BATTLE OF MIDWAY

US, 1976, 131 minutes, Colour. Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Robert Mitchum, Edward Albert, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner, Robert Webber, Toshiro Mifune, James Shigeta, Christopher George.
Directed by Jack Smight.

Using the documentary captions for a names, places and times like Tora, Tora, Tora, this film clearly shows some of the strategy of the battle as well as the luck and the intelligent guesses and decisions and how they worked. As well there is much authentic war footage incorporated into the film. This makes the Sensurround bombings, the bit star performances and the human interest sub plot somewhat unnecessary. The film is very straightforward and plain, although it does introduce Charlton Heston as a central fictional character. As a visual reconstruction of the battle and its strategy, it is very interesting.

1. An enjoyable and interesting war film? why such a production in 1976? The memory of such an important battle? Its being brought into the present, 35 years later? Enjoyment, history?

2. The contribution of 'Sensurround' as a gimmick? As an effective device for involving audiences in the experience of air battle? Was it too contrived? Added impression for an experience of war?

3. The film used much authentic footage from the early 40s. How was this important for the impact of the film? How well was it blended with the modern filming and reconstructions? A flavour of authenticity? Truth and fiction? The overall effect of making the total film credible?

4. The structure of the film for audience interest, involvement and understanding of the battle: the structure of the background in America, Pearl Harbour and reaction to Japan, people's hurt and suspicions? The ordinary people involved for the confrontation with Japan, the important officials, ordinary people? The contrast with optimism in Japan and the planning of an offensive against America? The balance of the two? The film's use of names, dates? An atmosphere of authenticity, necessary for identification, for understanding the strategy and the events of the battle? The portrayal of the historical figures within this context? The film's use of imps, diagrams and models for the explanation of the strategy and the continued planning as the battle went on? The illustration with war exercises? How well did the audience become involved in the battle? Interest, feeling, morale?

5. How true a picture of the war was it: in its presentation of the facts, personalities? In conveying the feelings of people involved in the war at the time? The effect of war on both winners and losers? The uncertainties of war?

6. The presentation of America at the time: the device of using fictional characters, Charlton Heston and his style as Matt Garth? Garth as a war hero, his involvement, his relationship with his son? The quality of the relationship and the problem of the Japanese girl? Critics were very hostile to this fiction element in the film. Were they justified? Was it too contrived, ordinary and sentimental? Did it reflect actual feelings of the time? How well did it symbolize the racial issues and hostility within America? The memories of Pearl Harbour? Audience response to the American Japanese families being rounded up, imprisoned? The importance of Tom's appeal to his father to do something? The significance of Matt Garth's visit to the girl and seeing her in the prison? The build up of the service together of father and son, despite the hostility? The significance of the son's being injured and burnt, the father's death? A symbol of what was happening to Americans at the time?

7. How fairly did the film present Japan and the Japanese, their aims in the war, their build-up after Pearl Harbour, their conduct of the war? Shrewdness, planning, mistakes, defects in personalities leading to the losing of the battle?

8. The use of important film stars as the historical figures? Did this illustrate the status of the people concerned? How distracting was it? The brief appearances of some of the stars? The importance of the audience to see the stars and know the men's role in the war, the strategy, their personalities and status, wisdom? The scenes in the war rooms and the planning? The hospital sequence with Halsey? Talk in the bars, the messenger from Washington? Were the characters of these important men delineated or were they merely presented for their functions in the war?

9. Did the Japanese officials get a similar treatment? Yamomoto and his background? His running of the battle? His mistakes? Nagumo and his being left in the front to make the decisions? The wisdom and the decisions of the Japanese?

10. Comment on the roles of maps, plans and hypothetical strategies, the role of guesses and hunches, radio lack of communication? How crucial were all these elements?

11. The presentation of both American and Japanese Navies, the types of ships they had and their qualities, the commanders, the varying functions? The destroyers and the battleships? Their knowledge of the Pacific waters, of the islands in the Pacific? The importance of naval strategy as support for air fighting?

12. The portrayal of the air fighting, the visualizing of the aerial battles, the use of authentic footage, the nature of the planes and their various capacities and capabilities, the missions, the men involved in the missions, their deaths and their ability to destroy the enemy?

13. The Garths within this context of naval and aerial battle? Tom and his involvement in his mission, the suspense in his crash and being burnt, his being saved? The impact of Matt Garth's death after the injuries to his son? (The possibility of a happy ending for the new generation?)

14. The continued portrayal of strategy and audience understanding of the battle itself, how it worked, what didn't work, the overall effect for the Americans and the disaster for the Japanese?

15. Themes of mistakes, good fortune, luck and hunches?

16. An important portrayal of history? A celebration of American victory and morale? The significance of the Battle of Midway within World War Two and at the time? In retrospect?