The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway
NR | 14 September 1942 (USA)
The Battle of Midway Trailers

The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.

Reviews
Hellen

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

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ThiefHott

Too much of everything

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Philippa

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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Kinley

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

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blitzebill

This brief film using real footage about the Battle of Midway is significant for several reasons.The most important is that it shared an important battlefield of WW II (in color no less) with the general American public, who relied on every scrap of news they could get. Radio, newspapers and news reels were the most popular, so seeing this short in their neighborhood theater was just as important.Second, if you want to generate enlistment in your military forces, sure this type of film might accomplish that. And to boot, show some pride in your country's war accomplishments against a vicious enemy.Third, take note that the cameramen risked their lives as much as the soldiers, sailors and airmen, and deserve as much credit. Director John Ford was injured while recording with his camera.This may not be a polished Hollywood filmmaking result, but it was never intended to be.

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MartinHafer

"The Battle of Midway" is an important historical film. Imagine...film crews were on the island when it was attacked and soon after rushed this short into theaters to celebrate this HUGE American victory. So, from a historical viewpoint it is an important film. BUT, and there is a but here, seen today the film isn't the wonderful film it was proclaimed to be when it was given an Oscar in 1943. I really think the Oscar purely came because of patriotism--Hollywood's attempt to bolster the war effort by heaping praise and awards on films that drummed up love of country and the war. Seen today, the color print is very faded and scratchy but more importantly the narrative sucks. The film was shot with color but was silent--and all sound effects and narration were added later-- and some of the voiceovers were terrible. The bottom line is that if you want to see a historical document-- see this. If you want to see a good film that explains the battle well, don't! There are much better documentaries on the battle.

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MARIO GAUCI

This Oscar-winning documentary – by one of the most revered American film-makers who would have celebrated his birthday on the day I watched this – is quite celebrated, having even been treated to a 2-page spread in the early 1980s British periodical "The Movies". However, the passage of time has not been at all kind to it: not only, at just 18 minutes, does it not dwell in sufficient detail on the famous conflict that purportedly changed the course of the Pacific War…but the whole is lent the director's typically homespun – read sappy – approach, which really dates it! The film obviously retains historical value for its rare colour footage of the battle (some of which was actually incorporated in the star-studded 1976 Hollywood rendition of these same events, MIDWAY!) and, for the record, Ford regulars Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell supply the intermittent narration.

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pmcenea

The first 9 minutes of this documentary of the battle of Midway was divoted to the fighting by the US ground troops on Midway. This was actually a minor part of the battle, but provided great footage for the film. The overall effect was very stirring, especially the biplay between Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell. This must have been very comforting to the folks at home when shown in the theaters. I enjoyed it very much.

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