Search - Tora! Tora! Tora! on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Questionable for Children, War Violence Movie Release: 1970 DVD Release: 11/07/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Historical Film, War, War Epic See Also: Tora! Tora! Tora!, Tora! Tora! Tora! [Special Edition]

This 25-million dollar epic collaboration accurately recreates the events that led to the Japanese attack on the American naval base during World War II. With Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the wheels are set in motion by Japan to plan the attack. After internal differences in the government, the Japanese quickly mobilize plans for the assault. Key American personnel ignored warnings of the possibility of Japanese aggression. The first part of the film divides scenes from both countries. Part two contains spectacular battle scenes of the bombing that destroyed the American naval base of operations in Hawaii. Governmental errors on both sides add to the confusion, but the Japanese ultimately carry out the deadly mission. The film did well in Japan, did not do well in the he United States, and took years to make back the production costs. It remains an insightful and well crafted World War II action drama that was the result of years of negotiations between the two countries. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Martin Balsam - Adm. Husband E. Kimmel
So Yamamura - Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
Joseph Cotten - Henry L. Stimson
Tatsuya Mihashi - Cmdr. Minoru Genda
E.G. Marshall - Lt. Col. Rufus S. Bratton

=Tora! Tora! Tora! contains two impressive bonus features that were not included in its original DVD release. The first is an extremely informative feature-length commentary from American director Richard Fleischer and Japanese film historian Stewart Galbraith. While both speakers are fairly dry and straightforward, this track provides plenty of background into the production and actors in this film.
The second supplement is "Day of Infamy" -- a new 20-minute documentary about the historical facts of Pearl Harbor and its relation to the film. It features a variety of expert speakers, including Paul Stillwell, the director of the history division of the U.S. Naval Institute. This documentary utilizes shots from the film, as well as old black-and-white footage of the naval officers and vehicles.
This 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer matches the one included with the original DVD release of the film in November of 1999. At certain points (especially during the daytime flight scenes), the transfer works wonderfully and displays the effects of the immense restoration necessary from the original print. Unfortunately, the uneven nature of the images keeps it from becoming a top-level transfer.
This disc includes a THX-certified 4.1-channel Dolby Digital track that features impressive sound during the entire presentation. This transfer works especially well during the Pearl Harbor attack, where gun shots, explosions, and plane engines echo from all sides of the transfer. While the rear speakers aren't utilized as fully as the best DVD audio tracks, they still assist in creating an enjoyable experience. The Dolby Surround track works decently, but it is a major step down from the 4.1-channel transfer. ~ Dan Heaton, All Movie Guide