winner55 The clichés in this film - including Van Johnson's wimpy performance - were probably inevitable for the day, so I think they can be readily forgiven.That's important, because the good of this film is so very good. Professionally made, with a very strong story, the film confronts its themes with surprising honesty and maturity.This is a rock-solid war movie, with a straight to the point expose of American racism. Try to imagine having a Japanese American soldier getting killed taking a bullet for you and then hearing some clown say "well, he's a nip, who cares". If this man's life was worthless, then, since he gave it up to save you, yours must be worthless as well.After the Second World War, it at last (however gradually) started to become clear that in a nation of many ethnicities and religions, with a large (and largely volunteer) army of much the same population, this is what such bigotry amounts to, a stone-cold denial of everything American, including Americans themselves.With right-wing Republicans trying subtly, but unmistakeably, to persuade us we are at war with Islam, this is a lesson we had better remember: Muslim soldiers in America's Army fight for America with courage as great as any Christians.If it were any less of a film, relying on "Go for Broke!" to deliver this message would be a mistake; but it's a solid, entertaining film, with tough action scenes, amusing comic relief, and just as much sentiment as it needs to play for middle-of-the-road viewers.Highly recommended, and deserving of a much greater reputation than it has as yet.

bkoganbing Van Johnson who was MGM's all American GI in many a World War II film, co-stars with a bunch of veterans from 442 Division which was a regiment made up of Japanese-Americans who chose this over internment in the various camps set up for them. The most distinguished member of this regiment is current United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye who lost an arm in Italy during that campaign.After training the 442nd was assigned to Italy after the Salerno landings, took part in the campaign for Rome, and then was part of the invasion force into Southern France that occurred in August of 1944.Johnson delivers a fine performance of an officer who is reluctant to soldier and train with this new outfit. His prejudices, honed to a fine edge by Pearl Harbor, weren't exactly atypical of a lot of Americans back then. Over time, he grows to appreciate his troops as men and as fighters.Having all of those Nisei veterans lends a real ring of authenticity to this film. A few non-veterans were in this as well. Henry Nakamura played Tommy who adopted a pet pig in Italy and bought him to France and he was the comic relief. He made quite a hit and then was in the Robert Taylor western, Westward the Women. I guess he had limited typecasting potential because he disappeared after that.This is a story of World War II that bears constant retelling and MGM made a fine film to do it with.

edwagreen Japanese-Americans serving in the U.S. army during World War 11 is the central theme of this film. How ironic that this occurred while we were placing other Japanese-Americans in internment camps during this period.Van Johnson harbors prejudice as he chosen to shape these recruits up. While he runs into difficulty with top brass, he does his job well.He comes to understand and appreciate his men. When he meets up with his old Texas regiment, he fights someone for passing an anti-Japanese remark.The Japanese players do a good job of showing that their true spirits were with the U.S.A totally satisfying film depicting the human spirit.

lakelandjim This movie is significant because of its subject matter: only five short years after World War Two ended, "Japs" have become full-fledged Americans fighting for honor and country. Of course, the movie was released at a time when the US was caught in another Asian war (Korea) and we needed to know the "good" Asians from the "bad" ones.The battle scenes are plausible, if not outstanding, but the greater story arcs are the transformation of Lt. Grayson into a true-blue fan of an ethnic minority he once despised; and the struggle of the Nisei to prove themselves even though they were American all along. Deals with ethnic issues much better than most war movies. Also peppered with humor.