The Battle of Midway (1942)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

John Ford (writer) &
Dudley Nichols (writer) ...

Release Date:

14 September 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Documentary | War

Plot:

The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened.

Plot Keywords:

Midway | Battle | Narration | US Navy | Battle Of Midway

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Donald Crisp	...	Main narrator (voice)
Henry Fonda	...	Narrator (dialogue) (voice)
Jane Darwell	...	Narrator (dialogue) (voice)
Irving Pichel	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Roosevelt	...	Himself (US Army) (as Major Roosevelt)

Runtime:

18 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Midway Islands

Company:

United States Navy, The

Trivia:

Director John Ford was wounded by enemy fire while filming the battle.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Warner at War (2008) (TV)

This is the real thing here-not a re-enactment

This incredible compilation of footage won an Academy Award. It was shot by a crew of war cameramen that included John Ford, who I understand actually took some of the footage himself! While watching this, remember that you generally can effectively aim either a camera or a weapon at any one time, but not both and, as a cameraman has his eye to the lense while shooting, that means that he's exposed to all of the nasty stuff flying all around him with little or no cover! That's called "grace under pressure". They got an Oscar and deserved a medal! Highly recommended.