Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(591 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

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: Mervyn LeRoy
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 15, 1944 Wide
On DVD: Jun 5, 2007
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

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.
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.
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.
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.

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

Lanning :

Some of the footage of the scenery flying by on the way to this historic bombing run is way ahead of its time. Robert Mitchum on the rise. Van Johnson established.

Cast

            Van Johnson as Capt. Ted W. Lawson

            Robert Walker as David Thatcher

            Phyllis Thaxter as Ellen Jones Lawson

            Tim Murdock as Dean Davenport

            Robert Mitchum as Bob Gray

            Scott McKay as Davey Jones

            Gordon McDonald as Bob Clever

            Spencer Tracy as Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle

            Don DeFore as Charles McClure

            John R. Reilly as Shorty Manch

            Horace McNally as Doc White

            Donald Curtis as Lt. Randall

            Louis Jean Heydt as Lt. Miller

            William 'Bill' Phillips as Don Smith

            Douglas Cowan as Brick Holstrom

            Paul Langton as Capt. Ski York

            Leon Ames as Lt. Cmdr. Jurika

            June Allyson
            
            Morris Ankrum as Capt. Halsey

            Robert Bice as Jig White

            Steve Brodie as M.P.

            Hazel Brooks
            
            Wally Cassell as Sailor

            Myrna Dell
            
            Benson Fong as Young Chung

            Harry Hayden as Judge

            John Kellogg as Pilot

            Ching Wah Lee as Foo Ling

            Peggy Maley
            
            Dorothy Morris as Jane

            Alan Napier as Mr. Parker

            Jay Norris as Hallmark

            Moroni Olsen as General

            Selena Royle as Mrs. Jones

            Elaine Shepard
            
            Ann Shoemaker as Mrs. Parker

            Jacqueline White as Emmy York

            Bill Williams as Bud Felton

            Blake Edwards as Second Officer

            Kay Williams as Girls in Officers' Club

            Jack McClendon as Dick Joyce

            Peter Varney as Spike Henderson

            Stephen McNally
            
See full cast