theowinthrop It is an interesting coincidence of television programing that within three days of this week (Thursday to Saturday, June 18 to 20th, 2008) I saw two films regarding the problems of Americans and Japanese intermingling in the period World War II that I have long known of but had never before been in a position to view. First there was BRIDGE TO THE SUN which told of the mixed marriage of a Caucasian-American with a Japanese Diplomat in the 1930s into the World War, when they lived together (with their child) in Japan. Second is this film which looks at one of the hardest fighting military units in World War II's American Army, the 442ND Regiment. It was made almost entirely out of Japanese - American volunteers who wanted (in the wake of Pearl Harbor) to prove their patriotism. It was extremely difficult. Gwen (Carol Baker) saw first hand American bigotry turned in her direction when she was spotted boarding a bus with her daughter Mako in BRIDGE TO THE SUN. Obscenities were being thrown in her direction, as the bigots knew the people leaving were going home to Japan. Here these were native born Americans from around the country who were determined to show their patriotism, but faced a country that imprisoned many of their relatives in "relocation camps" and where many individuals faced possible physical danger by local bigots. If (as I said) BRIDGE TO THE SUN is a fine follow up to Cagney's film on the rise of Japanese militarism BLOOD ON THE SUN, then the appropriate (if disheartening) follow up to GO FOR BROKE! is BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, as Spencer Tracy finds out the fate of his wartime friend's Japanese American father.GO FOR BROKE! is a "B" Feature, and lacks many of the special effects of the better war films from World War II through the 1960s (there is no point in comparing it to the computerized films of today). It showed care in how it developed character. Six of the Japanese actors in the film actually had served in the 442ND and were able to give a sense of realism to the movie. They were probably consulted in the script by Robert Pirosh, the director. There are moments of real humor in the movie. Van Johnson's taking his platoon through training, and suspecting (but not being able to prove) they cheated on an obstacle course is a good example.The actors are quite good. Lane Nakano (Sam) is a level headed fellow who is trying to understand the ways of the Caucasians who run the Army and U.S., but also trying to get them to understand the plight of the Japanese - Americans. George Miki ("Chick") is the reverse - a wise guy who knows the angles (we first see him winning remarkably well in a dice game in the barracks - too well as one of the others wants to examine the dice). He was working on the farms of Iowa in choosing male and female chickens for the farmers (a Japanese ability that Americans did not have). Since he was in the Midwest, "Chick" was not in the net of the Federal act that created the west coast relocation camps. Now he bemoans having been convinced to leave a $500.00 a month job for volunteering in the army of a country that disgraces his relatives. At the same time Sam is sending food to his family and girlfriend in their camp in Arizona, and is getting news from them about how they are being treated. Van Johnson is "Lieutenant Michael Grayson", who is a Texan, and wished to be in the same regiment with his Texas buddies. He is appalled at the Japanese-Americans he has to lead, and this annoys his commander Warner Anderson (Colonel Charles Pence) who refuses to consider him for transfer. Johnson does bring the men up to snuff in their training "by the book", but he earns their contempt for his obvious dislike of them. But as the film progresses Johnson gradually begins to question his own bigotry. The men are really willing to prove their worth. Moreover, in reading a U.S. guide book to Italy he reads words reminding him of the bigotry towards Italians and Germans that the Fascists and Nazi Propagandists build on.* It unsettles him, and slowly prepares him into a defender of the men.[*I suppose only one racial stereotype could be concentrated on in each movie that came along - there is no mention of the "Jim Crow" African-American units in the war. Unlike the Japanese - Americans the African - Americans did not get put into camps, but they were treated throughout the country (even in Hollywood) as second class citizens. In 1943 Jesse Owens achievements in Berlin in 1936 and the brouhaha over Marion Anderson's singing in Washington in 1930 were yesterday's news. Joe Lewis was still considered a boxing treasure, but Jackie Robinson's breaking the baseball color line was three years away. And even if Hattie McDaniel won the Oscar in GONE WITH THE WIND in 1939 no other African-American performer got a nomination in this period.]The film follows the men through Italy and France to the fighting at the Bulge. In the reaction of the men to their surroundings it bears comparison to A WALK IN THE SUN. One adopts a pet pig, and keeps the lovable little animal (and feeds him) until he has to make a choice about the pet. Another, who was an architecture major, keeps mentioning the different styles of great buildings that he sees along the way to the others. But for all their idiosyncrasies and different viewpoints, the men prove tough, experienced, and brave fighters, who rightly won their military glory with blood and toil. This is a worthy film in their honor, and you should try to catch it.

winner55 The clichés in this film - including Van Johnson's wimpy performance - were probably inevitable for the day, so I think they can be readily forgiven.That's important, because the good of this film is so very good. Professionally made, with a very strong story, the film confronts its themes with surprising honesty and maturity.This is a rock-solid war movie, with a straight to the point expose of American racism. Try to imagine having a Japanese American soldier getting killed taking a bullet for you and then hearing some clown say "well, he's a nip, who cares". If this man's life was worthless, then, since he gave it up to save you, yours must be worthless as well.After the Second World War, it at last (however gradually) started to become clear that in a nation of many ethnicities and religions, with a large (and largely volunteer) army of much the same population, this is what such bigotry amounts to, a stone-cold denial of everything American, including Americans themselves.With right-wing Republicans trying subtly, but unmistakeably, to persuade us we are at war with Islam, this is a lesson we had better remember: Muslim soldiers in America's Army fight for America with courage as great as any Christians.If it were any less of a film, relying on "Go for Broke!" to deliver this message would be a mistake; but it's a solid, entertaining film, with tough action scenes, amusing comic relief, and just as much sentiment as it needs to play for middle-of-the-road viewers.Highly recommended, and deserving of a much greater reputation than it has as yet.

Walt Levinson Others have said it quite well -- an otherwise routine war film with the all-too-familiar stock characters (the stuffy officer who eventually loosens up, the belly-aching enlisted man, the bigoted sergeant, the lovable underdog, the kid brother) spiced up by a very intriguing and little-known story about a regiment made up entirely of Japanese-American volunteers. The film-makers deserve praise for making their points with humor rather than "speechifying." Look fast for The Six Million Dollar Man's Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) as the officer struggling with the Japanese names in the roll call and Hogan's Heroes' Sgt. Schultz (a younger, much leaner and almost unrecognizable John Banner) as the surrendering German officer stunned to be captured by Asian soldiers.

lakelandjim This movie is significant because of its subject matter: only five short years after World War Two ended, "Japs" have become full-fledged Americans fighting for honor and country. Of course, the movie was released at a time when the US was caught in another Asian war (Korea) and we needed to know the "good" Asians from the "bad" ones.The battle scenes are plausible, if not outstanding, but the greater story arcs are the transformation of Lt. Grayson into a true-blue fan of an ethnic minority he once despised; and the struggle of the Nisei to prove themselves even though they were American all along. Deals with ethnic issues much better than most war movies. Also peppered with humor.