Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

grantss A documentary short, directed by John Ford. Covers the Battle of Midway, one of the most decisive battles of WW2. Taking place near the island of Midway in the central Pacific in June 1942, the battle turned the tide of the Pacific Theatre. Ford uses actual footage from the battle and the aftermath, with narration by Henry Fonda.During WW2 the US used its mighty film industry to its advantage, producing high-quality news reels. documentaries and propaganda films. For this they enlisted some of the foremost directors of the age: Frank Capra, William Wyler, John Huston, John Sturges and John Ford, among others. Here, John Ford (or should I say, Lt. Commander John Ford, USNR) does his bit. He does fairly well, capturing some great footage of the battle. It is more the editing and over-the-top, hammy added-on dialogue that weaken the film, and only when viewed with a 21st century lens. Propaganda films never have the same impact when viewed outside of wartime.The movie went on to win the Best Documentary Oscar in 1943.

TearAlongTheDottedLion I happened to watch this amazing piece of history again the other night, (I'd already seen it several times before over my 60 years), and went online looking for added information. That is how I came upon the previous IMDb reviews. The first thing to catch my eye was the 6.4 rating. Are you serious? Some of the most amazing documentary war footage ever shot, and by a legend of the film industry who almost paid for it with his life, and that only rates a 6.4? I then discovered that the score was over burdened by one reviewer who said "I enjoyed it very much!" and then went on to give it a 4! Not only that but he double posted further hurting it's rating by giving it 8 out of a possible 20 points. He said many good things about the film , (the exception being the misuse of one word I will get into in a minute), leaving me shocked that he would only rate it a 4. This films importance and greatness isn't in it's entertainment value, or it's cinematography as art, but in it's raw presentation of history as it was taking place. There is a much deeper story behind it all as this was a turning point in the war with Japan and the most significant events of that day took place over a wide expanse of ocean and not just on the deck of this one ship. This short film let's us feel the emotion as Mr Ford looked death in the face and continued filming.What I take the utmost exception to in several of the reviews is the misuse of the word "propaganda." That word is bandied about now days by people who have not taken the time to learn it's true definition. The Websters definition strongly implies a sinister nature to the word and it is something used to deceive and not simply influence. There is absolutely nothing deceptive about this film. It is straight forward fact from the raw footage to the inspirational narration. I find this part of the last review especially inaccurate, "Everything, including its Oscar win, seems to be there for propaganda purposes." This reviewer uses the tainted modern day definition of the word used by professors to make students think that they need to be ashamed of our country and it's history. To them everything that influences or motivates people would be labeled "propaganda," which only serves to lessen the diabolical intent of true propagandists like Hitler who through lies and deceit sought to misguide millions into following an evil path!

monticellomeadow This is a great, short (less than 20 minutes)film of one part of the key battle of the war in the Pacific. Keep it mind, the Battle of Midway was fought in early June, 1942. The darkest days of the Pacific War for America. Pearl Harbor, the Phillipines, Bataan, Corregidor, Wake Island; all American defeats. It is, indeed, a "propaganda" film. Or, at least it was turned into one after John Ford shot it. But the film of the combat itself is no propaganda piece. It took a lot of courage for Ford to stick his cameras out and film while hundreds of Japanese planes struck the island. Many Marines died in the bombing. Ford could easily have been killed. Of necessity, Ford could only film the land portion of the battle, which was an attempt by Japanese naval forces to reduce the island's defenses and then conduct a landing, possibly eventually putting Hawaii in jeopardy with a new, forward Japanese base on Midway. The major part of the battle was a naval battle between carrier forces. An "incredible victory" in the title of the Walter Lord book. Four Japanese aircraft carriers, miles from the filming on Midway itself, were sunk. It was the begging of the end of Japan. The stiff resistance put up by the Marines on Midway, captured by Ford, forced decisions by the Japanese High Command that ultimately led to the sinking of their carriers. Historically interesting film.

Michael_Elliott Battle of Midway, The (1942) *** (out of 4) Henry Fonda and Donald Crisp add narration to the battle scenes shot by John Ford where the director was even wounded by enemy fire. There's really no story being told in this documentary but instead we just see a part of history in beautiful Technicolor. God knows everyone has seen countless war films but there's something unique seeing real ones here. They certainly look a lot different than what we've seen in countless fake movies.Ford's World War 2 shorts are out there in various forms ranging from public domain companies to the Ford at Fox set. Quality various but the version in the Fox set is the best.