DVD 146 mins IMDB 5.4 (8,242 votes)
PG
1941 - Special Edition
Universal Studios (1979)
In Collection
#393

Seen It:
Yes
Comedy, War
USA  /  English

John Belushi Capt. Wild Bill Kelso
Tim Matheson Capt. Loomis Birkhead
Dan Aykroyd Sgt. Frank Tree
Ned Beatty Ward Douglas
Lorraine Gary Joan Douglas
Murray Hamilton Claude Crumn
Christopher Lee Capt. Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt
Toshirô Mifune Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Warren Oates Col. Maddox
Robert Stack Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell
Bobby Di Cicco Wally Stephens
Treat Williams
Toshiro Mifune

Director John Landis; Steven Spielberg
Producer Buzz Feitshans; Janet Healy
Writer Robert Zemeckis; Bob Gale
Cinematography William A. Fraker
Musician John Williams
User Credit 1 Michael Kahn
User Credit 2 Deborah Nadoolman

Watching this director's cut, it's finally possible to see why the studio made Spielberg mercilessly hack up this comedy: it's a screaming movie (everyone screams a lot), and screaming movies do not need character development. So all those character-development scenes hit the cutting-room floor and, surprise, they were all critical to Spielberg's pace for the humor in this film. The screaming wasn't that funny then--and it still isn't--but what is funny are the reinserted development scenes, showcasing the now-evident sense of hysteria in the Los Angeles community, post-Pearl Harbor. A bunch of certified nitwits, and a few certified lunatics, act as if Tojo Hideki's entire Imperial force is just off the mainland. Actually, one Japanese submarine is, and it helps fuel the frenzy. John Belushi is Wild Bill Kelso, an insane fighter pilot, and Dan Aykroyd plays a conciliatory tank commander. Robert Stack's performance as General Stilwell, one of the best of the film, finally makes sense. Also fun for the numerous cameos, Spielberg's inside jokes, and John Williams's great score.

Edition Details
Edition Collector's Edition
Barcode 025192055027
Region Region 1
Chapters 60
Release Date 3/23/1999
Packaging Keep Case
Screen Ratio 2.35:1
Subtitles French; Spanish
Audio Tracks English Dolby Digital 5.1
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 1/3/2007
User Text 2 A Comedy Spectacular!
Links IMDB
Amazon US
DVD Empire
Internet Movie Database

Features
Interactive Menus
An Original Documentary on The Making Of: including new video interviews with Steven Spielberg, Bob Gale, John Milius, Robert Zemeckis and others
Trailers
Steven Spielberg's home movies and Behind-the-Scene Footage
28 Restored Minutes
Deleted Scenes
Storyboards and Production Photographs
Original Advertising, Marketing and Publicity Materials

Notes
Also Known As:
The Night the Japs Attacked (USA) (working title) (more)

Filming Locations:
Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA (more)

Trivia:
John Belushi failed to show up on a couple of occasions because his nightlife made him too tired to work. (more)

Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After Kelso crashes his plane, he opens his parachute and the wire pulling the chute away from him is visible. (more)

Quotes:
Donna Stratton: [Loomis is all over her, but briefly breaks away to steer the plane; exhausted] Is the target in sight yet, Loomis?
Captain Loomis Birkhead: Oh, it will be, j-just as soon as I make it through these...
[stares at her breasts]
Captain Loomis Birkhead: hills.
[starts kissing her again]
(more)

Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. (more)

Movie Connections:
Referenced in Wired (1989) (more)