
Overview
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.
Awards:
Main Cast & Crew:
Steven Spielberg - Director
Dan Aykroyd
Ned Beatty
John Belushi
Lorraine Gary
Christopher Lee
Murray Hamilton
Tim Matheson
Toshiro Mifune
Warren Oates
Treat Williams
Details
- Format: Blu-ray (Snap Case)
- Color Format: Color
- UPC: 025192235078
- Genre: ACTION / ADVENTURE
- Rating: PG (MPAA)
- Release Date: May 2015
Movie Reviews
Synopsis:
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.
Notes:
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.
Reviews:
"...[1941] remains dear to [Spielberg's] heart..." -- Rating: B+ - 06/14/1996 Entertainment Weekly, p.71