Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

1944

Drama / History / War

2
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 75% · 5 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 75% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 6979 7K

secret mission pearl harbor world war ii lieutenant tokyo, japan bomber pilot

Plot summary

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.

Director

Mervyn LeRoy Photo
Mervyn LeRoy

Top cast

Louis Jean Heydt Photo
Louis Jean Heydt as Lieut. Miller
Robert Walker Photo
Robert Walker as David Thatcher
Don DeFore Photo
Don DeFore as Charles McClure
Myrna Dell Photo
Myrna Dell as Girl in Officers' Club
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.24 GB
1280*960
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 18 min
Seeds 2
2.3 GB
1440*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 18 min
Seeds 7

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by AaronCapenBanner 7 / 10

The Doolittle Raid

Mervyn Leroy directed this true story set in WWII about the plan by Lt. Col. James Doolittle(played by Spencer Tracy) to launch 16 fully-loaded B-25s from an aircraft carrier into the heart of Japan, for a "hedge hopping" mission which will see a low-level bombing sweep, in order to take the Pacific war to them for a change, and also as a morale booster for an American public sick of defeats. The mission is told from the perspective of pilot Ted Lawson(played by Van Johnson) who misses his wife(played by Phyllis Thaxter) but must undertake this vital mission, even as he is shot down over China, and must make a perilous trek to safety. Long but engrossing film with good script and acting, and a detailed account of this important part of WWII history.
Reviewed by Doylenf 7 / 10

Stunning special effects make the raid over Tokyo especially real...

THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO has men training for a dangerous mission, led by Col. Doolittle (Spencer Tracy) who leads them into an adventure that begins with fully loaded bombers making their ascent into the wild blue yonder aboard Naval aircraft carriers. The cooperative team efforts between the Navy and the Air Force is demonstrated throughout and the result is a film that looks almost documentary in its approach to the subject matter.But you have to get beyond some sentimental interludes for romance and that's where the story weakens somewhat, despite the sincerity of the moments depicted between VAN JOHNSON (as Lt. Dawson) and his loving wife (PHYLLIS THAXTER). Nevertheless, by the time the story reaches its powerful conclusion, you'll be rooting for the reunion of the husband (a wounded war hero who has lost one leg) and his wife who is expecting a baby.Sterling performances help put the movie over. Never for a moment is the acting less than exceptional--and that includes VAN JOHNSON in the leading role, ably supported by SPENCER TRACY, ROBERT WALKER, ROBERT MITCHUM, DON DeFORE, SCOTT McKAY, STEPHEN McNALLY (billed as Horace McNally) and, in an unbilled small role, BILL WILLIAMS. All give natural portrayals that are as compelling as the events of the bombing over Tokyo, the crash landing in China and the many events that follow. Relationships between Americans and the Chinese make for the most touching elements in the crash scene and the hospitalization.A fine tribute to the war effort, it's among the best of the service films produced by any of the major studios during WWII.
Reviewed by claudio_carvalho 8 / 10

Good Romantic War Movie

In World War II, several B25 pilots and their crew volunteers for a secret mission, including the recently married Lt. Ted Lawson (Van Johnson), under the command of Gen. James Doolittle (Spencer Tracy). When the mission is disclosed, they are informed that they will bomb military facilities in Japan. After successfully accomplishing the bombing and returning to the base in China, the airplane of Lawson crashes on the Chinese coast, and his men and he are rescued by the Chinese soldiers."Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" is a good war movie, but also a clear American propaganda in times of war. There is a shallow and corny romance in the lead story; the pilots and crew are great friends like a brotherhood and their wives and girl-friends are silly and naive; when Lawson loses his leg, Doolittle says that the army can not lose an experienced man like him; all the allied Chinese are cooperative, submissive and friends; there are lots of nationalism, like for example, the Chinese scouts singing the American hymn. Anyway the story entertains, the special effects and the cinematography are excellent and I liked this film. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "30 Segundos Sobre Tóquio" ("30 Seconds Over Tokyo")
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