Summary
Although it was met with mostly negative reviews from critics upon its release, 1976’sMidwayis surprisingly one of the most star-studded war movies of all time. Directed by Jack Smight, best known for helmingAirport 1975,Midwaydramatizes the Battle of Midway, which marked a major turning point in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Second World War. It wasn’t the first (or last) movie to chronicle the game-changing Battle of Midway – the most recent one arrived in 2019 – but it is one of the ones with the most famous actors in its cast.
When it was first released,Midwayreceived largely negative reviews from critics, earning a “rotten” Rotten Tomatoes score of just 41%. But, perhaps owing to its star-studded cast full of legendary actors, it was a massive box office success, grossing around $66.4 million against its modest budget of $4 million (viaThe Numbers). The movie itself doesn’t exactly rank alongsideSaving Private RyanandApocalypse Nowas one ofthe greatest war films of all time, but it does rank alongside those movies in the impressiveness of its all-star ensemble.
Midway Was Packed With Major Hollywood Legends
From Charlton Heston to Henry Fonda, this movie has a heck of a line-up
The cast ofMidwayis jam-packed with big-name Hollywood actors.Ben-HurandPlanet of the ApesstarCharlton Heston leads the ensemble as Captain Matthew Garth. Western movie icon Henry Fonda, who had previously narrated John Ford’s 1942 documentary about the Battle of Midway, plays Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Hal Holbrook – best known as “Deep Throat” fromAll the President’s Men(released the same year asMidway) – plays Commander Joseph Rochefort.The Magnificent Seven’s James Coburn plays Captain Vinton Maddox, whileGilda’s Glenn Ford plays Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance.
Akira Kurosawa’s go-to leading man, Toshiro Mifune, plays Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Robert Mitchum ofCape FearandThe Night of the Hunterfame plays Vice Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey, Jr., and Cliff Robertson, the Oscar-winning star ofCharly, plays Commander Carl Jessop.Robert Wagner, the TV icon who starred inHart to Hart, has a supporting roleas Lieutenant Commander Ernest L. Blake. Suffice to say, it’s a heck of a line-up. A casting director would be lucky to get any of these incredible actors in their movie in the ‘70s.
Midway Also Featured Up-And-Coming Actors Who Became Big Stars
Some Midway actors were just about to make it
The sprawling cast ofMidwaydidn’t just include stars who were famous at the time; some of its lesser-known cast members were just about to make it big.Erik Estrada played Ensign Ramos “Chili Bean”just one year before he began playing California Highway Patrol officer Frank “Ponch" Poncherello in TV’sCHiPs.Tom Selleck had a small roleas the assistant to Captain Cyril Simard (Simard himself was played byThe Beverly Hillbilliesstar Larry Pennell). Just four years later, Selleck would kick off his awesome eight-season run as private investigator Thomas Magnum in the hit TV seriesMagnum, P.I.
Pat Morita has a small but significant role inMidwayas Rear Admiral Ryūnosuke Kusaka. By this point, Morita had already begun playing his recurring role as diner owner Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi in the classic sitcomHappy Days. But he was still eight years away from the Oscar-nominated role that would make him a timeless icon: martial arts mentorMr. Miyagi inThe Karate Kid. The ensuing franchise would center around Morita’s fan-favorite character.
Why Midway Received Lukewarm Reviews Upon Release
The film was criticized for recycling stock footage and throwing in an unnecessary romance
Despite having some of the world’s greatest actors in its cast,Midwaywas met with lukewarm reviews from critics.The movie was primarily criticized for recycling stock footage of the actual Battle of Midway, borrowed from Ford’s documentary, instead of recreating the events from scratch. Plus, it was panned for throwing in an unnecessary romance. Tacking on a pointless romantic subplot would become a common criticism of war movies. Michael Bay’sPearl Harborwas lambasted for taking one of the biggest tragedies in American history and putting it in the background of a sappy,Titanic-style love triangle.
However, not every aspect ofMidwaywas poorly received by critics.Some parts of the film were met with genuine praise, like Harry Stradling, Jr.’s stunning cinematography(the footage that was shot fresh for the film, not taken from a historical archive) andJohn Williams’ typically breathtaking musical score.Midwayisn’t the greatest war movie ever made, but it’s not the worst, either.
Midway
Cast
Midway is a war film directed by Jack Smight, focusing on the pivotal Battle of Midway during World War II. The film features an ensemble cast, including Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, and James Coburn, and centers on both the American and Japanese naval strategies. Utilizing actual combat footage, Midway offers a detailed depiction of the events that marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater.
