Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

tag gallagher Here's the explanation for this film.In President Roosevelt's judgment, the 110,000 American citizens of Japanese descent living on the West Coat were a terrible threat to national security during ww2. Accordingly, they had been interned in concentration camps, suddenly and brutally. Obviously, the 160,000 Japanese-Americans on Hawaii posed an even greater threat, since Hawaii was the most critical American base in the Pacific. Roosevelt wanted these potential subversives locked up as well, and the task of December 7th was to argue for this necessity by indicting the loyalty of 160,000 Hawaiian citizens.But something rare in recent American history occurred. The military governor of Hawaii, General Delos Emmons said, in so many words, "Nuts, I won't do it!" And he prevailed. The Nisei stayed free. Accordingly, December 7th's denunciation of their disloyalty was replaced with a tribute to their patriotism. And not a single hostile act by a Japanese- American was reported during the war.Hawaii's successful defiance of Roosevelt is an ignored event in American history — not surprisingly, because it gives the lie to the excuse that continued internment of 110,000 people (mostly Californians) through almost four years of war (and the effective confiscation of their property to the profit of their neighbors) was an understandable precaution in the heat of the moment.Ford and Toland, whatever their sentiments at the time, were following orders. A year after the war was over, in December 1946, Ford made a point of depositing in the National Archives an 82-minute print, unreleased (but now on DVD), containing Toland's unreleased sequences preceding the 34- minute released sequences. As a single film it makes no sense: the second part contradicts the first, blatantly. Yet it documents a government policy that we have forgotten ever even happened.

John T. Ryan ANYONE WHO HAS visited the U.S.S. ARIZONA MEMORIAL at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii will be interested in any film that relates to the attack of December 7, 1941. The devastation of that first Sunday in December was designed by the forces of Imperial Japan to render Uncle Sam impotent to do anything while the tentacles of "the Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere"(Japanese Empire for short)stretched out across the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Malaya, Indonesia and many other islands.WELL SCHULTZ, NO matter how bad things were at that low point, we rebounded and got our industry geared up for War Production. We believe it was Japanese Admiral Yamaoto who said: "We have only succeeded in awakening a Slumbering Giant!" (maybe it was "Sleeping Giant!") RATHER THAN BEING a Documentary, a Drama or even a Docu-Drama, the film emerged as a true Fantasy. It features a vacationing Uncle Sam (Walter Huston) looking over and evaluating the then U.S. Territory of Hawaii. He is soon joined by a "Mr. C" (for Constitution? played by Harry Davenport). The imaginary pair start a lively and deeply analytical discussion about the history, geographical importance and demographical breakdown of Hawaii.IT IS MADE perfectly clear that the majority components of the Territory was not Caucasain*, but rather of an Asiatic origin from China, the Phillipines and other lands. But the single largest component of the peoples here are of Japanese descent.THE FILM IS careful to show all of the positive side of the business, social and especially family structure of the Japanese American. Without having to resort to any fanciful speculation or slanted views, the characters make the case in favor of these Neisi folks. The storyline centers on the issue of "different" peoples' having similar likes, needs and abilities. The words "Race" and "Racisim", which are so commonly thrown about in today's media, are absent from this celluloid dissertation.ODDLY ENOUGH, THE storyline then takes a sharp turn in demonstrating just how little bits of info can be woven into big time espionage and a clear and present danger to our security. An imaginary scenario is presented that portrays that not all Axis Spies in the Pacific are Asian; as we have the Japanese Consulate being briefed by a Nazi German agent. Wisely, the adage of "the slip of the lip can sink a ship" is demonstrated with German operatives eavesdropping on people engaged in pertinent info in restaurant.AS WELL INTENDED and truthful that this scene was, we can't help but feel that it was an indicator of the mentality behind the Japanese Relocation Centers created by FDR at the behest of California Governor Earl Warren.THE MILITARY RELOCATION Camps are, in retrospect, one of the Darkest Days in our History and a shameful display of governmental abuse. (Ironically there was not even one case of sabotage or collaboration with the Axis Powers by a Japanese American; although the same can't be said for Germans, who weren't interned.) THE MOVIE FINISHES up with some hopeful words of wisdom from some Soldiers, Sailors Marines and Airmen who died on that "Day of Infamy", whose spirits told their stories.IN WHAT WAS a fine and genuinely heart felt gesture to the families of those who gave their all on 12/7/41, Family Members of several young Servicemen appear to honor their Sons.WHEN VIEWING THIS movie today, we must at least try to see it through the lens of time. Remember, it was big war and very scary.

classicsoncall Even as World War II was raging in 1943, there did not exist a lot of war footage to illustrate America's entry into the conflict. President Franklin Roosevelt ordered up this documentary piece to help explain the events that occurred before, during and after the tragic attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. This eighty two minute documentary treatment was not released during the War because of objections by the U.S. Navy. A thirty four minute version was gleaned from the longer picture by director John Ford, and won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject in 1943.I found the approach used to be somewhat odd but also effective, with the character of Uncle Sam (Walter Huston) having a conversation with what was ostensibly his conscience (portrayed by Harry Davenport). Uncle Sam, the pacifist was fairly convinced that Japan did not pose an immediate threat to the country, while his alter-ego argued on the side of vigilance and caution.The first part of the film offers some startling facts about life on Hawaii at the time relative to the Japanese-American population. In 1941, one hundred fifty seven thousand Japanese represented thirty seven percent of the population of the Islands, and the majority of those (one hundred twenty two thousand) were actually American citizens. The narrator reveals that many of them were born in Hawaii, as a courtyard of school children are shown patriotically reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing 'God Bless America'. In hindsight, these demonstrations appear almost surreal on film.Contrasted against this show of patriotism is a brief history of Shintoism, an almost religious worship of the First Japanese Emperor considered immortal, with Japanese Emperor Hirohito representing a mortal image of a deity. The reverence shown by the Japanese in honoring their ancestors created a strong racial and social bond between them and the Imperial Dynasty, thereby posing a cautionary reaction in those who would distrust Japanese-American Hawaiians as potential enemies who might feed vital military information back to Japan.In regards to the actual attack on Pearl harbor, the film uses reenactments interspersed with actual combat footage, and it's never difficult to tell the difference between the two. Considering the era and technology available, the effort is generally effective as long as one overlooks the obvious use of toy battleship replicas and cardboard mock-ups. With the attack lasting ten minutes shy of two hours, the horror and destruction amassed within that time frame was virtually inconceivable at the time. The obvious reaction of the country in 1941 was one of horror and disgust, and as one observes those events today from the vantage point of seventy plus years, it's remarkable how the country came together to recoup and rebuild it's way back to victory.

Robert Reynolds This Oscar-winning documentary features some spectacular battle footage and is generally well-done, except for the Hollywood hokum grafted onto the beginning, for who knows what reason. It's ridiculous and boring. just ignore it and watch the documentary. The documentary, sans lead-in, is recommended highly.