Abstract:

"The restored, complete, feature-length version of the Oscar-winning documentary by John Ford and Gregg Toland about the attack on Pearl Harbor. A brilliant piece of fabricated non-fiction, with battle scenes so convincingly staged that many believed they were shot during the attack. Despite the film's obvious patriotism, it was confiscated upon completion by the Chief of Naval Operations, who believed the film's honest criticism of the Navy's lack of readiness would lower morale. Even sadder were cuts made for purely racist reasons; deleting positive portrayals of black and white soldiers fighting together and of loyal Japanese-Americans. In 1991, the 50th anniversary of the attack, these scenes were finally restored and the movie, at long last, could be seen as originally intended. VHS: In stock DVD: Features 76 minutes of bonus material, including Frank Capra's 1945 propaganda film, Know Your Enemy: Japan; Movietone and Universal newsreels; commentary by Pearl Harbor survivors; Japanese reaction to restored version; comparison of cut and uncut versions.