Films of the 1970s, No. 39

 


Throughout 2023 I'm looking at my favorite films from the decade of the 1970s. I'll be counting down from 50 to 1 throughout the year, posting a new installment each Friday. Agree? Disagree? Want to share a story? Post it in the comments below!

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto: I had intended to deal a fatal blow to the American fleet by attacking Pearl Harbor immediately after Japan's official declaration of war. But according to the American radio, Pearl Harbor was attacked 55 minutes before our ultimatum was delivered in Washington. I can't imagine anything that would infuriate the Americans more. II fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Starring: James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards, Martin Balsam and So Yamamura
Director: Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku, and Toshio Masuda
About: The 1970s were also a robust time for World War II films. I'm not sure why, but there are a number of WWII films on this list, starting with Tora! Tora! Tora! Long before Michael Bay and Ben Affleck tackled it, this film showcased the attack at Pearl Harbor. It's a slow build, spending time with the Japanese and America military personnel in the run up to the attacks. Unlike the later film, this one ends with the attack at Pearl Harbor. For the time in which it was made, the film does an incredible job of capturing the brutal savagery of the attack. It's a powerful and engaging film.

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