Pearl Harbor Movies

[A2C]

This has been a big mystery to me; where on Earth did they get color footage of an Oscar (and a Zero behind it!) flying in 1968??? Note the kill markings under the cockpit.

Here's an explanation:

http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=7386.0

[Chris Brame]

Thanks for all the info - interesting story there!

I'm surprised they didn't work in a joke for Bob along the lines of "No Oscar's gonna get me - and vice versa!"

[Garth]

The Final Countdown is about my personal favorite of the Pearl Harbor movies. The ending could have been better though.

Several years back I found the contemporary novelization of "The Final Countdown" on the shelf at my local used book store for all of $.75. Buying it was a no-brainer.

The book contains an additional chapter beyond the "We have a lot to talk about" conclusion to the movie where Lasky drives off with the Tidemans (and Charlie). Let's just say that it's an interesting (if decidedly deus ex machina) conversation.

[Kevin G]

I found the series "Pearl" rather lame IMHO. As for Final Countdown I'd rather watch that then Pearl Harbor.

I can't see "In Harms Way" being anywhere near accurate either. Too much lovely mushy stuff for me in that one thank you.

The DVD of Final Countdown is available with a second disc containing interviews with some of the Tomcat pilots and back story / "making of" material and in-flight footage.

In Harms Way has always struck me as a very loose mashup of Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, and Surigao Strait naval actions. Perhaps throwing in the sinking of the USS Indianapolis for the IJN sub attack on the cruiser?

When I researched the writer of the Harms Way novel (I have not read it) who was also the lead screenwriter for the movie, it all came together; http://www.answers.com/topic/bassett-james