The Final Countdown
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The Final Countdown

Year:
Duration:
103 min
Genres:
Action | Sci-Fi
IMDB rate:
6.7
Director:
Don Taylor
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1980-08-01
Filming Locations: Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA
Earnings
Gross: $16,647,800 (USA)$56,647,800 (Worldwide)
Cast
Actor
Character
Kirk Douglas
Capt. Matthew Yelland
Martin Sheen
Warren Lasky
Katharine Ross
Laurel Scott
James Farentino
Cdr. Richard Owens / Mr.Tideman
Ron O'Neal
Cdr. Dan Thurman
Charles Durning
Senator Samuel Chapman
Victor Mohica
Black Cloud
James Coleman
Lt. Perry (as James C. Lawrence)
Soon-Tek Oh
Simura (as Soon-Teck Oh)
Joe Lowry
Cdr. Damon
Alvin Ing
Lt. Kajima
Mark Thomas
Marine Cpl. Kullman
Harold Bergman
Bellman
Dan Fitzgerald
Navy Doctor
Lloyd Kaufman
LCdr. Kaufman
Peter Douglas
Quartermaster
Ted Richert
Tideman's Assistant
George Warren
Tideman's Bodyguard
Gary Morgan
Helicopter Crewman
Phil Philbin
Admiral
Robert Goodman
Enlisted Man
Richard Liberty
LCdr. Moss
Neil Ronco
Harvey
Bill Couch
Durrell (as William Couch)
Jack McDermott
Wynn
Masayuki Yamazuki
Togawa
George H. Strohsahl Jr.
Air Boss
Ronald R. Stoops
Navigator
Kenneth J. Jaskolski
Assistant Air Boss
Sergei M. Kowalchik
Crewman
Jake Dennis
Helicopter Pilot
Jim Toone
Helicopter Co-Pilot
Edward J. Deats
Chief
Robert L. Huffman
Radio Officer
James R. Augustus
Jr. Officer Of The Deck
Sam P. Baldwin
Lee Helmsman
Ronnie J. Ellis
Captain's Aide
Timothy W. Gersbacher
Enlisted Man
Wayne L. Flesher
Enlisted Man
William S. Frost
Enlisted Man
David H. Signor
Enlisted Man
Tommy Abel
USS Nimitz Crew
Andrew Akerson
USS Nimitz Crew
Edward Andrews
USS Nimitz Crew
Nick L. Anelli
USS Nimitz Crew
Frank R. Arko
USS Nimitz Crew
Emory W. Brown
USS Nimitz Crew
Michael K. Balint
USS Nimitz Crew
James Bulick
USS Nimitz Crew
Andris Dambekaln
USS Nimitz Crew
John T. Davis
USS Nimitz Crew
Michael A. Davis
USS Nimitz Crew
James A. Dennis Jr.
USS Nimitz Crew
Frank D. Ramio
USS Nimitz Crew
Jerry D. Elliott
USS Nimitz Crew
Richard Farrell
USS Nimitz Crew
James W. Huston
USS Nimitz Crew
Richard M. Johnson
USS Nimitz Crew
Ronald Kissel
USS Nimitz Crew
Michael J. Kubat
USS Nimitz Crew
Raymond P. Langley
USS Nimitz Crew
Eric Lofquist
USS Nimitz Crew
Kermit L. McCorble
USS Nimitz Crew
Robert K. Miller
USS Nimitz Crew
William H. Miller
USS Nimitz Crew
Gerry Mountcastle
USS Nimitz Crew
William McCluskey
USS Nimitz Crew
Alan Mullen
USS Nimitz Crew
Charles F. Myers
USS Nimitz Crew
Jeffery L. Myers
USS Nimitz Crew
Randy M. Olin
USS Nimitz Crew
David F. Person
USS Nimitz Crew
Raymond M. Reynaud
USS Nimitz Crew
Daniel C. Rockwell
USS Nimitz Crew
Francis Ross
USS Nimitz Crew
Trevor R. Sandison
USS Nimitz Crew
Gregory T. Swarney
USS Nimitz Crew
Andrey Swystun
USS Nimitz Crew
Christopher V. Totis
USS Nimitz Crew
Mark Trenor
USS Nimitz Crew
Brian Tyndall
USS Nimitz Crew
Peter D. Vogt
USS Nimitz Crew
David Wanamaker
USS Nimitz Crew
Stephen G. Weaver
USS Nimitz Crew
Jan P. Werson
USS Nimitz Crew
Steven G. Williams
USS Nimitz Crew
Aaron B. Wilson
USS Nimitz Crew
Michael Wilson
USS Nimitz Crew
David E. Young
USS Nimitz Crew
Michael Jacobus
Pilot /
Benjamin Sarmiento
USS Nimitz Crew
Did you know?
Trivia
The script called for the Japanese pilot to try to force the F-14 into the water. The pilot who basically did a hammerhead and pulled out real close to the water was Richard "Fox" Farrell (VF-84 XO), now retired. He did kick up quite a bit of seawater and was really pushing the envelope with the Tomcat. WWII ace-in-a-day Archie Donahue was one of the Zero pilots. The Zeroes (converted AT-6 Texans) were flying with the throttle to the stops and the F-14s were flying at stall speed (note wings fully extended in most scenes). That was so they could get both aircraft in the same shot at the same time (remember, no CGI stuff back then!).
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As with most pre-CG-effects movies about the Pacific War, the planes standing in for the A6M2 Zeroes are actually specially-modified AT-6 Texans mocked up to look like Zeroes (since from the side - but not the wings - the two planes are remarkably similar).
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The number of planes and personnel that were said to have gone missing were 102 aircraft and 6000 men.
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Goofs
During the first discussion after the transit, with department heads, the small compartment for the meeting is the ship's television (CCTV) station briefing room, not suitable for a Commanding Officer and his department heads to meet. More than likely, the ship's actual C.O. spaces were off limits.
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When Commander Owen climbs out of his aircraft after landing on the carrier near the beginning of the movie, the sleeves of his flight suit are rolled up. While this technically violates Navy regulations, which state that sleeves must be down during takeoff and landing, aviators commonly push their sleeves up to keep their arms cool.
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The side number of the helicopter that brings the Japanese pilot aboard the Nimitz changes from 733 to 736 between shots when the helicopter lands and the pilot climbs out.
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Quotes
Commander Richard Owens: Welcome back, Mr. Lasky.
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Lasky: Still think it's a dream?
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Lasky: Think of the history of the next forty years...
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Faq
Q
What is the point of this film exactly?
A
It's briefly discussed in the film but it deals with the paradox of time travel itself. How could they go back and prevent the attack on Pearl Harbor? Because if they had done that, then the attack never happened. If it had never happened they wouldn't have needed to try and stop it. Also rescuing Senator Chapman, they saved him from the fate of being strafed and killed by the Zeroes, however he wound up accidentally blowing himself up as a result. Therefore he never lived to be Roosevelt's running mate as he never made it past that day alive. As far as everyone in 1941 was concerned, his yacht sank and he went missing and only those aboard the Nimitz knew what actually happened. Therefore even if one tries to alter history, the paradox of time travel prevents this from happening.
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