The Battle Of Midway details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Robert Mitchum, Glenn Ford, James Coburn, Henry Fonda, Charlton Heston |
| Director: | Jack Smight |
| Genres: | Action/Adventure - War, Drama - Romantic |
| Studio: | 4 FRONT VIDEO |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
The Battle Of Midway |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 2 hours 8 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 04 Mar 2005 |
| Main languages: | English |
Write your own review
Most helpful review
TOP MOVIE !!!
By a customer from GLASGOW , 04 Mar 2006[Highly rated reviewer]
I have seen 'Midway' countless times, and find it impressive for many reasons: The many scenes that contain original war footage, the fabulous cast, and the degree of historical accuracy, which is exceptional for a Hollywood epic.
Some of the WWII footage is riveting, and is edited to blend in well with the 1976 cinematography by Harry Stradling Jr., which is also marvelous; a good score by John Williams also adds to the atmosphere, though mostly we hear the sounds that would have been heard at the time...the roar of the sea, the wind, and the exploding bombs.
Many of the fascinating figures of history are represented well, and a few brilliantly, like Hal Holbrook as Commander Joseph Rochefort, the man who intercepted and broke the codes. Holbrook's portrayal is much like the real man, who working many times 20 hour shifts in a bunker, was a little scruffy, and had crucial information that was an essential part of the battle plans.
Henry Fonda is great as Admiral Chester Nimitz, and other big stars include Glenn Ford, Robert Mitchum, Toshiro Mifune, James Coburn, Cliff Robertson and Robert Wagner. I love the way the battle is planed like a chess game by both American and Japanese leaders, moving little 'boats' around on a big map, each side trying to outwit the other. It also lays out the basics of the battle and makes it fairly understandable for the non-military person.
Charlton Heston is terrific as Captain Matthew Garth, the fictional character in the script, who has to deal with his son (Edward Albert), in love with a Japanese-American girl (Christina Kokubo), who has been interned with her parents. This little bit of 'romance' I imagine was included in the film to round out the 'human interest', and though I could have lived without this non-historical addition, it is peripheral to the action.
Admiral Nimitz said that the Battle of Midway was 'The battle that made everything else possible', and this film is an excellent way to get a feel for the momentous events of that time, with its heroism, tragedy, extraordinary battle tactics, and men who changed the course of history.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (5) Yes |
- No (0)
All reviews
(11)No women in this film
By a customer , 17 Aug 2012Serious documentary style film about the battle of Midway, a huge sea and air battle of WW2 between the Japanese and the US in the South Pacific, which followed Pearl Harbour.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
True Movie
By Joby (82 reviews) from Uckfield , 13 Oct 2009I liked this film quite alot, more or less as it happened in the dark ages of world war 2. Great filming and great acting from an all star cast. Everyone should see this.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
'The Battle Of Midway'
By ian3 (538 reviews) from Salisbury , 23 Jul 2009This is an outstanding moive, classic I say... Historical Sea Battle that changed the face of WII for America. All cast ans some gripping action scenes. A MUST TO WATCH- Was this review helpful to you?
- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
the battle of midway
By carparking (106 reviews) from Warrington , 10 Mar 2008yanks winning the war again. but still a good film to watch.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
never fails to amuse, bemuse or confuse
By lloyd (47 reviews) from cardiff, wales , 30 May 2007i can't begin to estimate the huge number of times i've seen this film over the years. it's far from a personal favourite and yet i still enjoy watching it at any opportunity. heston is his usual pompous, arrogant self (it really would be a far stronger film without him), fonda the noble hero and mitchum the lazy swine lying around in a hospital bed. mitchum was originally offered fonda's part but turned it down. he then turned down glenn ford's part and several others, eventually agreeing to play the part of a bedridden admiral. he spent a couple of days lying around in bed and then gave his fee to charity. you can understand his unwillingness to appear in 'midway' considering he had, in some ways, appeared in the same film over twenty years before. the opening sequence of planes taking off from an aircraft carrier was lifted the middle of from mgm's 'thirty seconds over tokyo' in which mitchum starred alongside spencer tracy. nothing like a bit recycling, eh? midwway also includes footage taken from tora tora tora. no wonder all these films seem the same. still, it's corking afternoon entertainment when you've got half an easter egg shoved in your gob. if you haven't seen it a thousand times already, you're showing your (young) age. enjoy.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (5) Yes |
- No (5)
