diggers 1933 , Little Caesar , I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang , Waterloo Bridge , Anthony Adverse , Devil at 4 O'Clock , Quo Vadis , Gypsy , Million Dollar Mermaid, Without Reservations , Little Women that won Academy Award : Oscar 1949 Art Direction/Set Decoration, and Thirty seconds over Tokyo . The picture will appeal to Spencer Tracy fans and WWII aficionados .
A block-buster based on a true story with full of thrills and romance , adding emotion , breathtaking aerial scenes and exciting raid over Japan . Quasi-documentary re-creation of the important happenings , being shot with tension and suspense enough . The story is based on the account of one of the survivors of the retaliatory American american bombing raid , Captain Ted W Lawson well played Van Johnson . This is a decent film, though relies heavily on the heart-warming and maudlin love story between Van Johnson and Phyllis Thaxter . Spencer Tracy is in top form , giving his ordinary exemplary acting as general Doolittle who led the first bombing attack on Tokyo during WWII . We follow Doolittle and his men as they train for the big trek , bomb Tokyo and make their way home on foot throughout China . Van Johnson , Phyllis Thaxter , Robert Walker ,Don DeFore, John Reilly, Stephen McNally, Donald Curtis give effective interpretations as air crew chiefs and other characters . And look for Steve Brodie as well as Blake Edwards in their first screen appearances , furthermore , look out for a young Robert Mitchum .
The motion picture was competently directed by Mervyn LeRoy . He was a typical Hollywood filmmaker who directed a lot of lavish and successful movies, such as : Gold Diggers 1933 , Little Caesar , I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang , Waterloo Bridge , Anthony Adverse , Devil at 4 O'Clock , Quo Vadis , Gypsy , Million Dollar Mermaid, Without Reservations , Little Women that won Academy Award : Oscar 1949 Art Direction/Set Decoration, and Thirty seconds over Tokyo . The picture will appeal to Spencer Tracy fans and WWII aficionados .