Description
John Ford’s film unit was given the task of showing the attack on Pearl Harbor. Few cameras were on hand to record the attack, so Ford re-created many of the major scenes on Hollywood sound stages. Generations of Americans have witnessed these scenes, not realizing the “attack” is actually Ford’s skillful illusion. Historically, the film is accurate in every detail. The power of Ford’s work is underlined by the fact that December 7th won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Production in 1943.
