Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
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100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
72% of users liked it
(625 ratings)
Billed third, Spencer Tracy plays Lt. Col. James P. Doolittle, who led the bombing raid over Tokyo. Most of the footage concerns pilot Ted Lawson (Van Johnson), who loses a leg while escaping from China after the attack; other subplots concern the meticulous preparations for the raid, and the… More Billed third, Spencer Tracy plays Lt. Col. James P. Doolittle, who led the bombing raid over Tokyo. Most of the footage concerns pilot Ted Lawson (Van Johnson), who loses a leg while escaping from China after the attack; other subplots concern the meticulous preparations for the raid, and the individual exploits of those Doolittle flyers who crashed into the sea or were captured by the Japanese. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mervyn LeRoy
- Written By
- Robert Considine, Dalton Trumbo
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1944 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
After an overly mushy first half, the movie redeems itself with a second act that is decidedly dark and dreary and an extended air combat sequence that's still amazing nearly 70 years later.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's winsome because of its sincerity, painting a sympathetic portrait of the men who carried out this dangerous mission.
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Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
wonderful WWII propaganda drama with sincere performances by the cast. Special effects bombing sequence of Tokyo isn't bad either.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Mervyn LeRoy's fact-based WWII action-drama was extremely popular due to subject matter, star power (Spencer Tracy), Oscar-winning effects, and intelligent script by Dalton Trumbo, later blacklisted and one of the Hollywood Ten.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Van Johnson
as Capt. Ted W. Lawson
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Robert Walker
as David Thatcher
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Phyllis Thaxter
as Ellen Jones Lawson
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Tim Murdock
as Dean Davenport
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Robert Mitchum
as Bob Gray
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Scott McKay
as Davey Jones
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Gordon McDonald
as Bob Clever
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Spencer Tracy
as Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle
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Don DeFore
as Charles McClure
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John R. Reilly
as Shorty Manch
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Horace McNally
as Doc White
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Donald Curtis
as Lt. Randall
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Louis Jean Heydt
as Lt. Miller
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William 'Bill' Phillips
as Don Smith
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Douglas Cowan
as Brick Holstrom
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Paul Langton
as Capt. Ski York
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Leon Ames
as Lt. Cmdr. Jurika
- June Allyson
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Morris Ankrum
as Capt. Halsey
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Robert Bice
as Jig White
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Steve Brodie
as M.P.
- Hazel Brooks
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Wally Cassell
as Sailor
- Myrna Dell
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Benson Fong
as Young Chung
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Harry Hayden
as Judge
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John Kellogg
as Pilot
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Ching Wah Lee
as Foo Ling, Guerrilla Charlie
- Peggy Maley
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Dorothy Morris
as Jane
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Alan Napier
as Mr. Parker
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Jay Norris
as Hallmark
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Moroni Olsen
as General
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Selena Royle
as Mrs. Jones
- Elaine Shepard
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Ann Shoemaker
as Mrs. Parker
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Jacqueline White
as Emmy York
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Bill Williams
as Bud Felton
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Blake Edwards
as Second Officer
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Kay Williams
as Girls in Officers' Club
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Jack McClendon
as Dick Joyce
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Peter Varney
as Spike Henderson
- Stephen McNally
