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Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. True story of "The Doolittle Raid" based on the personal account by Doolittle Raider Ted Lawson. While the Raid itself caused minimal damage, the Japanese war lords changed their tactics as a result of it. “They brought all of their top officers back from the Pacific Rim to think about ‘defensive measures leaving no authority on the fighting fronts.” And, it “cost them.”
Tragically, the Chinese experienced even worse losses. “Over 250,000 men, women, and children were executed for aiding the Raiders (as they escaped) the pursuing Japanese Army. One of America's finest actors portrayed Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” H. Doolittle. Spencer Tracy.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. True story of "The Doolittle Raid" based on the personal account by Doolittle Raider Ted Lawson. While the Raid itself caused minimal damage, the Japanese war lords changed their tactics as a result of it. “They brought all of their top officers back from the Pacific Rim to think about ‘defensive measures leaving no authority on the fighting fronts.” And, it “cost them.”
Tragically, the Chinese experienced even worse losses. “Over 250,000 men, women, and children were executed for aiding the Raiders (as they escaped) the pursuing Japanese Army. One of America's finest actors portrayed Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” H. Doolittle. Spencer Tracy.
Another very good movie.
What's the source of your 250,000 figure of Chinese executed subsequent to the raid?
Air Force. 1943. Loosely based on a historical event. A group of B17 bombers fly west from California to Hickman Field Oahu on Dec 6th 1941. The rest is mostly fiction and the special effects are crude by today’s standards. For a military aviation history enthusiast the exterior and interior shots of the very early production B17 bombers is worth the watch time.
I know it's not exactly historical - it's based on a book that is based on true events, and introduces a supernatural element as well.. but I think the tv show is done really well and offers an interesting insight into the times.
I'm talking about The Terror.
It's based on the ill fated Franklin's Expedition.
Now I'm not an expert, but this show seems to be as historically accurate as they get. Just feel warned - it gets pretty creepy, I wouldn't touch it if you don't like horrors.
Another sports movie that is based on true events is the movie Glory Road, which was filmed in 2006. It is based on a little known coach (Don Haskins) being hired by a university not well known for sports achievements. That would be Texas Western, later to be named UTEP (University of Texas El Paso.) It involves coach Haskins going around the country scouting basketball players and the best players he recruited were African American and some of them were just playground players.
That 1965-1966 club he assembled beat some quality opponents toward the end of the tournament, namely the Kentucky Wildcats and their HOF coach, Adolph Rupp, who is portrayed by long time actor Jon Voight. And the reason there is history to this program is that coach Haskins started ALL African American players, something that's never happened before. At the end of the movie credits there is some good comments from Don Haskins himself, NBA HOF coach Pat Riley (who was on the Kentucky squad) and a couple Texas Western players.
It just so happens that tonight for anyone who has premium cable at their house is that the HBO channel will be showing this two hour film tonight. I recommend it!
I wonder if this project still is in production. I couldn't find any recent updates.
<<Lincolnshire in England has received a visit from aviation advisers associated with a new World War II mini-series from Steven Speilberg and Tom Hanks – Lincolnshire has a history of working with the US Army Air Force.
The Mighty Eighth is a 10-part mini-series by Spielberg and Hanks. It’s the third part of their trilogy which includes Band of Brothers and Pacific.
We actually aren’t too sure when the name change happened but, MASTERS OF THE AIR , the WWII companion piece to BAND OF BROTHERS and THE PACIFIC, now has the official title of THE MIGHTY EIGHTH, in our opinion you couldn’t have a better title – the Eighth Air Force is legendary.>>
<<Regardless, while the plan was to start filming The Mighty Eighty not long after the second mini-series, said plan has encountered more than its fair share of setbacks. However, it seems that everything is ready for filming to begin on the mini-series, which will have a remarkable $500 million ready for use by its makers. For reference purposes, this would make it the best-funded mini-series of its kind, which makes sense because of the previous successes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg when collaborating on similar projects.>>
Historic equipment shortages at some point likely will preclude, or at least limit, the making of grand historical epics about WWII, unless robots at some point can cheaply build B-17 facsimiles. More likely, digital technology, including colorization, will allow for the adaptation of existing footage.
It will be shocking if Jeep the Coyote isn't a star of the Spielberg/Hanks mini-series.
<<What must the people of Ipswich have made of the swashbuckling Col John “Wild Bill” Crump, who smuggled his pet coyote, Jeep, over from Nebraska and took him on combat missions in the cockpit of his Mustang? The story of Wild Bill and Jeep (who was eventually run over) is told in the control tower of RAF Martlesham Heath, once home of the 356th Fighter Group, near Ipswich. >>
It also will be shocking and disappointing if the epic mini-series doesn't touch on the enforcement of "Jim Crow" laws in England by the U.S. military.
I am currently watching "X Company" which is based on trainees from a secret WWII training camp that was located in Canada. I've no doubt they've taken many liberties with the missions, but it's very well done overall.
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Looking ahead: "The Mighty Eighth"
