John FordThe Battle of Midway

"The Battle of Midway," directed by John Ford, provides a relatively
brief account of the Japanese attack of American ships at Midway atoll.
The film is comprised mostly of authentic footage from the battle, with
dramatic narration by Henry Fonda. "Behind every cloud, there may be an
enemy," he intones as American fighter pilots search the sky. The rest
of the film mocks Emporer Tojo of Japan and portrays him as ruthless,
bombing hospitals and churches as he tries to conquer the Pacific.

This item is part of the collection: Cinemocracy

Producer: John Ford
Audio/Visual: sound, color

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: fryem720 - - February 12, 2008
Subject: Gret film

First, I applaud downwind... for his review and comments. There is a valid point to be made about viewing a film through the lens of the sensibilities prevailing at the time it was made/released. Otherwise, it is impossible to understand, much less judge, the quality of the film. Additionally, by doing this, one gains valuable insight into the past - for good or for ill.

With that said, some films simply do not age well in the sense that they lack the timelessness that makes them relatable to the present. As downwind... said, this film maintains that link to the present when one considers the situation of those fighting today in Afghanistan and Iraq and the loved ones they've left back home. Truly, such concepts are timeless and never irrelevant.

In sum, this film was well made by brave combat cameramen dodging real bombs and bullets. Once one has a grasp of the backstory (well stated by downwind..., i.e. the fear of Japanese invasion of the West Coast, the triumph of halting the enemy advance, etc.), the viewer can understand this film as the triumph that it was.

Reviewer: downwindjaxon - - August 1, 2007
Subject: Consider this film in it's time and place before you judge it, youngster!

People writing about old films they don't understand would do well to inform themselves about the times and circumstances under which the films were produced.

While personally operating a hand-held 16mm camera for this film, its director, John Ford, a Commander in the Navy reserve serving on temporary duty at Midway Atoll at the time, risked enemy fire to get his footage and was wounded by shrapnel during the Japanese air attack. He received the Purple Heart for the wound, as all military wounded in action do, but later was awarded the Legion of Merit for his actions during the battle. It’s is the highest award given for non-combat performance, just so you'll know. John Ford was too busy shooting film and getting shot at to stage anything during the battle of Midway.

As for the narration, yes it can sound anachronistic and oddly funny these days—if you don’t understand why they are talking that way. Believe me, the Jane Darwell narration speaks for mothers and grandmothers then and now. Do you not have family or friends or neighbors who have a son or daughter serving in Afghanistan or Iraq? How do they feel about it? It’s pretty rough for them, I’m sure. If you don’t what that’s like, then just consider what it’s like to have the lives of your loved ones at risk. Then listen again to Jane Darwell’s narration in this film. I assure you, the angst of mothers and grandmothers with children in harm’s way has not changed one iota since World War II.

Consider too the mood of the nation when this film was made 65 years ago. My father was 22 then. He told me everyone in the country was expecting a Japanese invasion of California at any moment. There was great anxiety the United States could even defend itself to a draw, let alone win the war.

This battle changed all that in a few minutes’ time. It snapped, literally, Japan's ability to mount a large-scale air attack. The west coast was safe for the moment, the first time that could be said since the Pearl Harbor sneak attack of almost exactly six anxious months before. As it turned out, the Battle of Midway was the high water mark of Japan’s efforts in all of World War II, but that wasn’t known then. There were over three more years of fighting left.

The American people of that time only knew that Japan had been stopped at Midway, that its “run of the table” was over, and that the outnumbered and outgunned U.S. Navy had destroyed the very same Japanese aircraft carriers, Soryu, Hiryu, Akagi, and Kaga, that had brought the attack to Pearl Harbor. That's why the ending titles were drawn through with red paint, to suggest the bloody repayment of a debt. It released deeply held fear and anger about the war, and was tremendously liberating at the time, as well as deeply and spiritually rewarding. The concept of “whose side is God on?” was very much a part of those times, believe it or not.

Finally, for what its worth, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded this film the Oscar for Best Documentary, 1942. That in itself should tell you the mood of the country at the time, as strange and unfamiliar and odd as God-fearing patriotism seems to some people today.

Like all great art, John Ford's "Battle of Midway" is an indicator of the time and place from which it came, and mirrors the society that produced it.

Reviewer: doowopbob - - January 25, 2007
Subject: President's Are Still Killing Us Off Today!

John Ford Is The Director!....The Producer Is The U.S. Government....AKA We The Taxpayer's!....P.S. Ford Was Known To Stage Sequences So Beware!

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - June 23, 2006
Subject: I Remember Him When He Was a Young 'Un...

This battle film was obviously made for the home front, as a propaganda piece. Itâs in color, for one thing, which was unusual for the period. And it features the voice over of a little old lady, who comments on the soldiers periodically, mainly telling us how she remembered them as little boys. These sequences are pretty campy today. Other narration is kept to a minimum, so we can take in the striking images of death and destruction. You really get a feel in this film that the cameraman was in mortal danger. The ending is a great piece of propaganda, featuring title cards that tell battle statistics, which are then painted over by a hand wielding a huge paintbrush dripping with red paint. This film is quite fun to watch, and is so well made you might find yourself getting caught up in the fighting spirit after awhile.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****.

Reviewer: mircan - - June 22, 2006
Subject: a

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