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Very disappointing...

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Sturdy, determined Spencer Tracy (as James "Jimmy" Doolittle) organizes the US response to the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Tracy, and the film, make it obvious the Japanese stood no chance of besting our American forces. Note the number of men who respond to Mr. Tracy's repeated invitations to "drop out" of the dangerous mission. Despite Tracy's presence, the film stars Van Johnson (as Ted Lawson). Mr. Johnson's performance is, at times, reminiscent of a younger Tracy; in context, it's a little distracting. Still, Johnson essays the star-making sacrifice, begun by John Gilbert in MGM's "The Big Parade", effectively.Despite the big parade of men lining up to go fight in the actual war, MGM was able to find a great cast of available men; who were, presumably, persuaded to postpone enlisting. Among the servicemen, Robert Walker (as David Thatcher) is a clear stand-out. At home, Phyllis Thaxter (as Ellen Lawson) is sweet and refreshing. And, making the most of a small role would have to be Robert Mitchum (as Bob Gray). The story is very good, albeit heavily clichéd on film; it was based on the real Ted Lawson's story. Director Mervyn LeRoy's film version features fine music and photography. The highlight of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" is the exciting, and well-constructed, title event.******* Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (11/15/44) Mervyn LeRoy ~ Van Johnson, Spencer Tracy, Robert Walker

Hello, dear mid-'40s, Hollywood-style, low-budget, war films fans EVERYWHERE!!! :PI was just wondering where could I find this one's script 'coz I can't find it anywhere, it seems(!) :( I need it for a subtitling job, BADLY(!) As for the film itself, I believe it's awful, as all the other war(-time) ones, made by the Americans FOR the Americans and their kitsch patriotic spirit. :) Furthermore, even though this may "sound" offensive to some, it's MY pov and I have my FULL rights to it; freedom of expression. :) Now, WHY is it awful, imao? Well, because it depicts those very funny made characters, talking like a machinegun, the Japanese soldiers who don't know anything else BUT beheading pows, and last but not least, those very energetic women-of-arms who act more than boyish. They remind me of Lt. Yarrrr. :))~ S.M. ~

I am a retired professional pilot with thirty-eight years experience and I can tell you what the Doolittle Raiders did took more raw courage than you can possibly imagine if you are not a pilot yourself. Simply taking off from an aircraft carrier is dangerous enough for a naval aircraft. Now do it with a heavily loaded bomber not designed for the task flown by pilots who had never even been on a carrier before. Okay, that's scary enough, now I'll try to explain the technical difficulties. Simply stated, to take off a multi engine aircraft at very low airspeed (Necessary for the short length of the deck) is to invite disaster. This is because if you lose an engine as you lift off, the torque from the good engine would roll the aircraft over on its back and into the sea. Now if you survive those rigors you still have to fly to Japan, brave the anti-aircraft fire and fighters, unload your bombs, try to make to China (Low on fuel) find some primitive landing strip at night, which may have fallen into enemy hands by the time you arrive. This movie is but a small tribute to these brave heroes, so please forgive any perceptions of WWII propaganda. Supreme courage? You bet!

Made during the dark days of WWII, this movie is outstanding because it continued the whole purpose of the raid, that is, to boost American moral by striking back at Japan for the Pearl Harbor attack. It is ironic that Dalton Trumbo was one of the screenwriters. He was later blacklisted for his political views. Regardless of whether Trumbo was a victim or hero of the era when writers were being fired for their alleged Soviet sympathies, the facts of the raid were written in a patriotic and completely pro-war manner.The men who went on the raid were bono fide heros. And as a former USAF pilot, I appreciate their skill and courage for conducting a gutsy mission. However, in the hindsight of history, the raid was about as affective as V-1 and V-2 Nazi attacks on London, or the Iraq Scud attacks on Israel and Allied forces during the Gulf War, or more recent Hezbolla rocket attacks on Israel. The purpose behind all these efforts was an attempt to mold public opinion and moral.Trumbo was a propagandist of the highest caliber. Lt. Doolittle himself thought the raid was a military failure. All of the B-25 bombers were lost as well as a large number of the crews. No significant military damage was done. (As no really significant damage was caused by the Pearl Harbor attack which sunk obsolete battleships, but no carriers.) Moral during war is as important as guns. This movie and many others of its era had an important role to play in winning the war. Without similar efforts today, our country and its freedoms are at risk due to an ideology that thinks making war on civilians is a religiously just and proper means to an end. The Nazi and Fascist governments of Germany and Italy did not attack the US in 1941. However Roosevelt knew that he had to spend most of our resources fighting and defeating Nazi Germany first. We were already at war with Germany in the North Atlantic when Japan attacked us on Dec 7, 1941. Hollywood did not make movies pointing out that Roosevelt lied, or committed us to war without the consent of Congress. It did paint the enemy, which had embarked on a conquest of the world exactly for what it was. If Trumbo were alive today, I wonder what type of screenplay he would write about the current world war that is underway.