Midway (1976)

We have all our own ways of self-amusement in these extraordinary times and mine is to work my way through my stack of unwatched DVDs.

Midway tells the story of the June 1942 naval engagement between the US and Japanese Imperial fleets arguably the most important naval battle of World War Two.

The American war movie is a totally different genre from any other country’s.  Firstly, America has to be glorified.

Secondly there is the requirement of an all American box office star, in this case Charlton Heston.

Midway is unusual as it has a romantic sub-plot with Charlton Heston’s son falling in love with a Japanese American girl who is interred.  This does not really develop.

Although it’s right to term Midway a naval engagement in fact it was a battle between aircraft carriers and the fighting was between fighter planes launched from them.

There was no direct conflict at close quarters between warships.

It’s not a great war film as it fails to maintain a tension, the dialogue is weak.

In one scene we see the High Command of the Japanese command. Admiral Yamamoto (Toshiro Mifune) says:

“I have travelled in America. Their industrial might is awesome.“

Unlikely words – and as unlikely as one of my favourite movie lines in King Richard And The Crusaders (1954).

Lady Edith (Virginia Mayo):

“War, war, war – that is all you talk of Dicky Plantagenet.”

As in all war films I look out for the small part actor that goes on to become a big star.

In this case, Tom Selleck.

The irony is that good number of Hollywood stars served in the Navy in the Pacific: Rod Steiger, Lee Marvin – who led 21 seaborne assaults – and Charlton Heston himself, to name but three.

Henry Fonda, who plays Admiral Nimitz, actually served under him.