Horseback to Byzantium: Go For Broke! (1951)

Going for broke with the guys of the 442nd!

- During World War II, Lt. Michael Grayson (Van Johnson) is 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. -

(Ripped straight off of Google, 'cause no way I'm gonna write up a summary of this movie)

You know when you tell people how you love movies from the 40's and 50's (you know you do) and those people are all like 'Yeah, but people were so racist back then! They didn't even cast black people or hire Asian people to play Asians!' Because I know some people who think that. Well ya know what? They can go walk off a cliff!

Some of the real members of the 442nd

The 442nd regiment was honestly one of the coolest things ever. It was a wonderful embodiment of the American sentiment that it doesn't matter who your parents were, what your skin color is, or where you originated from, as long as you pull your weight and fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, well then by golly you're an American! Another positive thing about this movie (although this whole review is about the positive traits of this movie) is that, as Daddy said, American relations with the Japanese (both native and American-Japanese) were very, shall we say, strained, so movies like this made in the early 50's really helped smooth out the bad feelings. This here review's gonna be kinda structured. You'll see what I mean when I mean what I see........ That was supposed to make more sense when written down...

Favorite Characters:

I would say my favorite character is this lovely guy. Half Japanese, half Irish, Sgt. O'Hara is so responsible and worthy of followers, it's no wonder he's promoted to Lieutenant before the movie's two-thirds of the way done. Sgt. O'Hara is not given as much screen time as he deserves, but the scenes he is in you can easily pick up on his sense of humor and peace-making skills. He is also super brave and has a cute little brother, so that's fun.

My second favorite character is Sam. The audience gets to know the most about Sam's background, his personal and family life. Like the fact that he sends all his red-cross goodies home to his family living at a basically-prison-camp-for-American-Japanese in the states (I'm pretty sure they had a legitimate name, but I can't think of it), as well as the fact that he's got a girl and her name is Terry. Sam is kind to the smaller, weaker characters in the movie (I'm looking at you Tommy) and always ready to protect them from bullies and jerks (I'm looking at you Chick), as well as being a heck of a fighter and just one cool dude. And he's got great hair, so that had me sold in his first five minutes.

There were lots of other good characters as well, like Kaz, and Tommy, and good ol' Lt. Michael Grayson, but those two guys up there take the cake. Moving on....

Favorite Moments:

So many wonderful moments in this movie. Near the beginning we meet all of our heroes-to-be and they go through a training course with good ol' Lt. Grayson, and it is pretty darn hilarious. Let me just say, sometimes it's hard being short. I wouldn't know of course, but it just seems like it would be. The entire training scene is thoroughly enjoyable. And how about when the Lieutenant first meets Tommy?

Mustn't forget Good Ol' Lt. Grayson

I really love it when Lt. Grayson finally meets up with his old buddy from the 36th Texas Division while he and the boys are chillin' at a cafe in France (?). The Lieutenant's big-mouth friend is shooting off about how he didn't ever believe he'd see the day when he'd fight side by side with a Jap. He continues making cracks at our boys and calling them 'Japs'. Grayson was not in the cafe while this was taking place. He comes through the door and first greets his men, and then sees his ol' friend standing by the bar. He goes up to meet him and jovially pats him on the back. Sam and Tommy and the rest all see that their Lieutenant is real buddy-buddy with this smart-mouth, which makes Chick (the wet-blanket and self-designed tough boy of the group) very cynical about our good ol' Lt. Grayson indeed. He bets against Sam that Grayson would rather go and have fun with his old friend from Texas than have a drink with some Japs, and sure enough, the Lieutenant heads out the door with big-mouth without even saying goodbye to our boys. But not for the reason they believe. Ol' big-mouth had been living up to his assigned name in that there cafe, so good ol' Lt. Grayson had asked him to step outside. He tells big-mouth not to call his men 'Japs'. He can call them Nisei, or Buddha-heads, Japanese-Americans, whatever, just not Japs. Big-mouth from Texas does not take this well, and Grayson promptly punches him. And a very well-deserved punch, I might add.

And it's pretty epic when our boys use their Japanese martial arts moves on the Krauts. Or when they capture a group of aforementioned Krauts, and those German are just a little confused about why they are being captured by their own allies.

Rating:

Hehe, I like thinking I'm a movie critic. As I find this film thoroughly unique, entertaining, and not to mention educational, I proudly give my 11 out of 11 and a half. So there.

Notes:

You know, it's funny, but I find it rather strange that the modern day media and film-making companies haven't cast more light on the 442nd regiment. It would certainly fit their agenda of supposed diversity and equality. But maybe 'Go For Broke' and the real men of the 442nd are just too darn American and inspiring (not to mention masculine) for the mainstream media and Hollywood to cast their illustrious glances on. But pardon me, I find myself becoming too political.