Go for Broke!

Released May 24, 1951

1 hr. 32 min.

War

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Reviews

77%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

During World War II, Lt. Michael Grayson (Van Johnson) is a newly commissioned American Army officer who looks forward to being assigned to the 36th Texas Division. Instead, he is put in charge of Japanese-American soldiers, who form the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Grayson is bigoted and uneasy about the assignment, but when the unit goes into combat in Italy, he admires their courage and determination. The 442nd eventually becomes the most decorated unit in the U.S. Army.

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Steve D

Really important story that needed to be told.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

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Audience Member

What a little gem of a movie it is fast moving with excellent acting/script and directorship The character Tommy is just great to watch and the whole picture wonderful. I loved it from start to finish and would highly recommend this film..... The whole cast are very good with Tommy being excellent the movie is funny and serious and just a real feel good movie about a little known U.S.A. Japanese 442nd regiment and what they achieved during WW2....Yes this was an American Japanese regiment and they were great just watch the movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

kevin w

The American ideal takes work and it's by no means completed, and here's a piece that demonstrates just that. It was important for Japanese Americans to distinguish themselves after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and this film is about not only their efforts to do that, but the in house discrimination they faced in those efforts. This is a different "we're fighting for freedom!" war movie, and perhaps must see viewing for all Americans.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

I watched this movie during the 2016 Memorial day weekend. I just wanted to watch Japanese American soldiers great contributions to the United States of America. This is a movie about a Japanese American's combat unit.The unite was composed of mainly Nisei. (As second generation of Japanese Americans)/The unit was called 442nd.The 442nd the most decorative unit in the US army during World War 2. 4 means "death"(shi) in Japanese. "42" sounds like "die" (Shini) I was not sure if they had to choose the name.Perhaps, it was just a coincident. But literary,many Japanese Americans died as war hero. Many Japanese Americans had to fight because of the war.But They had to demonstrate their patriotism to the United States because their families were in the interment camps. There are two types of Japanese Americans on the Film.Ones are from Hawaii ("Buta-heads") and the others are from the mainland ("Katonks").I liked Buta-heads, Hawaiians.They always play Ukulele music. Newly commissioned Lt. Michael Grayson is a tall white man.He looks down on Japanese.But Grayson eventually comes to respect the Nisei, because 442nd are so strong.Even Grayson fights with other white man who insult Japanese soldiers. This is one of the memorable and dramatic scene on the movie. The climax of the movie was a rescue the Texas 36th infantry division. , Texas national guard by 442nd.I am from Japan.I live in Texas. I was glad to learn great history between Japan and Texas. I really enjoyed he movie.The battle scenes are epic. 442nd looks like real Ninja and Samurai.They showed some Judo technique. enjoyed friendships with Italians. This is very informative movie about Japanese Americans.They inspired many people.If we work very hard, People respect us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Starring Van Johnson along with a handful of WW II vets, this film looks like your average war film. It follows this group of soldiers from their initial training all the way to deployment. Then, we follow their exploits in Italy and France that coincide with their everyday interactions. However, this film is very significant because it actually tells the story of Japanese Americans in the 442nd infantry unity. They not only faced the enemy on the battlefield, they also had to deal with a great deal of prejudice within the armed forces. However, as with the example of Van Johnson, the Budha-Heads were able to win respect because of their courageous fighting. In the climatic moments of the film these men save a lost division and then return home as heroes. Since I am half-Japanese it was exciting for me to come across this film because this kind of topic has not been covered often. The fact that it actually had Nisei actors and was made quite soon after the war is also amazing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Watched this in class. It was pretty good. Loved how it depicted racism during the Second World War. Great story, too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Robert Pirosh

Director

Van Johnson

Lt. Michael Grayson

Gianna Maria Canale

Rosina

Warner Anderson

Col. Charles W. Pence

Lane Nakano

Sam

Henry Nakamura

Tommy

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Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2007

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

... sensitively and intimately directed and written by Robert Pirosh.

Rated: C+

Aug 23, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Aug 11, 2005

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Tony Toscano

Talking Pictures (U.S.)

Rated: 1/5

Oct 25, 2002

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Synopsis

During World War II, Lt. Michael Grayson (Van Johnson) is a newly commissioned American Army officer who looks forward to being assigned to the 36th Texas Division. Instead, he is put in charge of Japanese-American soldiers, who form the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Grayson is bigoted and uneasy about the assignment, but when the unit goes into combat in Italy, he admires their courage and determination. The 442nd eventually becomes the most decorated unit in the U.S. Army.

Director: Robert Pirosh
Screenwriter: Robert Pirosh
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009

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