1941 (1979)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Robert Zemeckis (story) &
Bob Gale (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 December 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Tagline:

A Comedy Spectacular!

Plot:

Hysterical Californians prepare for a Japanese invasion in the days after Pearl Harbor.

Plot Keywords:

California | Pearl Harbor | Captain | Submarine | Upskirt

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Dan Aykroyd	...	Sgt. Frank Tree
Ned Beatty	...	Ward Douglas
John Belushi	...	Capt. Wild Bill Kelso
Lorraine Gary	...	Joan Douglas
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Wally Stephens
Murray Hamilton	...	Claude Crumn
Christopher Lee	...	Capt. Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt
Tim Matheson	...	Capt. Loomis Birkhead
Toshirô Mifune	...	Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Warren Oates	...	Col. 'Madman' Maddox
Robert Stack	...	Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell
Treat Williams	...	Cpl. Chuck 'Stretch' Sitarski
Nancy Allen	...	Donna Stratton
Lucille Benson	...	Gas Mama (Eloise) (as Lucille Bensen)
Jordan Brian	...	Macey Douglas
John Candy	...	Pvt. Foley
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	The Patron (Dexter) (as Elisha Cook)
Eddie Deezen	...	Herbie Kazlminsky
Dianne Kay	...	Betty Douglas
Perry Lang	...	Dennis DeSoto
Patti LuPone	...	Lydia Hedberg
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Pvt. DuBois
Frank McRae	...	Pvt. Ogden Johnson Jones
Steven Mond	...	Gus Douglas
Slim Pickens	...	Hollis P. Wood
Wendie Jo Sperber	...	Maxine Dexheimer
Lionel Stander	...	Angelo Scioli
Dub Taylor	...	Mr. Malcomb
Iggie Wolfington	...	Meyer Mishkin (as Ignatius Wolfington)
Christian Zika	...	Stevie Douglas
Joe Flaherty	...	Raoul Lipschitz (as Joseph P. Flaherty)
David L. Lander	...	Joe (as David Lander)
Michael McKean	...	Willy
Susan Backlinie	...	Polar Bear Woman
E. Hampton Beagle	...	Phone Man
Deborah Benson	...	USO Girl
Don Calfa	...	Telephone Operator
Dave Cameron	...	Reporter
Vito Carenzo	...	Vito
Mark Carlton	...	Stilwell Aide
Gary Cervantes	...	Zoot-Suiter
Paul Cloud	...	Stilwell Aide
Luis Contreras	...	Zoot-Suiter
Carol Culver	...	Anderson Sister
Lucinda Dooling	...	Lucinda
Gray Frederickson	...	Lt. Bressler
Brian Frishman	...	USO Goon
Samuel Fuller	...	Interceptor Commander (as Sam Fuller)
Marjorie Gaines	...	Anderson Sister
Dian Gallup	...	Twin
Denise Gallup	...	Twin
Trish Garland	...	Anderson Sister
Barbara Gannen	...	Interceptor Assistant
Brad Gorman	...	USO Nerd
Jerry Hardin	...	Map Man
Diane Hardin	...	Interceptor Assistant (as Diane Hill)
Robert Houston	...	Maddox's Soldier (as Bob Houston)
Audrey Landers	...	USO Girl
John Landis	...	Cpl. Mizerany
Mark Marias	...	Dept. Store Kid
John McKee	...	Reporter
Ronnie McMillan	...	Winowski
Dan McNally	...	Reporter
Dick Miller	...	Officer Miller (as Richard Miller)
Dr. Akio Mitamura	...	Ashimoto (as Akio Mitamura)
Antoinette Molinari	...	Mrs. Scioli
Walter Olkewicz	...	Pvt. Hinshaw
Mickey Rourke	...	Pvt. Reese
Whitney Rydbeck	...	Daffy
Donovan Scott	...	Kid Sailor
Kerry Sherman	...	USO Girl
Hiroshi Shimizu	...	Ito
Geno Silva	...	Martinez
Rita Taggart	...	Reporter
Maureen Teefy	...	USO Girl
Andy Tennant	...	Babyface
Jack Thibeau	...	Stilwell Aide
Galen Thompson	...	Stilwell Aide
Frank Verroca	...	USO Nerd
John Voldstad	...	USO Nerd
Carol Ann Williams	...	USO Girl
Jenny Williams	...	USO Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Caan	...	Sailor in Fight (uncredited)
Denise Cheshire	...	Swimming Girl (at U-boat periscope) (uncredited)
Sydney Lassick	...	Salesman (uncredited)
Mo Lauren	...	Girl in Dance Club (uncredited)
Penny Marshall	...	Miss Fitzroy (uncredited)
Debbie Rothstein	...	USO Girl (Jitterbugger) (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Writing credits
Robert Zemeckis		(story) &
Bob Gale		(story) and
John Milius		(story)
Robert Zemeckis		(writer) &
Bob Gale		(writer)

Produced by
Buzz Feitshans	....	producer
Janet Healy	....	associate producer
Michael Kahn	....	associate producer
John Milius	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
William A. Fraker

Film Editing by
Michael Kahn

Casting by
Sally Dennison

Production Design by
Dean Edward Mitzner

Art Direction by
William F. O'Brien		(as William F. O'Brian)

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)

Costume Design by
Deborah Nadoolman

Makeup Department
Susan Germaine	....	hair stylist
Jack Obringer	....	assistant makeup artist
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	assistant makeup artist (as Dottie Pearl)
Ellen Powell	....	assistant hair stylist
Bob Westmoreland	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Charles Myers	....	unit production manager (as Chuck Myers)
Herb Willis	....	unit production manager
John G. Wilson	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Moen	....	additional second assistant director
Steve Perry	....	first assistant director
Chris Soldo	....	second assistant director
Bruce Solow	....	additional second assistant director
Jerry Ziesmer	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Henry Alberti	....	set designer
Glen E. Bardlerar	....	painter
Clyde Booten	....	painter
Bernard Charron	....	painter
Arnold Ciaralo	....	paint foreman
Hillery Clinton	....	painter
Ed Cornell	....	painter
Ray Critzas	....	lead man
Oscar Esquivel	....	property staff
Louis S. Fleming	....	property staff (as Lou Flemming)
Tom J. Furginson	....	lead man (as Tom Furginson)
Daniel Gluck	....	set designer (as Dan Gluck)
Sam Gordon	....	property master (as Sammy Gordon)
Joe Griffith	....	additional illustrator
James Hassinger	....	additional set decorator
George Jensen	....	production illustrator
Joseph Karas	....	construction foreman (as Joe Karas)
Dave Margolin	....	signwriter
Teri Mensch	....	painter
Michele Miller	....	painter
Ted Mossman	....	assistant property master
Gregory Pickrell	....	set designer (as Greg Pickrell)
Virginia L. Randolph	....	set designer
Sandra Renfroe	....	swing gang (as Sandy Armstrong)
Carleton E. Reynolds	....	set designer (as Carlton Reynolds)
William Ladd Skinner	....	set designer (as William Skinner)
Wayne Smith	....	painter
Doug Wilson	....	key painter
Bill Wolford	....	construction foreman
Mickey Woods	....	construction coordinator
D.A. Zingelewicz	....	painter (as D.J. Zingelewicz)
Edward Zingelewicz	....	key painter
Louis Zamora	....	labor foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bub Asman	....	sound effects editorial staff
Alex Bamattre	....	sound effects editorial staff
Fred J. Brown	....	supervising sound effects editor
Shelley Brown	....	sound effects assistant
Raul A. Bruce	....	boom operator (as Raul Bruce)
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	production sound mixer
Juno J. Ellis	....	sound effects assistant
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lori Hollingshead	....	sound effects assistant
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Don MacDougall	....	sound re-recording mixer
Edward L. Sandlin	....	sound effects editorial staff
Michele Sharp	....	sound effects editorial staff
Fred Stafford	....	sound effects editorial staff (as Freddie Stafford)
Caryl Wickman	....	sound effects editorial staff
David Wolpa	....	cable person
Brian L. McCarty	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Lee Strosnider	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Arthur Arp	....	special effects technician
Thomas Arp	....	special effects technician
Wilbur Arp	....	special effects technician
Eugene Crum	....	special effects technician
Ken Estes	....	special effects foreman (as Kenneth Estes)
A.D. Flowers	....	special effects
Logan Frazee	....	special effects technician (as Logan R. Frazee)
Logan Frazee	....	special effects technician (as Logan Z. Frazee)
Terry D. Frazee	....	special effects technician (as Terry Frazee)
Steve Galich	....	special effects technician
Marlin Jones	....	special effects technician
Steve Lombardi	....	special effects technician
Gary Monak	....	special effects technician
Billy Myatt	....	special effects technician (as Bill Myat)
Donald Myers	....	special effects technician (as Don Myers)
Joe Zomar	....	special effects technician
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Kevin Pike	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
John Wagner	....	grip: special effects department (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	optical consultant
Larry Albright	....	special consultant
William Aldridge	....	miniature rigging crew (as Bill Aldridge)
Michael Barrett	....	miniature rigging crew
Ray Beetz	....	miniature prop maker
Tom Cengr	....	miniature prop maker
Michael Del Genio	....	miniature prop maker
Anthony Doublin	....	miniature prop maker
Ken Ebert	....	miniature prop maker
Glenn Erickson	....	miniature coordinator (as Glen Erickson)
Frances Evans	....	miniature prop maker
Don Hathaway	....	miniature rigging crew
David Heilman	....	miniature prop maker
Tim Huchthausen	....	miniature prop maker
Gregory Jein	....	miniature supervisor
Robert L. Johnston	....	miniature rigging crew (as Robert Johnston)
Sharon Lee	....	miniature prop maker
Robin Dean Leyden	....	miniature lighting designer (as Robin Leyden)
James F. Liles	....	matte consultant (as Jim Liles)
Illyanna Lowry	....	miniature prop maker
Michael McMillen	....	miniature prop maker
David Peterson	....	miniature rigging crew
Larry Robinson	....	visual effects supervisor
Milius Romyn	....	miniature prop maker
John Russell	....	process technician
Nick Seldon	....	miniature prop maker (as Nicholas Seldon)
Robert Short	....	special consultant
Doyle Smiley	....	miniature rigging crew
Richard Stutsman	....	miniature rigging crew
Mitch Suskin	....	miniature production assistant
Matt Sweeney	....	miniature rigging crew
Ken Swenson	....	assistant miniature supervisor
Susan Turner	....	miniature prop maker
Brad Turpin	....	miniature rigging crew
Frank Van der Veer	....	blue screen consultant
Gary Weeks	....	miniature prop maker
Robert E. Worthington	....	miniature prop maker (as Robert Worthington)
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte paintings

Stunts
Terry Leonard	....	stunt coordinator
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steve Boyum	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Denise Cheshire	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roydon Clark	....	stunts (uncredited)
Danny Costa	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vince Deadrick Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Durock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bud Ekins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Ekins-Kapner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eurlyne Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Escobar	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Gill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Norman Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kevin N. Johnston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Al Jones	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walt La Rue	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mo Lauren	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Denver Mattson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joyce McNeal	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Meier	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mary Peters	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mario Roberts	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Robles	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kerry Rossall	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ray Saniger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ben Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Stone	....	stunts (uncredited)
Keith Tellez	....	stunts (uncredited)
R.L. Tolbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rock A. Walker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Warlock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted White	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fredrick Albrecht	....	grip
Bill Beam	....	key grip: second unit
Gerald H. Boatright	....	best boy (as Jerry Boatright)
Steve Bridge	....	first assistant camera
Dick Colean	....	camera operator
John Cucura	....	electrician
Gary R. Dodd	....	key grip (as Gary Dodd)
John Donnelly	....	best boy
Donald Glenn	....	grip (as Don Glenn)
Jack Kennedy	....	best boy
Jan Koshay	....	dolly grip
Bill Krattiger	....	electrician
Donald M. Morgan	....	camera operator: second unit
Ed Natividad	....	assistant camera: second unit
Aaron Pazanti	....	assistant camera: second unit
William L. Peets	....	gaffer: second unit
Doug Pentek	....	gaffer
Ed Reilly	....	electrician (as Edward J. Reilly)
Tom Riffo	....	electrician
Andy Romanoff	....	crane operator: Louma crane
Charles W. Short	....	camera operator: second unit
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Steve Stafford	....	assistant camera
Frank Stanley	....	additional director of photography
Phil Stern	....	still photographer
Ty Suehiro	....	grip
Bill Sutton	....	grip
Richard Turner	....	second assistant camera
Rand R. Vargas	....	grip (as Randy Vargas)
Ron Vargas	....	first assistant camera
John Wright	....	electrician
Don Yamasaki	....	electrician
Mike Chevalier	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen	....	rigger (uncredited)
Robert D. McBride	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Rexford L. Metz	....	additional photographer: second unit (uncredited)
Gary Stark	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Richard Walden	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Robert Buckingham	....	atmosphere casting
Stanzi Stokes	....	casting assistant (as Stanzi Foster)
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adrienne Childers	....	costumer
Mina Mittelman	....	wardrobe: women
Daniel G. North	....	costumer (as Dan North)
Jerry Sklar	....	assistant men's wardrobe
Theresa Volpe Laursen	....	assistant wardrobe: women (as Theresa T. Volpe)
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe: men

Editorial Department
Bob McMillian	....	color consultant (as Robert M. McMillian)
Randy Jon Morgan	....	assistant editor (as Randy Morgan)
Daniel Cahn	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Marion Klein	....	orchestra manager
John Neal	....	score mixer
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer)
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor (as Ken Wannberg)

Transportation Department
Paul Casella Jr.	....	transportation coordinator (as Paul Casella)
William Charles Hauer	....	transportation captain (as Chuck Hauer)
William 'Scott' Pierson	....	driver co-captain
Gina August	....	driver (uncredited)
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Timothy Bright	....	production assistant
R. Anthony Brown	....	production associate
Carol Sue Byron	....	office staff (as Carol Byron)
Tom Camp	....	pilot
Pat Carmen	....	tank operator
Paul Casella Jr.	....	production assistant (as Paul Martin Casella)
Paul De Rolf	....	choreographer
Matt Ford	....	craft service
Steve Hinton	....	pilot
Saul Kahan	....	publicist
Kathleen Kennedy	....	assistant: Mr. Milius
Marie Kenney	....	script supervisor
Richleigh Kerr	....	production assistant
Adria Later	....	studio teacher
Jean-Marie Lavalou	....	louma crane technical advisor
Jerry Layne	....	ventriloquial consultant
Davi Loren	....	office staff
Darrin Martin	....	apprentice
Maria Melcher McConnell	....	office staff
Lillian Michelson	....	researcher
Margaret Mitchell	....	production accountant
Lata Ryan	....	production coordinator
Gail Siemers	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg (as Gail Lyn Siemers)
Syd Stembridge	....	weapons consultant
Mary Ellen Trainor	....	associate to producer
Judy Van Wormer	....	assistant choreographer
Eric Von Buello	....	mammal and ventriloquial creator
Chuck Jones	....	creative assistant (uncredited)
Frank Tallman	....	pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
• A-Team

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• DiscoVision (1979) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia Pictures (1980) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1980) (Japan) (theatrical)
• MCA Videodisc Inc. (1982) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CIC Victor Video (1989) (Japan) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD) (collector's edition)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia-EMI-Warner (????) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia (1980) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Television (????) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (????) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (????) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Freeze Frame  titles
• Pickwick Public Relations  publicity
• Todd-AO Studios  sound recording
• Van der Veer Photo Effects  optical effects

Also Known As:

The Night the Japs Attacked (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

118 min | USA:146 min (director's cut) | West Germany:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese | German

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Norway:12 (original rating) | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #25726) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The opening scene is Steven Spielberg's spoof of his own opening of Jaws (1975). The "victim" in both is played by Susan Backlinie.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Hollis Wood refuses to tell the Japanese submarine officer where Hollywood is, he makes a reference to the Japanese probably wanting to bomb John Wayne's house. In December 1941, John Wayne had yet to make any of the war movies that would make his name synonymous with American patriotism.

Quotes:

Hollis P. Wood: How can a man take a bowel movement with a hundred buffalo rifles a-pointin' at him?

Movie Connections:

References It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Soundtrack:

In the Mood

Could have been so much more

I keep thinking that Spielberg should have let this one go. There is immense potential here, but not under his direction. If there has ever been a movie begging for a remake, this is the one.

A strong cast, a decent script, a good idea all the way around.

But Spielberg should have never directed this. He doesn't know how to handle such a large ensemble cast and, as we have seen from him since, he doesn't do will with comedy unless it is incidental humor in another project.

Don't get me wrong: I own this movie on DVD and I watch it every now and then. But, when one looks at something like Altman's "M*A*S*H" and then compare it to this... I can't help but feel sorry for "1941."

In the end the movie is worth seeing if just for John Belushi's performance as Wild Bill Kelso and for Toshirô Mifune's comedic (if, unfortunately, stereotypical) turn as the Japanese sub commander. However, do not expect this too be one of the classic comedies of all time. If you are looking for a truly good comedy poking fun at the insanity of war, then pick up "M*A*S*H."

Someone: Get the rights and remake this into a truly good movie!