Movie Review – Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
On December 7, 1941, the nation of Japan launched a sneak attack at the U.S. naval base headquartered at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The attack was carried out with complete success, and the end result was a massive blow to the U.S. naval fleet. This attack sparked massive outrage throughout the country. The following day the U.S. declared war on Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S., and those declarations were reciprocated by the U.S. the same day. Because of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. was now involved with World War 2.
Tora! Tora! Tora! tells the story about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The story is told from both the American and Japanese perspectives, and we learn more about why the attack was carried out. The film exposes historical errors which helped Japan achieve a complete tactical success with their attack. It was only a stroke of luck that the U.S. aircraft carriers were out at sea, and none of them were attacked or sunk on that day.
The film was directed by Richard Fleischer, and the music was composed by Jerry Goldsmith. Tora! Tora! Tora! itself doesn’t star any well-known Hollywood stars. This decision was made so that the viewers would pay more attention to the story rather than the actors starring in it.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Tora! Tora! Tora! begins in 1941 on a Japanese battleship as Vice-Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (Sō Yamamura) arrives to take command of the Japanese combined fleet. Admiral Yamamoto officially receives command from Admiral Zengo Yoshida (Junya Usami), and the two admirals discuss the need to have a strong navy and not get swayed by the politics that control Japan’s army.
Meanwhile, Prince Fumimaro Konoye (Koreya Send), the Prime Minister of Japan, is well aware that the U.S. is against Japan’s current war with China. Japan needs to either end the war with China or find another source of raw materials, such as in Indo-China. However, some of the Prime Minister’s cabinet members are convinced that now is the time for Japan to further its actions in the Pacific since the other countries are focused on the war in Europe. If Japan can strike a crippling blow to the U.S. Pacific fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, then Japan will be able to control the Pacific Ocean and all of its raw materials.
It’s decided that Japan is going to launch a preventive strike at Pearl Harbor with the intention of destroying the U.S. Pacific fleet. Admiral Yamamoto will lead the naval strike force. Lieutenant Commander Fuchida (Takahiro Tamura), commander of the Akagi‘s air group, will be one of the flight commanders to lead the attack and bomber aircraft against Pearl Harbor.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Over in Washington, D.C., the War Department has been hard at work cracking Japan’s coded messages and reading their transcripts. While the officials are growing more concerned that Japan is preparing to strike somewhere in the Pacific, it’s still unknown where such an attack will take place and if the U.S. is a target.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
At Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Admiral Kimmel (Martin Balsam) takes note of the naval base and its vulnerability to an enemy attack. The harbor itself is shallow and only has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Torpedoes dropped from an aircraft need at least 75 feet of water before they level and attack ships. The harbor itself only has one access point as well. Should a ship be sunk in that choke point, then the harbor would be blocked for some time.
Admiral Yamamoto’s attack plan is to use torpedo bombers but modify their torpedoes for shallow water operations, just as the British Royal Navy did against Italian warships in the Battle of Taranto in November of 1940.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
When Lieutenant General Walter C. Short (Jason Robards), Commander-in-Chief, Army, Hawaii, examines the vulnerability of Pearl Harbor, he’s more concerned about the Japanese population committing acts of sabotage rather than an enemy force conducting an air raid. General Short orders that the aircraft be parked closer together to make it easier to guard against sabotage. He’s not concerned against an air raid as Pearl Harbor’s extreme isolation is its best defense against an attack.
More alarming telegrams from Japan are intercepted and decoded. There seems to be more and more evidence that Japan may launch a strike against the U.S. Such an attack would probably occur at dawn, use a maximum of six aircraft carriers, and strike on a weekend. It’s recommended that 180 B-17 bombers be used to conduct long-range patrols over the Pacific Ocean and keep a watch out for the Japanese fleet. Admiral Kimmel doesn’t see the need for such action, especially with that many aircraft.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
However, Pearl Harbor does receive a critical defense mechanism. The army receives a radar station designed to scan the skies in search of enemy aircraft. The radar installation is built on top of a mountain and soldiers begin shifts manning the station.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Admiral Yamamoto makes it official to his officers that they will be launching an attack against the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. The attack itself is a gamble as optimum success requires that the American fleet be completely destroyed. If not, then America will rebuild and bring the war to Japan itself. Battle plans are created and the pilots begin using Japan’s harbors for practice runs against Pearl Harbor.
More telegrams are received. Some of the intelligence officers are more concerned than ever that Japan is going to launch an attack. The decision is made to place naval bases on alert for just such an attack.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
The Japanese fleet is at sea when it receives orders to commence the attack against Pearl Harbor. The Japanese aircraft will strike the harbor at dawn on December 7, 1941.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
On board the Japanese aircraft carriers, the pilots and bombardiers continue practicing with simulated attack runs against the U.S. naval base. The pilots are confident and the navigators and bombardiers are experts at spotting their exact targets. Confidence is high as the air crews are more than ready to carry out this significant air raid.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Telegrams continue to be intercepted and more evidence mounts towards an imminent attack by the nation of Japan. On the morning of December 7, it’s learned that the 14th part of a series of messages has finally been decoded. The final message to Japan’s ambassador in America issues the command to submit Japan’s reply to the American government at precisely 1 pm local time. The message also instructs for the Japanese ambassador to destroy at once the cypher machine, all codes, and secret documents.
At this point nobody in Washington doubts that a way is coming. The only question is where Japan is planning on launching its surprise attack.
The morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, finally arrives.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Japanese air crew man their strike aircraft. Command gives the signal to launch the attack. Engines are started. The fighters, bombers and torpedo bombers take off and head towards Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall (Keith Andes), receives the intercepted telegrams and is convinced that the Japanese will attack at or just prior to 1 pm est that day. He orders all of the commands to go on immediate alert.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Off the coast of Hawaii, an American destroyer, USS Ward (DD-139), is on patrol when the crew spots an enemy submarine sneaking behind a naval ship. The destroyer’s captain orders general quarters and the ship attacks and destroys the enemy submarine. The crew sends a message to headquarters, alerting them of the submarine that tried to slip past the defenses.
Captain John Earle is at home when one of his officers calls him and informs him of the USS Ward‘s actions off the coast. While the alert is alarming, Captain Earle is also suspicious as he’s been receiving a number of false warnings from other ships in the area. He wants more confirmation before issuing an alert for Pearl Harbor.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Later that morning a squardon of aircraft is detected at the radar station in Hawaii. The soldiers at the radar station report their discovery, but the report is mistakenly identified as an incoming flight of B-17 bombers from the continental U.S. In reality, the Japanese aircraft are coming in from the north and making their final course corrections to their targets at Pearl Harbor.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
The first people to spot the incoming Japanese air raid are a student pilot and his flight instructor. Once the flight instructor realizes what’s surrounding them, she takes control of the aircraft and flies away as quickly as possible.
As the Japanese aircraft approach the harbor they realize that there is no fire from the American anti-aircraft artillery. Nor are there any American fighter aircraft in the air. The Japanese have achieved complete success in surprising the American forces. The final order to attack is issued. “Tora! Tora! Tora!”
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
It’s a sleepy Sunday morning as the Japanese aircraft commence their surprise attack at the American naval base. Bombs begin falling and the torpedo bombers launch their powerful weapons. By the time the alarm sounds, buildings and ships are already on fire and destroyed.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
As predicted, the American battleships docked in the harbor are sitting ducks against the Japanese bombers. Bombs and torpedoes strike the massive ships, crippling and destroying several of them.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
While the battleships are being attacked, other bombers and fighters begin attacking the airfields and destroying the parked aircraft. Thanks to the aircraft being grouped together instead of properly spaced in case of an air raid, the aircraft are easy targets. As soon as one fueled aircraft explodes the neighboring aircraft are also heavily damaged in secondary explosions. It’s almost too easy for the Japanese pilots.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
The incoming B-17 Flying Fortress bombers are caught in the middle of the Japanese raid. The bombers are unarmed and low on fuel as they approach Pearl Harbor. Some of them still try to land while other bombers attempt to land at alternate airfields on Hawaii. At least one B-17 is attacked and is forced to make a crash landing.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
A second wave of bombers attacks more of the ships and aircraft located at secondary airfields. Some of the American pilots flee to smaller airfields and try to fight back. A couple of P-40 Warhawk fighter aircraft are able to take off and fight back against some of the Japanese aircraft. The American pilots successfully shoot down several enemy bombers.
The Japanese attack ends with the second raid on Pearl Harbor. It’s not until after the attack that the base commanders receive a telegram from the Pentagon warning them of the immediate danger.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
In Washington, the Japanese ambassador’s crew is slow to decode the messages from Japan. Secretary of State Cordell Hull (George Macready) has received news of the attack and demands that the Japanese ambassador confirm it. Since the ambassador had yet to receive the full instructions from his home country, he’s speechless in front of the Secretary of State. He’s unable to answer for the actions carried out by Japan.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Back at the Japanese task force, the pilots are shocked that Admiral Yamamoto has called off the third attack wave against Hawaii. The attack has destroyed some airfields, sunk four battleships and heavily damaged three more of them. The prime targets, the American aircraft carriers, were NOT at Pearl Harbor. They could be anywhere. Yamamoto is not going to risk his task force to be attacked while a third wave is attacking Pearl Harbor. In addition to the American carriers, the submarines are also out hunting for his task force. The longer that they stay in their position, then the more likely it is that the Americans will find and attack them. They simply do not have the resources to fight back after most of their munitions and fuel was spent during the air raid.
Admiral Yamamoto knows that they have been very lucky with this raid. They achieved surprise and the raid itself was still a tactical victory. He issues the order for all ships to return home to Japan once the aircraft have returned.
Tora! Tora! Tora! ends with Admiral Yamamoto contemplating what really happened in the air raid against Pearl Harbor. He fears that the only thing that Japan really accomplished was waking a sleeping giant and filling him with a terrible resolve.
So is Tora! Tora! Tora! a good film?
Tora! Tora! Tora! is a fantastic historical war film as long as A) You pay attention to the characters and the situations, and B) You understand a thing or two about World War 2 and combat tactics.
There’s no question about it that Tora! Tora! Tora! is packed with minute details leading up to the Japanese sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This film is so detailed that many people may find it rather boring until the attack begins well after the film’s halfway point.
Those people interested in the total damage and loss of life and ships during the attack at Pearl Harbor will be a bit disappointed in this film. Tora! Tora! Tora! focuses more on the planning and execution of the Japanese air raid that brought the U.S. into the Second World War. The film doesn’t really touch the human toll and the loss of 2,402 American sailors and soldiers. Nor does it show the loss of the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS West Virginia and USS California battleships.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – movie trailer
As a whole, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a fantastic film that takes a look at both the Japanese and American sides of the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the drama and planning is fairly interesting, this film really shines during the massive attack sequence. Despite the film being over forty years old, this is still one of the best war films when it comes to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into World War 2.
Admiral Harold R. Stark – “None of us doubt that war is coming. We know they have an expeditionary force heading south.”
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Major Truman Landon (B-17 bomber pilot) – “What a way to fly into a war… Unarmed and outta gas. Oboe Leader to Oboe Flight… we’ve flown smack into the middle of a war… Get out as fast as you can, anywhere you can. If you can’t make Hickam try Bellows or Wheeler.”
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Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto – “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”