The relationship between the attack on Pearl Harbor and the movies goes back to mere months after the attack took place. Like every other industry in America, Hollywood leaped into the fray and began making movies that reflected what happened that day in Hawaii and making sure every American was aware of why we were going to war in the Pacific.
Unfortunately, in their zeal to enter the fray, blinded by patriotic fervor, the first films to tackle Pearl Harbor were a series of ugly, often racist misfires.
“Remember Pearl Harbor”
The first film to reach theaters with Pearl Harbor as the motivating force was the low-budget 75 minute feature “Remember Pearl Harbor.” The film barnstormed theaters across the United States, telling the story of a U.S Army deserter, western star Don “Red” Berry, who finds himself in the Philippines accidentally helping the Japanese Fifth Column with preparations for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Like the blockbuster “Pearl Harbor” that came along some 60 years later, this was an attempt to use Pearl Harbor to make a quick buck at the box office. Republic Pictures was known for its fast turnaround, ripped-from-the-headlines movies. In the 1950s Republic made numerous films capitalizing on the stereotypes of youth gangs and motorcycles gangs. The movies didn’t speak thoughtfully of crime or rebellion but sold the sordid nature of crime before making sure the evildoers were punished.
“The Secret Agent of Japan”
Of course, in our anger and with the mores of the time, it makes sense Americans were less than sensitive to stereotyping the Japanese in 1942. With that said, the thriller “The Secret Agent of Japan” uses stereotypes and “yellow-face” in which white actors play the part of Asian characters. The movie is also notable for having been shoved into production on December 8, 1941.
“Little Tokyo U.S.A”
Arguably the most offensive of the post-Pearl Harbor movies, “Little Tokyo U.S.A” tells the story of a Los Angeles police detective who tracks anti-American activity among Asian Americans and, of course, discovers that displays of American patriotism in the Asian community were disingenuous and Asian organized pro-America rallies were really just a cover for the planning of Pearl Harbor and other such attacks on America. As with “The Secret Agent of Japan,” “Little Tokyo U.S.A” employs the offensive “yellow-face” technique.
“Little Tokyo U.S.A” has another disturbing place in U.S history. The film made use of actual documentary footage of real Asian-Americans being rounded up and placed into internment camps.
“Pearl Harbor”
Not as offensive or timely as the other films on this list, Michael Bay’s 2001 blockbuster makes this list for being a jingoistic, overwrought bit of nonsense that flaunts the attack on Pearl Harbor to sell a disposable pop romance, soundtrack and all.
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