1941

Year:

1979

Duration:

118 min | USA:146 min (director's cut) | West Germany:111 min

Genres:

Action | Comedy | War

IMDB rate:

5.9

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1979-12-14

Filming Locations: Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

Earnings

Budget: $35,000,000

Opening Weekend: $2,701,898 (USA) (16 December 1979)

Gross: $2,701,898 (USA) (16 December 1979)

Cast

Actor

Character

Michael McKean

1941

Dan Aykroyd

Sgt. Frank Tree

Ned Beatty

Ward Douglas

John Belushi

Capt. Wild Bill Kelso

Lorraine Gary

Joan Douglas

Murray Hamilton

Claude Crumn

Christopher Lee

Capt. Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt

Tim Matheson

Capt. Loomis Birkhead

Toshirô Mifune

Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura

Warren Oates

Col. 'Madman' Maddox

Robert Stack

Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell

Treat Williams

Cpl. Chuck 'Stretch' Sitarski

Nancy Allen

Donna Stratton

Lucille Benson

Gas Mama (Eloise) (as Lucille Bensen)

Jordan Brian

Macey Douglas

John Candy

Pvt. Foley

Elisha Cook Jr.

The Patron (Dexter) (as Elisha Cook)

Eddie Deezen

Herbie Kazlminsky

Bobby Di Cicco

Wally Stephens

Dianne Kay

Betty Douglas

Perry Lang

Dennis DeSoto

Patti LuPone

Lydia Hedberg

J. Patrick McNamara

Pvt. DuBois

Frank McRae

Pvt. Ogden Johnson Jones

Steven Mond

Gus Douglas

Slim Pickens

Hollis P. Wood

Wendie Jo Sperber

Maxine Dexheimer

Lionel Stander

Angelo Scioli

Dub Taylor

Mr. Malcomb

Iggie Wolfington

Meyer Mishkin (as Ignatius Wolfington)

Christian Zika

Stevie Douglas

Joe Flaherty

Raoul Lipschitz (as Joseph P. Flaherty)

David L. Lander

Joe (as David Lander)

Susan Backlinie

Polar Bear Woman

E. Hampton Beagle

Phone Man

Deborah Benson

USO Girl

Don Calfa

Telephone Operator

Dave Cameron

Reporter

Vito Carenzo

Vito - Shore Patrol

Mark Carlton

Stilwell Aide

Gary Carlos Cervantes

Zoot Suiter (as Gary Cervantes)

Paul Cloud

Stilwell Aide

Luis Contreras

Zoot Suiter

Carol Culver

Anderson Sister

Lucinda Dooling

Lucinda

Gray Frederickson

Lt. Bressler

Brian Frishman

USO Goon

Samuel Fuller

Interceptor Commander (as Sam Fuller)

Marjorie Gaines

Anderson Sister

Dian Gallup

Twin

Denise Gallup

Twin

Trish Garland

Anderson Sister

Barbara Gannen

Interceptor Assistant

Brad Gorman

USO Nerd

Jerry Hardin

Map Man

Diane Hardin

Interceptor Assistant (as Diane Hill)

Robert Houston

Maddox's Soldier (as Bob Houston)

Audrey Landers

USO Girl

John Landis

Mizerany

Mark Marias

Dept. Store Kid

John McKee

Reporter (as John R. McKee)

Ronnie McMillan

Winowski

Dan McNally

Reporter

Dick Miller

Officer Miller (as Richard Miller)

Akio Mitamura

Ashimoto

Antoinette Molinari

Mrs. Scioli

Walter Olkewicz

Hinshaw

Mickey Rourke

Reese

Whitney Rydbeck

Daffy

Donovan Scott

Kid Sailor

Kerry Sherman

USO Girl

Hiroshi Shimizu

Ito

Geno Silva

Martinez

Rita Taggart

Reporter

Maureen Teefy

USO Girl

Andy Tennant

Babyface

Jack Thibeau

Stilwell Aide

Galen Thompson

Stilwell Aide

Frankie Verroca

USO Nerd (as Frank Verroca)

John Voldstad

USO Nerd

Carol Ann Williams

USO Girl

Jenny Williams

USO Girl

James Caan

Sailor in Fight (uncredited)

Denise Cheshire

Swimming Girl (at U-boat periscope) (uncredited)

Sydney Lassick

Salesman (uncredited)

Mo Lauren

Girl in Dance Club (uncredited)

Penny Marshall

Miss Fitzroy (uncredited)

Steve Moriarty

Sailor in Dancehall Fight (uncredited)

Hank Robinson

Officer at Meeting (uncredited)

Debbie Rothstein

USO Girl - Jitterbugger (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The film was initially set up at MGM, where John Milius had a production deal. It wound up at Columbia because Steven Spielberg did not want to work at MGM. Besides, he made Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) for Columbia and wanted to make another movie there. Spielberg got Universal to co-produce because he wanted to fulfill a contractual obligation with the studio.

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The advance teaser trailer, with John Belushi as "Wild" Wayne Kelso, was an original production in its own part. Directed by John Milius with an original score by John Williams and featuring thematic materials that differed from the score of the actual motion picture. The score for the advance teaser is featured on the LaLaLand Records 1941 extended score two CD set.

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Wild Bill Kelso was originally a very minor character. It was expanded once John Belushi was signed for the role.

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Goofs

A 1942 Chevrolet Special De Luxe can be seen in the airfield.

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The "stop light" threat condition signal in the air defense coordination center is shown twice. The first time, when the trainer is incorrectly reported as enemy aircraft over the reservoir, it switches from green to yellow on the appropriate dialogue command. A few minutes later, a decision is made to "go to red," and the signal moves from green to red. It should have been yellow.

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When Ned Beatty crashes the cannon into the house, to get a better shot at the Japanese submarine, Bing Crosby can be heard singing, "I'll be Home for Christmas", which was recorded October 4, 1943.

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Quotes

General Joseph W. Stilwell: You can't have an air raid without bombs!

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General Joseph W. Stilwell: [to Birkhead, ignoring the dirt-covered corporal who pulls up in front of them at the movie theater] Come on. I don't want to miss Dumbo.

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Donna Stratton: [smiling mischievously, Donna takes off her hat and lets her hair down, staring at Loomis intently, who is transfixed on flying the plane] This thing handles pretty well, even if it's not a B-17. But...

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Faq

Q

What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?

A

The Director's Cut of this early Spielberg flick runs approx. 27 minutes longer than the old Theatrical Version and features several blocks of new scenes throughout the time. Nearly 27 scenes were added or altered and sometimes alternate material was used as well. A detailed comparison between both versions with pictures can be found here.

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