Movie Reviews
Book reviews

1941 Movie Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books  Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Comedy & Personal Dramas Action Dramas
Actors: Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about 1941
It's December 7th 1941, and news already spread nationwide about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The news does not end there as the Japanese plans on another attack that will end up in Hollywood, California. Many Californians are either panicking about the threat or ready to take on their soon-to-be-enemies. Either way people are feeling uncomfortable about the danger they all may face soon.

Meanwhile soldiers and sargeants are getting prepared, several which proves to be a bunch of interesting characters. Loomis Birkhead and Wally Stevens seems to spend much of their time chasing young women, instead of getting prepared for a possible war that might happen, Wild Bill Kelso is a eccentric fighter pilot who and believes there is already a army of Japenese troops surrounded everywhere on the California shore. Also in the army is Sgt. Tree, a strict man that demands orders by his tank crew which includes a bunch of awkward people, Pvt. Foley, Ward Douglas who is overly excited about serving his country proudly and have a 40mm anti-aircraft gun placed right in his front yard, though his wife does not approve of the newly yard decoration.

Also there are two clumsy airplane spotters Herbie Kazlminsky and Claude Crumn, who does their work on a ferris wheel in a amusement park and lastly a highly suspicious army colonel Col. Madman Maddox, who is sure that the Japanese is about to aggressively take over the state soon. The moment finally come when a actual Japanese submarine made its way to the California coast, led by Commander Akiro Mitamura and a German officer spy Captain Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt. Mitamura is unable to go straight to his specific target due to a out of order compass and a non functional map, but still driven attack anyone and everyone along the California line.

--Alicia M., Resident Scholar


Analysis of 1941
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily Yes
Time/era of movie: - 1960's-1970's
If a parody... of - war movies
War impact on civilians/veterans Yes
Kind of conflict: - war, WW II
How much humor v. drama - Mostly humor, but some serious drama

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - senior military
Age: - 20's-30's
Hair color? - brunette (Black)
Hair type - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average
Events of movie makes character more... - tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor? - Strong but gentle sense of humor

Secondary Main Character
Identity: - Male
Hair color - brunette (Black)
Hair style - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average build
How much in movie? - 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - terrorist
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - 40%
Hair color - brunette (Black)
Hair type - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality - Japanese
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - West
City? Yes
City: - Los Angeles
Misc setting - fort/military installation

Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel... - full of laughter
Sex/nudity in movie? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - kissing
Any profanity? - Some foul language
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE... - Modern rock/pop
Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming starring Alan Arkin, Brian Keith, Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Paul Ford, Theodore Bikel, John Phillip Law, Andrea Dromm
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? starring Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine, Ivan Dixon, Suzanne Pleshette, Don Ameche
Dr. Strangelove starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens
King of Hearts starring Alan Bates, Genevieve Bujold
Hot Shots starring Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Kevin Dunn, Lloyd Bridges




1941 Message Board (click here)
Movie talk: favorite scenes, what to buy, favorite online
posters, movies for sale on dvd v. rentals.

Search for another movie

Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Alicia M.  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

Click here to bribe
your congressman


Three ways to search for Comedies - Personal Dramas films!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Comedy, primarily

Crime & Scandal

Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?

Family, caring for sick?

Family, loving

Family, struggling with

Fantasy/Magic?

Inner struggle or disability

Job/Profession/Poverty Story?

Kids growing up/acting up?

Polit/Social/Race/Gender activism

Religion themed film?

Road trip

Romance/Love/Hugging

Sports story?

Taboo Sex Story?

Wandering in wilderness

War impact on civilians/veterans


or
2) Simple title lookup


or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Film search (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us

Most recent discussions:

General Movie Talk
Dating Advice
A Boy and His Dog
Blade Runner
The Space Explorers
Exactly why was 2010 a lame movie?
Was Harrison Ford on Tranquilizers or an Actor's Strike When Filming Blade Runner?
2010
Brazil
Lorenzo's Oil
The Cowboys
The Burbs