Midway (movie)

Midway is a war film released in 1976. It was directed by Jack Smight. It starred Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook and Toshiro Mifune.

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

The film chronicles two battles in the Pacific during World War II, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, which decided the war in the Pacific. The Japanese Imperial Navy had been undefeated until that time and out-numbered the American naval forces by four to one. Their chief strategist Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku (played by Mifune) creates a complicated battle plan in order to ambush the few remaining American Aircraft carriers. Unknown to the Japanese is that American military intelligence has broken the Japanese Naval encryption codes and know ahead of time that the ambush will take place at Midway Island. American Admiral Chester Nimitz (played by Fonda), places a gigantic bet by sending his last remaining carriers to Midway before the Japanese to set up his own ambush. The film accurately shows how intelligence, audacity, skill and especially luck won the day for the Americans. A sub-plot involves an American fighter pilot and his Nisei Japanese American girlfriend, whose family has been placed in internment during the war.