Based on a true World War II story, several B25 pilots and their crews volunteer for a secret mission which turns out to be the first bombing raid on mainland Japan , ingeniously and boldly launched from an aircraft carrier. Recently married Lt. Ted Lawson (Van Johnson) is among the volunteers who are placed under the command of Lt.Col. James Doolittle (Spencer Tracy). Attempting to reach recovery bases in China after successfully accomplishing the bombing, Lawson's bomber crashes on the Chinese coast where he and his crew are rescued by Chinese soldiers.
Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy
Writing credits
Robert Considine (book)
Ted W. Lawson (book)
Cast (in credits order)verified as complete
Van Johnson .... Lt. Ted Lawson
Robert Walker .... Cpl. David Thatcher
Tim Murdock .... Lt. Dean Davenport
Scott McKay .... Capt. Davey Jones
Herbert Gunn .... Bob Clever (as Gordon McDonald)
Don DeFore .... Lt. Charles McClure
Robert Mitchum .... Lt. Bob Gray
John R. Reilly .... Lt. Jacob 'Shorty' Manch
Stephen McNally .... Lt. Thomas 'Doc' White (as Horace McNally)
Spencer Tracy .... Gen. James Doolittle
Phyllis Thaxter .... Ellen Lawson
Donald Curtis .... Lt. Randall
Louis Jean Heydt .... Navy Lt. Henry Miller
William 'Bill' Phillips .... Lt. Don Smith (as William Phillips)
Douglas Cowan .... Lt. Everett 'Brick' Holstrm
Paul Langton .... Capt. Edward 'Ski' York
Leon Ames .... Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Jurika
Bill Williams .... Ens. Bud Fenton
Robert Bice .... Ens. 'Jig' White
Dr. Hsin Kung .... Old Dr. Chung
Benson Fong .... Young Dr. Chung
Alan Napier .... Mr. Parker
Ann Shoemaker .... Mrs. Parker
Dorothy Morris .... Jane, George's wife (as Dorothy Ruth Morris)
Jacqueline White .... Emmy York
Selena Royle .... Mrs. Reynolds
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ching Wah Lee .... Guerilla Charlie
Walter Sande .... General (scenes deleted)
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams .... Bit Part (scenes deleted)
Morris Ankrum .... Captain of the 'Hornet' (uncredited)
Steve Brodie .... MP Corporal (uncredited)
Hazel Brooks .... Bit role (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks .... Sailor (uncredited)
Wally Cassell .... Sailor (uncredited)
Luke Chan .... Chinese Runner (uncredited)
Mary Chan .... School Teacher (uncredited)
Myrna Dell .... Bit role (uncredited)
Blake Edwards .... Lt. Smith's crewman (uncredited)
Eddie Hall .... Joe (uncredited)
Harry Hayden .... Judge (uncredited)
John James .... Lt. Smith's crewman (uncredited)
John Kellogg .... C-47 Transport Pilot (uncredited)
Charles King .... Sailor (uncredited)
Edith Leach .... Girl (uncredited)
Peggy Maley .... Bit role (uncredited)
Jack McClendon .... Dick Joyce (uncredited)
Jay Norris .... Hallmark (uncredited)
Moroni Olsen .... General (uncredited)
Elaine Shepard .... Bit role (uncredited)
Arthur Space .... Deck Officer (uncredited)
Gordon Trigg .... Bit Part (uncredited)
Peter Varney .... Spike Henderson (uncredited)
Will Walls .... Hoss Wyler (uncredited)
Eve Whitney .... (uncredited)
Kay Williams .... Girl in Officers' Club (uncredited)
Runtime: 138 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White / Color
Sound Mix: Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification: Finland:S / Spain:T / Sweden:15
Trivia: Actual footage of the B-25 Mitchell bombers taking off from the U.S.S. Hornet was used in the film.
Awards: Won Oscar.
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