Steven Spielberg's 1941 is a big-budget zany comedy detailing the hilarious panic that gripped Los Angeles after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Army General Joseph Stilwell (Robert Stack) is in charge of protecting the Californian coastline in the weeks following Pearl Harbor. Dan Aykroyd and John Candy are members of a tank crew responsible for setting up a cannon in Ned Beatty's backyard. As explosions burst forth and air-raid sirens scream, John Belushi, Tim Matheson, and Treat Williams are part of the army corp reacting to the news of war with a somewhat energetic craziness. They dance at the USO, compete with each other to get the prettiest girls, and watch as Hollywood Boulevard becomes a pile of ruins. The film features cameos by many Spielberg friends and associates, including directors Sam Fuller and John Landis and actors James Caan, Mickey Rourke, Penny Marshall, and Susan Backlinie, reprising her famous skinny-dip from the first scene in JAWS. Michael McKean and David Lander, otherwise known as Lenny and Squiggy from LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY, play Willie and Joe--a hat's-off salute to Bill Maudlin's famous World War II cartoon characters. The film suffered from critical venom upon its initial release but has since become a cult fave.
Steven Spielberg takes a surprisingly comic look at the panic gripping L.A. in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This underrated comedy spectacular features outstanding special effects, large-scale action scenes, super stunts...and a mind-boggling number of stars.
Theatrical release: December 14, 1979.
Writer John Milius originally titled the movie THE NIGHT THE JAPS ATTACKED but changed the title to the less objectionable THE NIGHT THE JAPANESE ATTACKED. Spielberg changed the title to THE RISING SUN before settling on 1941.
Before Robert Stack accepted the role of General Joseph Stilwell, Spielberg offered the part to John Wayne, Charlton Heston, and Sam Fuller, who went on to play the Southern California interceptor commander instead.
John Belushi and Tim Matheson appeared as Delta House fraternity brothers in ANIMAL HOUSE, directed by John Landis, who makes a cameo in 1941. John Landis also became known for littering his films with cameos by other directors.
Excerpt: "Madness. It's the only way to describe it: madness. This isn't the state of California. This is the state of insanity. G2 should pour knockout drops into the water..."--General Stilwell (Robert Stack), reacting to the panic in Los Angeles over the threat of a Japanese invasion right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
"We've got to find a way to make these things smaller."--Japanese sailor, trying to get a large radio into his submarine
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.35
Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Additional Release Material:
Documentary - 1. MAKING OF 1941
Additional Footage - 1. Spielberg's Home Movies
Behind-the-Scenes Footage
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical
Outtakes
Text/Photo Galleries:
Storyboards
Production Stills
Publicity
Cameo
Penny Marshall: American Film and Television Actress/Director, BIG
Costume Designer
Deborah Nadoolman: Costume Designer, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981)
Director of Photography
William A. Fraker: Legendary cinematographer/director
Production Designer
Dean Mitzner: Production Designer, ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)
Story
Bob Gale:
Story
John Milius: Rightwing (and underrated) screenwriter/director
Story
Robert Zemeckis: American Director/Screenwriter
Special Effects
A. D. Flowers: Special Visual Effects
Review 1:
"...[1941] remains dear to [Spielberg's] heart..." -- Rating: B+
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.71 06/14/1996
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