Japan's Longest Day

Although relatively little known on this side of the Pacific, Japan's Longest Day is an amazing historical epic compacting the tumultuous 24-hour-period leading up to Japan's surrender during World War II on August 15, 1945. At the time, the Japanese government was still divided over its course of action—despite two atomic bombings and massive casualties—and many Japanese ministers were still demanding a fight to the death, even if it meant facing an American-led invasion. Emperor Hirohito was asked by his cabinet to make a decision, and he not only chose surrender, but also took the unprecedented step of recording a disc that would be played on Japanese radio announcing the same (marking the first time the Japanese people heard his voice). However, a group of soldiers attempted to stage a coup that would have prevented the broadcast of the Emperor's recording, and much of the film details the ensuing battle of wills and wits to keep the disc intact for broadcast. Director Kihachi Okamoto maintains a tense, almost exhaustive emotional atmosphere throughout the film. American viewers will probably be unfamiliar with most of the actors in the large cast—Toshiro Mifune is the most recognizable presence here—but that works in the film's favor as it makes for distraction-free viewing (as opposed to the spot-the-star game most people inevitably play with celebrity-filled Hollywood epics). DVD extras include program notes and an image gallery. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)