Tout ou rien

This film depicts (for a 50's war flick) the trials of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a group of ALL-VOLUNTEER Japanese-American soldiers that fought in Europe against the Axis forces. The soldiers in this unit volunteered from the concentration, err... internment camps to fight for their and our country. They performed brilliantly and became the highest decorated unit in U.S. Army history. Former Senator Daniel Inouye was an officer in the 442nd, too!

While this is not the most exciting war movie ever made, it is certainly worth adding to a collection, especially since it can be bought in a 2-VHS set with "Gung Ho." Of special note is the scene where two German soldiers are trying to make heads-or-tails of of the Japanese chatter on field phone lines they are tapping.

I have watched GO FOR BROKE several times and will do so again at random. It irritates me that I was unaware that we had Japanese American troops fighting in Italy and France until I encountered the technical adviser of GO FOR BROKE at Tyler Junior College in 1977. He was my English teacher, having retired from the Army. Very significant in his army career was his time with the Nisei whom he trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and went on to the war in Europe with them. He was heart broken over the deaths of so many of his valiant warriors. He said they had saved his life over and over during battle. Sometime later one of the Japanese Americans, Jack Wakamatsu, wrote a book "Silent Warriors" about their experiences. I could not find it locally so contacted the author after finding him on internet. We had several conversations during the three years of acquaintance. He was on the set when GO FOR BROKE was being filmed. He told me that the red headed Texan portrayed by Van Johnson was in real life the technical adviser. Fictitious names were used in the movie. Both the technical adviser and Jack Wakamatsu are now dead. I feel that Van Johnson would be interested in what became of them and I would like to contact him. I have no idea how. GO FOR BROKE is my favorite of Van Johnson movies. I wish there could be a follow up of the lives of those brave Nisei, those fortunate enough to survive, that is. All too many are buried at Epinal near Bruyeres, France not far from where they rescued the surrounded Texas 36th Battalion.

Van Johnson who was MGM's all American GI in many a World War II film, co-stars with a bunch of veterans from 442 Division which was a regiment made up of Japanese-Americans who chose this over internment in the various camps set up for them. The most distinguished member of this regiment is current United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye who lost an arm in Italy during that campaign.

After training the 442nd was assigned to Italy after the Salerno landings, took part in the campaign for Rome, and then was part of the invasion force into Southern France that occurred in August of 1944.

Johnson delivers a fine performance of an officer who is reluctant to soldier and train with this new outfit. His prejudices, honed to a fine edge by Pearl Harbor, weren't exactly atypical of a lot of Americans back then. Over time, he grows to appreciate his troops as men and as fighters.

Having all of those Nisei veterans lends a real ring of authenticity to this film. A few non-veterans were in this as well. Henry Nakamura played Tommy who adopted a pet pig in Italy and bought him to France and he was the comic relief. He made quite a hit and then was in the Robert Taylor western, Westward the Women. I guess he had limited typecasting potential because he disappeared after that.

This is a story of World War II that bears constant retelling and MGM made a fine film to do it with.

Japanese-Americans serving in the U.S. army during World War 11 is the central theme of this film. How ironic that this occurred while we were placing other Japanese-Americans in internment camps during this period.

Van Johnson harbors prejudice as he chosen to shape these recruits up. While he runs into difficulty with top brass, he does his job well.

He comes to understand and appreciate his men. When he meets up with his old Texas regiment, he fights someone for passing an anti-Japanese remark.

The Japanese players do a good job of showing that their true spirits were with the U.S.

A totally satisfying film depicting the human spirit.

This little-known film is an interesting dramatic study of real life Japanese-Americans who volunteered to fight for their country despite the interment of their families back in the 'States. Their amazing heroism and patriotism is shown in contrast to the rascism and general mistrust they are shown by white members of the US army that they encounter. Racial issues such as their treatment compared to German-Americans or Italian-Americans are dealt with, but not in a heavy handed way. The dialogue is surprisingly believable and interesting, and even amusing. The battle sequences are good but nothing like Saving Private Ryan - this is a 1950s film, after all. All WWII film buffs should make a point of seeing this film, which sometimes appears on the History Channel.