StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Rexanne It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

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.

oscar-35 *Spoiler/plot- 1943, A documentary that discusses and shows the many US military command and government war actions during the WW2 Pacific theater.*Special Stars- Director: John Ford *Theme- The US will win against any obstacle.*Trivia/location/goofs- Documentary made up of recreation with actors from narrative films and live action combat or newsreel footage. John Ford was a command naval officer.*Emotion- An enjoyable and this is really an impressive war documentary. It suffers from the staged or fake reenactment scenes to complete the narrative. Once you've seen this you can understand what all those war films have been trying to achieve. However, there are the unpleasant shots of injured Americans and some blatant racism in the form of the word use of 'Japs or 'Nips'. But it is extremely educational and does what a narrative simulated war film can do. You do have to put up with the blatant propaganda but this actually helps put the documentary in its war era context, providing an insight into social and political opinion of the time.

pkreid-1 Should be shown to all students of American history of the World War II era. Shows the perspective of the times. Unfortunately, it appears previous reviewer has a revisionist history view of what the times should have reflected. The Uncle Sam-Mr Conscience sequence is of particular value, showing what can happen if our leaders fall asleep or become over confident. The combat footage is dramatically realistic, and some of that footage was used in the great series "Victory at Sea". The part at the end when the narrator talks to those men who died at Pearl also shows one important emotional truth. "We are all Americans". A truth we sometimes forget.

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.