Professor Elam

Wed Jan 1, 2012

General McArthur never lacked for showmanship. This is the newsreel of the Japanese Surrender.  It took place aboard the USS Missouri, one of four Iowa Class Battleships. Here are the things to note about the scene in terms of how McArthur staged it. 

The Japanese appear in their most formal attire. By contrast McArthur had orered that the uniform of the day for the Allies would be simple and plain khakis. In other words, in he wanted to project the idea that this was simply business as usual, an american victory. 

About half way thru the flim clip, the camera pans back to give one the full effect of what it looked like about the Missouri. These ships carried triple 16 inch guns. The image of the Japanese surrendering under the looming presence of that kind of potential force is in deed a pwerful image. 

And ths is takin gplace in Tokyo Harbor. That too symbolizes the War in the Pacific fought across so many islands. 

The ceremony is short and to the point. The Japanese are signing the documents within ten minutes of boarding the ship. Again, the emphasis is on putting an end to the War. 

This scene is one of the most powerful photos of the entire WarAs if that were not enough, a the end of the ceremony scores of American planes fly over the ship. Again this is the projection of American Allied power from sea and air for a War fought in an arena many times the size of the European Theater. 

You probably won't be planning a ceremony of this significance. But studying scenes like this is good instruction on how to make a permanent statement.