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Date Posted: 02:27:50 02/03/09 Tue
Author: Rick
Subject: Midway (1976)

This was the 70's version of the 1942 twist of fate between the US forces and Japanese Empire. $60,000 in stock footage was used from the films 'Tora! Tora! Tora!,' 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo,' Japanese film, 'I Bombed Pearl Habor,' 'Away All Boats,' and possibly some stock shots of German aircraft from 'Battle of Britain.' 16mm Navy combat footage was selected and edited in with all this and the all-star cast did a good job. I saw the film numerous times when it opened in June of 1976.

Two years later, it was expanded with new footage shot for network television, just under 4 hours. The South Pacific theatrical version was about 5 hours long, screened in the Phillipines in 1976. I have both US cuts of the film. It holds up very good to this day.

'I Bombed Pearl Harbor' (1960) was made by TOJO, a Japanese movie company and this was their first color film. The real title translated into English was 'The Great Sea Battles of Hawaii and Midway: Storm Over the Pacific.' Their usage of models, mock-ups and authenticity was above the 1976 film. The carrier deck was actually a dock on the Japanese coastline they used. It offers a look from the Japanese side of the war and overall, an excellent film with great process effects, models, matte paintings and a good cast.

TOJO plans on releasing the film on DVD this year.



R~

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Replies:

[> Re: Midway (1976) -- Officer Torch, 12:48:04 02/03/09 Tue [1]

Yes Rick....that's a great movie. Hey! We've this great site of yours to trade stories, learn things, yak at times, share a laugh, etc. We talk of monsters, drama, sci fi, FG heros, music..... good vs. evil, fighting/combat. Certainly war story material falls somewhere in all this. If I may suggest, and perhaps we can get feedback from our good members, maybe this can be another area for discussion. I don't recommend unless I feel a movie is good overall or A minus at worst. I'll mention some war type movies here, regardless of producer. Any reaction guys? Let's hear your comments, additions, etc. For now, maybe limit it to more classic material, not hefty action shoot 'em ups.

Ok...here's some I enjoy and recommend in no particular order. It covers various wars/battles/scenes and times. I don't recall years they were made..this is a top of the head list...check IMDb for now if you need details.

a)Midway...great flick, make extra popcorn, can be long depending on version you watch, but great movie.

b)Tora, Tora, Tora....(re Pearl Harbor)...and do NOT miss the last half hour or so. No interruptions if at all possible.

c)Sink the Bismarck...a UK movie in b&w in widescreen (from 1960). Made to blend in with stock WWII footage...intentional use of slow flying biplanes to drop large topedoes on German super battleship.

d)Howard Hughes' Hells Angel..a 1930 flick, expensively produced, a talkie, with some shots in color! Biplane action from WWI galore...and some dirigible scenes you won't forget.

e)Flyboys...a later 2006 movie about WWI newbie pilots in Europe who sign up for the Lafayette Escadrille. Do NOT miss what happens to the "Black Falcon" the last 20 minutes or so before end of movie.

f)Similar fare in this older movie starring George Peppard...entitled..."The Blue Max"...about WWI pilots.

g)Victory At Sea...masterpiece on multidisc set, (which you can often find for well under 10 dollars if you shop)featuring 26 half hour episodes which appeared on TV in the Fifties. Documentary with brilliant musical score. WWII...Atlantic and Pacific theaters. A must have.

h)The Tuskegee Airmen..a made for HBO movie on dvd of the famous Fighting 99th during WWII. Brave pilots overcoming many obstacles.

i)Wide screen spectacular battles....Ben Hur..the sea battles and chariot race. The Odyssey..a Hallmark presentation...whole thing is great, mezmorizing. Near all star cast includes Armand Assante.

j)Firefox, with Clint Eastwood....last half of movie is brilliant. A taut cold war drama type flick. Dazzling escape

k)Bridge On the River Kwai....British P.O.W.s in Japan

l)The Longest Day.....D-Day Normandy, WWII ...epic movie

j)Das Boot, The Directors Cut.....a German movie with subtitles about a U-boat during WWII. Do NOT miss the last 10 minutes...talk about a twist! Wow!

k. Taras Bulba...a war kind of movie, but it works on several levels...16th century kind of material with Cossacks, Poles, savage warriors, and unbelievable battles on horseback....NO CG! Stars Yul Brynner, Tony Curtiss.

l. The Last Samuri...with Tom Cruise....actually, I thought the movie was quite good.

....ok....look, etc, etc There are many, many good ones. Let's hear your comments, maybe on those mentioned, or your favorites, or make suggestions. Thanks guys.


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[> Re: Midway (1976) -- Tim, 20:43:29 02/03/09 Tue [1]

Midway (1976) is a star-studded epic with some incredibly realistic sequences (aided by stock footage). It plays on AMC fairly often, as recently as Monday of last week. I caught part of it then, but am not sure if it was the expanded version or the original.

Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) has one of the most memorable theme songs in cinema history, whistled, plus William Holden and Alec Guiness (before he was a Sir I think). It used to run on TV a lot, as did the patriotic Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) with John Wayne and John Agar. That Sgt Stryker is one tough marine.

Two of my favorite WWII related films are Stalag 17 (1953) and The Great Escape (1963), both set in POW camps. William Holden gives the performance of his career as Sefton in Stalag 17.

Another favorite is Mister Roberts (1955), although there is no real war action, unless you count the battle between Mister Roberts (Henry Fonda) and Captain Morgan (James Cagney).

The latest major WWII related movie is Valkyrie (2008) with Tom Cruise, which I haven't seen.

Tim


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[> [> Re: Midway (1976) -- Rick, 20:56:19 02/03/09 Tue [1]

No chance of it being the expanded version on AMC. Running time is 3 hours, 35 min. In today's cable TV of high costs and sponsors, the longer version stands no chance of being seen. Susan Sullivan was in the 78' release as Ann, Matt's fiancee. You'd see her at the end, too. Also, new scenes were shot with Admiral Nagumo and the Coral Sea Battle was used, etc.




Rick


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[> [> [> Re: Midway (1976) -- DAN, 10:14:05 02/04/09 Wed [1]

I saw both versions of Midway. Firts at the theater in 76, and the TV version later.

IMO the TV version didn't really add much, or take away from the film. It is a very good film either way.
I hardly ever watch AMC anymore unless it is some rare movie, or something I haven't seen in many years. Too much editing and too many commercial breaks.

War movies about WW2 are my favorites. Then the WW1 movies. I don't care that much for the Korean war, or the Viet Nam war movies.

A Few Good WW1 Films:
ALL QUIET ON WESTERN FRONT (1930)
A little draggy, but still holds up.

HELLS ANGELS (1930)
The best part of this film is the airial shots. Some of the romantic stuff slows the film down a little.

THE FIGHTING 69th (1939)
Basically just your typical hollywood war movie with James Cagney. But it is very entertaining.

SERGEANT YORK (1941)
Very good movie, but with the usual hollywood touch.

WW2
CAPTAINS OF THE CLOUDS (1942)
Another cocky James Cagney in the service movie, but very entertaining. Of course it helps too if you're a big Cagney fan like myself.

SAHARA (1943)
Very good battle scenes in this Humphrey Bogart war film.
I especially like the climax when the Germans finally surrender for water.

THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO (1944)
Good film about the first bombing raids over Japan.

TWELVE 0 CLOCK HIGH (1949)
Good flying and bombing scenes along with a solid story.

BATTLEGROUND (1949)
Very good film with some good battle scenes.

PATTON (1970)
George C Scott does an excellent job as General Patton.

TORA TORA TORA (1970)
Great depiction of the attack on Pearl Harbor from both American and Japanese points of view.

DAS BOOT (1981)
Great, suspenceful and kinda anti-war movie about German submarine crew.

Of course there are many more great war films than this. These are the films that come to mind first.

And there are some great classics that deal with WW2, with little battle action.

Here's a few that immediately come to mind.
Casablanca (1942)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
From Here To Eternity (1953)


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