Search - The History Channel's Pearl Harbor on DVD

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Documentary

Jeffrey T. Munson | Dixon, IL | 10/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This fine documentary produced by The History Channel describes the events leading up to and the attack on Pearl Harbor in vivid detail. Drawing on testimonies of famous World War II historians such as Richard Frank and Donald M. Goldstein (who co-authored Gordon Prange's definitive "At Dawn We Slept"), this documentary brings to life the events of December 7, 1941. The documentary covers the entire Pearl Harbor attack, as well as the diplomatic negotiations between Japan and the United States. Japanese and American survivors give their input as well, from Japanese pilots recalling the textbook-perfect execution of their attack to American servicemen fighting to survive the nightmarish inferno of battle.



I believe that oral history is the best way to learn about history or a specific historical event, and this documentary contains excellent testimonies from both Japanese and American survivors. The Japanese describe what it was like to actually travel all the way across the Pacific undetected to make their attack, while the Americans describe the horrors of battle, from bodily injuries to the death of a friend, or being trapped inside a ship and given up for dead when they were really alive. These testimonies are one of the high points of the documentary.



I was also impressed with the computer generated rendition of the sinking of the U.S.S. Arizona. The graphics are excellent, and I learned a great deal more about the loss of the Arizona from this rendition. For example, the rendition shows that the first bomb that struck the Arizona did relatively little damage, but the second bomb is the one that ultimately destroyed the ship.



Also included in this fine set is a documentary of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. From his early days growing up in Texas until the outbreak of World War II, this video looks at the life of perhaps America's greatest military commander. Included is a narration of all of the major campaigns of the Pacific War and how through his excellent choices of subordinates, Nimitz's navy managed to destroy the Japanese fleet.



I highly recommend this fine video set. The actual combat footage is first-rate, the narration is superb, and the input from both historians and survivors make the documentary quite enjoyable to watch. This is a fine set and includes all of the essential information on the attack on Pearl Harbor and our ultimate victory over the Japanese."