Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) is a war film, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. It stars Van Johnson and Robert Walker. It unfolds against the backdrop of World War II. The 138-minute film holds an audience score of 6.7/10.
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What Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Is About
Made in 1944 while the war was still running, this film recounts the 1942 Doolittle Raid: the operation in which American bombers took off from a carrier after Pearl Harbor, struck Japan and then tried to reach China. Dalton Trumbo adapted the screenplay from the book by Ted Lawson, one of the airmen who flew it, and much of the dialogue comes straight off the page. Spencer Tracy's Doolittle appears sparingly; the weight sits on Van Johnson's Lawson and on the crews' months of training. Compared with the propaganda pictures around it the film is unusually measured: the section after the raid is about the cost rather than the victory, and it does not hide the physical loss Lawson suffered. Real combat footage is worked in. Who it's for: viewers who want the documentary-leaning wing of Second World War cinema. Who it's not for: anyone who will find the wartime American vantage point hard to sit with, because the film speaks entirely from inside it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo about?
Made in 1944 while the war was still running, this film recounts the 1942 Doolittle Raid: the operation in which American bombers took off from a carrier after Pearl Harbor, struck Japan and then tried to reach China. Dalton Trumbo adapted the screenplay from the book by Ted Lawson, one of the airmen who flew it, and much of the dialogue comes straight off the page.
Where can I watch Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is available to watch on digital platforms such as YouTube TV, TCM, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store. Current rent and buy options are listed in the "Where to Watch" section on this page.
How long is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo runs for 138 minutes (2h 18m).
When did Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo come out?
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo was released in 1944.
Who directed Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo was directed by Mervyn LeRoy.
Who stars in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo stars Van Johnson, Robert Walker, Spencer Tracy, Tim Murdock.
What is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo's rating?
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo holds 7.2/10 on IMDb and 6.7/10 on TMDB. Its Pulse Score is 69 out of 100.
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