Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

Martin Balsam: Admiral Husband E. Kimmel

Photos 

Quotes 

• [a bullet smashes through the window of Kimmel's office and hits him in the chest, but only tears his uniform before falling to the floor. Commander Curts picks it up] 

  Commander Maurice E. Curts : It's spent, sir.

  [Kimmel stares at the bullet] 

  Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : [somberly]  Would've been merciful had it killed me.

• [Halsey has been ordered to take his Task Force to Wake Island to deliver a squadron of fighters] 

  Admiral Halsey : Kim, level with me. I want a clear directive... If I run into a Jap ship, what action do I take?

  Admiral Kimmel : Use your common sense.

  Admiral Halsey : That's the best damn order I ever had.

  [Halsey walks away, then turns around] 

  Admiral Halsey : If I see so much as a sampan near it, I'll blow it out of the water.

• Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : [Being notified of the Ward's attack on a Japanese midget submarine]  You mean to tell me that a submarine was trying to sneak into the harbor over an hour ago, and it took this long for me to know about it? I don't care if it hasn't been confirmed, I should've been notified when the Ward filed its first report! A submarine that close is a serious matter, it's a very serious matter! Now, get the confirmation, or the reports, to my office. I mean, right now!

• Adm. James O. Richardson : This was my command, and it's become habit to worry about the security of the fleet. I can't forget that the British, flying some old biplanes, torpedoed and sank three ltalian battleships at Taranto. A harbor very much like this one.

  Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : Well, l share your concern, Jim, but CNO doesn't think it can happen here.

  Adm. James O. Richardson : Why not?

  Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : Well, a torpedo dropped from a plane will plunge to a depth of 75 feet or more before it levels off.

  Adm. James O. Richardson : l know and Pearl is only 40 feet deep. l'm still worried, Kim.

• Admiral Kimmel : It looks good on paper, but for God's sake... that's not a paper fleet sitting out there.

• Admiral Kimmel : Try to hurry things along, John. I want you out there to probe!