Destination Tokyo (1943)

61% of users liked it
(2,688 ratings)

Though its purely propagandastic aspects are never far from surface, Destination Tokyo must rank as one of the most intelligent and objective of wartime thrillers. Cary Grant is a tower of strength as Captain Cassidy, skipper of an American submarine bound for Tokyo harbor. Its mission: to allow a… More Though its purely propagandastic aspects are never far from surface, Destination Tokyo must rank as one of the most intelligent and objective of wartime thrillers. Cary Grant is a tower of strength as Captain Cassidy, skipper of an American submarine bound for Tokyo harbor. Its mission: to allow a Navy meterologist to survey Japanese weather conditions, in preparation for a major Allied assault. Many of the individual incidents in Delmar Daves' script are based on fact, notably an episode in which a pharmacist's mate is called upon to perform an emergency appendectomy. Admittedly, some of the secondary characters are WWII stereotypes, but they're never played that way. Particularly good isDane Clark, in his first important screen role; also registering well as a radio man is John Forsythe, in his first screen role ever. From the sub's embarkation in San Francisco to its climactic retreat from Japan, there's not a single solitary dull moment in the 135 minutes of Destination Tokyo. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Delmer Daves
Written By: Delmer Daves, Albert Maltz
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1943 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2004

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers
Fine WWII propaganda rouser starring Grant and Garfield.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An intelligent WWII propaganda film.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

Even with Mr. Grant - campy and dull.
AJ V

I'm not crazy about this movie, but I am crazy about Grant. He gives a good performance, and the movie has some intense scenes, but overall it was kind of boring.
Cindy I

A tension-filled trip on a U.S. submarine heading to bomb Japan in WWII. Cary Grant does a great job as the boat captain, leading John Garfield, Dane Clark and Alan Hale into the Sea of Japan, through nests of undersea mines and enemy ships. I found myself holding my breath during… More
A tension-filled trip on a U.S. submarine heading to bomb Japan in WWII. Cary Grant does a great job as the boat captain, leading John Garfield, Dane Clark and Alan Hale into the Sea of Japan, through nests of undersea mines and enemy ships. I found myself holding my breath during some of the more tense action. Is that's not enough to recommend it, I don't know what else it would take.
cody f

This film starts up a little ho-hum, and the characters follow a goofball formula.Once they get their orders and have to go to Tokyo Bay for recon work the film really picks up.Cary Grant is great as usual as the sub captain and the rest of the crew find their barrings and become… More
This film starts up a little ho-hum, and the characters follow a goofball formula.Once they get their orders and have to go to Tokyo Bay for recon work the film really picks up.Cary Grant is great as usual as the sub captain and the rest of the crew find their barrings and become good characters after awhile. Some of the underwater footage looks good,but it's models in a small pool and at times looks too fake. I liked the story,but a few too many flashbacks.This movie was made during the war so it is patriotic and racist towards the Japanese,but all films made during this period were. Defiantly worth a watch,especially if your a Cary Grant fan.
Barry L

Grants plays 'tense' like no other actor. Classic wartime drama for a wet sunday afternoon.

Cast

            Cary Grant as Capt. Cassidy

            John Garfield as Wolf

            Alan Hale as Cookie

            Dane Clark as Tin Can

            John Ridgely as Reserve Officer Raymond

            Warner Anderson as Executive

            William Prince as Pills

            Robert Hutton as Tommy Adams "The Kid"

            Peter Whitney as Dakota

            Tom Tully as Mike

            Faye Emerson as Mrs. Cassidy

            Warren Douglas as Diving Officer

            John Forsythe as Sparks

            John Alvin as Sound Man

            Bill Kennedy as Torpedo Officer

            William Challee as Quartermaster

            Whit Bissell as Yo Yo

            John Whitney as Commanding Officer

            George Lloyd as Chief of Boat

            Maurice Murphy as Toscanini

            George Anderson as Officer

            Warren Ashe as Major

            Harry Bartell as Crewman

            Danny Borzage as Crewman

            Lane Chandler as CPO

            Cliff Clark as Hornet's Admiral

            Ángel de la Cruz as Japanese Bombardier

            Benson Fong
            
            John Forrest
            
            Roland Got as Japanese Officer

            Kirby Grant as Captain at Briefing

            William Hudson as Crewman

            John Hudson as Radio Man

            Ted Jacques
            
            Paul Langton as Crewman

            Eddie Lee
            
            James B. Leong as Japanese

            Robert Lowell as Radio Operator

            Jack Mower as Admiral's Aide

            Paul Parry
            
            Hugh Prosser as Pilot

            Bernie Sell
            
            Charles Sherlock
            
            Mark Stevens as Admiral's Aide

            Charles Sullivan as Crewman

            Frank Tang as Japanese Pilot

            Charles P. Thompson as Rear Admiral

            Jay Ward as Crewman

            Pierre Watkin as Admiral

            Bruce Wong as Japanese Antenna Man

            Duke York as Crewman

            Carlyle Blackwell as Man on phone

            Alan Wilson as Crew Member

            George Robotham as Crewman

            Jimmy Evans
            
            Michael Daves as Michael Cassidy

            John Sylvester White
            
            Charles Anthony Hughes as Navy Air Officer

            Cy Malis
            
            Sailor Vincent
            
            Russ Whiteman as 1st Class Yeoman

            Joy Barlowe as Wolf's girl

            Wing Foo as Japanese at Listening Post

            Herbert Gunn as Lieutenant

            William Hunter as Market St. Commando

            Mary Landa as Tin Can's girl

            Lou Marcelle as Narrator

            Dorothy Schoemer as Saleslady

            Wally Walker
            
See full cast