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A 1970 classic depicting the Pearl Harbor attack from both sides was a major flop in the United States when first released but future reprints and its super hit status in Japan helped production houses to tide over the expenses. The title “Tora Tora Tora” supposed to represent Japanese codeword for “Attack Attack Attack” for the surprise attack they had in store and its success.

There are no big stars in this movie as it was felt that they would undermine the story. But the brilliant depiction of the Pearl Harbor attack has been well appreciated by later documentaries that have taken footage from the movie. Why Tora Tora Tora does stand out is the different angle to the war that it provides. Being a Japanese American movie, its one of those rare opportunities in Hollywood where the attack is also viewed from the other side point of view.

The movie opens with the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and his predecessor Zengo Yoshida discussing American embargo and its serious impact on the Japanese and how a war with United States wouldn’t be of any positive consequence. With the U.S. having moved their Pacific fleet to Pearl Harbor, the Japanese decide a pre-emptive strike on American forces to give the Japanese navy an upper hand against a stronger adversary. Meanwhile the American commanders are found discussing their base’s exposure to torpedo attacks but finally figure out that Pearl Harbor is 40 feet deep while torpedoes usually sink to 75 feet once dropped from aerial routes.

The Japanese Ambassador to US is meanwhile shown helpless as he receives minimal information from Japan to answer to the Americans who are applying increased pressure on him. The key part is though the US intelligence have broken into the Japanese code and are intercepting their radio transmissions, the threatening intelligence reports are accepted with indifference at the White House.

Moving in the day- December 7^th, decision makers in the Americas are shown to be enjoying a relaxed leisurely routine while the American intelligence is shown deciphering the 14 radio messages Japanese embassy is receiving from Tokyo. The 14^th message would be the declaration of war, but American intelligence is shown to be having a difficulty getting across decision makers on a leisurely Sunday, especially since the final message instructs the ambassador to destroy the code machines after they receive the last of the 14 messages hence a worrying fact.

Meanwhile, Laxity on the Pearl Harbor is showcased where a report of a Japanese submarine is dismissed while radar report of incoming Japanese aircraft is assumed to be that of American B-17 planes that are being expected.

A turning point in the movie is shown as the typist for Japanese ambassador being too slow to decode the 14^th message which was originally intended to inform US of their declaration of war 30 minutes before the attack. But delays there plus the telegram to Pearl Harbor gets delayed due to it not being marked urgent and the irony of it all, that this telegram will reach after the attack.

The incoming Japanese fighter pilots are pleasantly surprised when there isn’t even any anti-aircraft fire as they approach the base. As a result, the squadron leader radios in the code phrase marking that complete surprise for the attack has been achieved, “Tora, Tora, Tora.”

The clincher of the movie is the dialogue that Admiral Yamamoto utters as he laments the fact that American didn’t receive the declaration of war until an hour after the attack started. “I fear that all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant, and filled him with a terrible resolve.” -an ominous omen of what a US retaliation could be.

What to expect from the movie? A different angle into the real life events surrounding Pearl Harbor attack, well budgeted and orchestrated action sequence of the attack and the crudeness of cinematography pushes you back to that era.

Directed by

Richard Fleischer
Kinji Fukasaku
Toshio Masuda

Running Time

144 minutes