The story follows van johnson playing reallife soldier ted lawson. As the only firsthand account by a doolittle raider, not to mention a source of previously classified details about the daring raid, it became an immediate bestseller. That film, a history of the doolittle raid, does not actually feature this trope. See all 32 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The screenplay by dalton trumbo is based on the 1943 book of the same name by captain ted w. It was like being slugged with a single punch in a dark room, and having no way of knowing where to slug back. Thirty seconds over tokyo in memorium march 10, 1945 fc 84. Thirty seconds over tokyo 1944 the finest aviation. Mervyn leroy directed thirty seconds over tokyo and sam zimbalist produced the film.
Lawson subsequently served as a technical adviser to mgm during the making of the popular wartime movie based on his book. The four movies the first three considered fictionalized are destination tokyo 1943. Thirty seconds over tokyo was made in 1944 during world war ii. The topsecret world war ii mission that sent americas hopes soaring. Random house published his account of the raid, thirty seconds over tokyo, in 1943. After the attack on pearl harbor, he volunteered for a secret mission that evolved into the raid on tokyo in april 1942. The story of his rescue, told simply and directly, makes thrilling and moving reading, serving again to remind us all of the great acts of sacrifice and heroism performed by members.
The mission was a success and captain lawsons plane bombed its assigned targets in just 30 seconds. In the subsequent crackup on the chinese coast, he sustained injuries that ultimately cost him a leg. By the early 1940s, he was appearing regularly in films such as. Lawson flew the ruptured duck in the famous doolittle raid. Directed by mervyn leroy army major ted lawsons autobiographical book of the same name cowritten with bob considine was turned into this above average world war ii drama which details the james doolittleled first bombing of japan after pearl harbor by screenwriter dalton trumbo. The actress was the daughter of a shakespearean actress and supreme court justice, according to a hollywood reporter article. Some of this, though, is truth in television see japanese culture though the avantgarde rock band pere ubu has a song with the same name, the term thirty seconds over tokyo actually refers to the 1944 film of the same name. Thirty seconds over tokyo is a tightly focused yarn about ted lawsons participation in the doolittle raid. It was a president roosevelts project, not to do any significant damage to japans industrial infrastructure.
In competition with an extraordinary record of topnotch reporting, this personal record of the doolittle raid over tokyo stands out as one of the most stirring of them all. Lawson and the rest of the men, including actors robert walker, don defore and young robert mitchum, train for the mission and then drop bombs on tokyo. Jan 18, 2012 thirty seconds over tokyo brought van johnson his first starring role in an a picture, after getting a career buildup in supporting roles and lowbudget films. This is the story of the famed raid over tokyo in april 1942 led by lt. Thirty seconds over tokyo, american war film, released in 1944, that depicted the u. Thirty seconds over tokyo 1944 directed by mervyn leroy. Lawson was a pilot on the historic doolittle raid, americas first retaliatory air strike against japan, four months after the december 7, 1941, japanese attack on pearl harbor. Considine soon obtained a book contract for thirty seconds over tokyo, but the manuscript was prohibited for release by the war department until april 1943. It was a president roosevelts project, not to do any significant damage to.
This book is an eyewitness account of the 1942 dolittle raid over tokyo. In both the book and the film, lawson gives an eyewitness account of the training. Ever since i first saw this film when i was about 12 years old ive wanted to buzz san franciscos oakland bay bridge in a b25. Thirty seconds over tokyo is a 1944 american war film released by metrogoldwynmayer. Lawson writes, was that there was no tangible enemy.
Doolittles, bombing raid over tokyo during an early part of the ww ii. The male animal 1942, a guy named joe 1943, thirty seconds over tokyo 1944, you came along 1945, without reservations 1946, it happened on fifth avenue 1947, romance on the high seas 1948, my friend irma 1949 and jumping jacks 1952. The amazingly detailed true story of the doolittle raid based on the novel of the same name ever since i first saw this film when i was about 12 years old ive wanted to buzz san franciscos oakland bay bridge in a b25. Lawson, a pilot involved in the mission the world war ii film centres on lieut. The raiders came in at treetop or waterlevel all the way from the carrier into tokyo bay, hopping over the hills. After watching the movie, i decided to read the book. Ted lawson piloted one of the planes that roared over tokyo. The book and movie cover the planning, preparation, execution, and aftermath of the raid from the perspective of one of the participants. Ted lawson the commander of a b25, the ruptured duck, and its crew. Bob considine this is a firsthand account of the doolitle raid over tokyo in 1942 the secret preparations, the raid itself and the almost unbelievable adventures of the airmen in the weeks that followed. For the final half of thirty seconds over tokyo, after johnsons plane crashes in china, they simply let the real scars show rather than adding fake scars. Van johnson had been in a serious car wreck while filming a guy named joe 1943.
In four nights and two days in the mayflower hotel in washington, d. I had always heard of it and finally decided to read it. Though the avantgarde rock band pere ubu has a song with the same name, the term thirty seconds over tokyo actually refers to the 1944 film of the same name. Thaxters acting career started on broadway, and she was signed to mgm in 1944. Lawson played in the film by van johnson, an aircraft commander during the doolittle raid who lost a leg when his b25 crashed in china. In the darkest days of 1942, with fascism on the march everywhere, a handful of pilots flying b25s from the uss hornet made a beesting raid on japan. Thirty seconds over tokyo subtitled, standard screen on. Watch thirty seconds over tokyo online stream full movie. The amazingly detailed true story of the doolittle raid based on the novel of the same name. With spencer tracy, van johnson, robert walker, tim murdock. Having accepted the mission without really knowing what they will have to do, their first task is to. Ted lawson van johnson, who has a pregnant wife at home, crashlands in the sea off the coast of.
Jan, 20 thirty seconds over tokyo, the story of doolittles raid on japan, was thaxters first and probably best role. In the wake of pearl harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a secret bombing mission which will take the war to the japanese homeland. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. War was not yet over, and that was the reason what it was still necessary making patriotic films with propagandistic value. Thirty seconds over tokyo on april 18, 1942, courageous men, five to each of 16 twinengine b25 bombers, flew from the us aircraft carrier hornet to drop bombs on tokyo and nagoya, japan. Many are forced to land on japanese soil, but capt. In january 1943, lawson and newspaper columnist bob considine decided to write a book about the mission, entitled thirty seconds over tokyo. Ripped from the heart in the wake of pearl harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a secret bombing mission which will take the war to the japanese homeland. Doolittles bombing raid, the first to be made on japan, took place on april 18, 1942. Thirty seconds over tokyo summary motion picture poster showing airplanes, and portraits of spencer tracy, van johnson, and other cast members. Lawson was a pilot on the historic doolittle raid, americas first retaliatory air strike against japan, four months after the december 7, 1941, japanese.
Lawson book, thirty seconds over tokyo, was first published in colliers between 22 may and 26 june 1943. Sixteen b25s bombed industrial targets in japan at close range. Thirty seconds over tokyo subtitled, standard screen on tcm shop. Sweetheart of all my dreams, i love you i love you i love you from the film. Oct 11, 20 54 videos play all popular videos thirty seconds over tokyo thirty seconds over tokyo topic spitfire 944 duration. The book is in good condition with no marks, tears or writing except for the previous owners name. Thirty seconds over tokyo brought van johnson his first starring role in an a picture, after getting a career buildup in supporting roles and lowbudget films. Theres a passage in his book of the same name in which he said, we only spent thirty seconds over tokyo. Thirty seconds over tokyo a robert mitchum centenary. Thirty seconds over tokyo 1943 nodust for sale online. Thirty seconds over tokyo 1944 attack tokyo days after.
Thirty seconds over tokyo and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Doolittles copilot during the historic doolittle raid on april 18, 1942, immortalized in the. It also marked the first time that landbased planes had taken off from a navy carrier. Thirty seconds over tokyo by ted w lawson, paperback.
Afterwards, makeup artists usually had to cover his forehead scars. The film thirty seconds over tokyo was based on the autobiography, and shown through the perspective, of captain ted w. Thirty seconds over tokyo film by leroy 1944 britannica. Bombardier 1943 and thirty seconds over tokyo 1944, the latter being the most accurate and least fictionalized of the four. Lawson subsequently served as technical advisor to mgm during the making of the popular wartime movie based on his book. Doolittles copilot during the historic doolittle raid on april 18, 1942, immortalized in the film thirty seconds over tokyo, starring spencer. Thirty seconds over tokyo by ted w lawson, paperback barnes. Lawson one of the pilots of the first bombing raid on japan tells the thrilling story of the doolittle attack on tokyo rare signed copy of ted lawsons thirty seconds over tokyo. Thirty seconds over tokyo has been added to your cart add to cart. Lawson book, thirty seconds over tokyo, was first published in colliers between 22 may and 26 jun 1943. This book, written in 1943, is an oldie but a goodie. This was the case of the film thirty seconds over tokyo 1944, which was based on the true story of the doolittle raid, americas first retaliatory air strike against japan four months after the december 1941 japanese attack on pearl harbor. When they got to the target points, just before dropping the bombs, they hopped up to 1500 feet above sea level, opened the.
Ted lawson van johnson, who has a pregnant wife at home, crashlands in the sea off. Thirty seconds over tokyo 1944 world war ii john wayne. Youtube thirty seconds over tokyo part 1 heres a link to watch part i of the famous film, based on capt. Doolittle thirty seconds over tokyo raid 71 years later. Publication date 1944 topics japan, b25 bombers, tokyo. Thirty seconds over tokyo, dvd, subtitled, standard screen, warworld war ii, 012569797116. The screenplay by dalton trumbo was based on the 1943 book of the same name, written by captain ted w. Thirty seconds over tokyo tz, wwii 19391945 add comments. Doolittle and his men stage a successful attack on tokyo, but most pilots run out of fuel while returning from the raid. The true story about dolittles raid on tokyo after the attack on pearl harbor. Written by dalton trumbo, the movie was based on the 1943 memoir by capt. Robert mitchum appeared with van johnson in thirty seconds over tokyo 1944, about doolittles raiders.
Thirty seconds over tokyo is a 1944 american war film produced by metrogoldwynmayer. Although the film dwelt heavily on lawsons relationship with his wife, spencer tracys. It is a grim reminder of what war in the pacific means in terms of blood, sweat, toil and tears. Lawsons classic thirty seconds over tokyo appears in an enhanced reprint edition on the sixtieth anniversary of the doolittle raid on japan. Coaxing a hulking mitchell b25 into the sky from a short, 500foot carrier runway on a bouncing. The publisher inaugurates its aviation classics series with this 1943 narrative of jimmy doolittles raid on japan in answer to pearl harbor, which lawson experienced firsthand as a bomber pilot. Doolittles bombing raid, the first to be made on japan, took place on 18 apr 1942.