Director: Don Taylor
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, Katharine Ross, Charles Durning, James Farentino
Running Time: 103 minutes
Synopsis: Captained by Matthew Yelland (Kirk Douglas), the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is one of the largest warships in the world. While hosting industrial executive Warren Lasky (Martin Sheen), the vessel passes through a freak electrical storm in the Pacific Ocean. It emerges on December 6, 1941, one day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. After rescuing Senator Chapman (Charles Durning) and his assistant Laurel (Katharine Ross) from their sinking yacht (destroyed by a Japanese strafing attack), Yelland, Air Group Commander Owens (James Farentino), and Lasky have to decide whether to change the course of history.
What Works Well: An intriguing "what if" conundrum, this is an imaginative sci-fi military adventure. The production values are high (filming took place on the Nimitz with the full cooperation of the US military), and the cast is filled with quality in the key roles, Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen contributing subdued authority.
What Does Not Work As Well: The premise is much more interesting than the conviction-free execution. Once the Nimitz commanders wrap their heads around the time warp, the movie shifts into sail-in-circles-to-kill-time mode, occupying itself with the fulminating senator, a Japanese pilot plucked from the ocean, and a tepid would-be romance. A good chunk of the running time is consumed by imagery of warplanes take-off, landing, and conducting surveillance maneuvers. This is dream eye candy material for military hardware fans, but most of these scenes are superfluous to the plot.
Key Quote:
Lasky: Think of the history of the next forty years...
Commander Owens: I have a suspicion history will be a little more difficult to beat than you imagine, Mr. Lasky.
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