What happened to Zamperini after the war?
However, Zamperini was transferred to a new camp in Naoetsu along with other POWs in March 1945, where, as in the movie, he crossed paths again with the Bird, who was just as ruthless with him as he was before.
How long did George Zamperini survive in a life raft?
Along with two other crewmen, Zamperini survived in a life raft for 47 days after a plane crash in World War II—only to be picked up by the Japanese Navy and put in a prisoner-of-war camp.
What was the punishment camp at Omori?
Omori quickly became known as the “punishment camp,” where unruly POWs from other camps were sent to have the fight beaten out of them.
Is ‘unbroken’ a true story?
Dive deeper into the Unbroken true story with the interviews below, including a candid Louis Zamperini interview and a short documentary that features the rare Mutsuhiro Watanabe interview. In this Louis Zamperini interview, the Olympian/POW recalls meeting Adolf Hitler, surviving at sea, and becoming a POW.
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How long was Louis Zamperini in the POW camp?
The then-75 pounds Zamperini was held for six weeks on Kwajalein Atoll and transferred to multiple interrogation centers and Prisoner of War camps. For two long years he suffered psychological and physical abuse at the hands of cruel prison guards and the sadistic Sgt. Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe.
How long did Louie hold the plank?
He Was a Prisoner of War He remained in their custody for 2 years, during which he endured disease, starvation, and almost-daily beating from guards. Zamperini was pummeled with clubs, belts, and fists, and on one occasion, was ordered to hold a heavy wooden beam over his head. He lasted 37 minutes before passing out.
How long was the unbroken guy lost at sea?
Are there well-known accounts of people who were stranded and rescued? Louis Zamperini was lost at sea for 47 days when his plane crashed during World War II. He survived along with his friend, Russell Allen “Phil” Phillips. At the time, they surpassed the record for survival while being lost at sea.
How long was Louie on the raft?
An Olympic runner, he survived 47 days on a raft in the Pacific and two years as a Japanese prisoner during the Second World War.
Did Louie Zamperini ever meet The Bird?
Yes. Louis Zamperini met Corporal Mutsuhiro Watanabe (aka "The Bird") at the Omori POW camp located on an island in Tokyo Bay.
Did Louis Zamperini lift the wood?
The climax of the Angelina Jolie-directed hit Unbroken is memorably miraculous: After enduring months of suffering in Japanese prison camps, World War II hero Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O'Connell) defies his captors (and the logical limits of his frail, beaten-down condition) by defiantly lifting a gigantic wooden ...
What's the longest someone has survived at sea?
438 daysJosé Salvador Alvarenga holds the record for the longest solo survival at sea. He was adrift for 438 days, and traveled over 6,700 miles. Alvarenga is a fisherman, and on November 17, 2012, he set sail from the fishing village of Costa Azul in Mexico.
Who has survived the longest at sea?
José Salvador AlvarengaJosé Salvador AlvarengaStatusFound on January 30, 2014, on the Ebon Atoll on the Marshall IslandsOther namesCiriloOccupationFishermanKnown forSurviving 14 months at sea in a fishing boat with another man (Ezequiel Córdoba) who died during the voyage,3 more rows
How many days did Mac survive?
46 daysWhen his B-24 bomber crashed into the sea on May 27, 1943, only three men survived: Louie, his pilot Russell Allen “Phil” Phillips, and tail gunner Francis “Mac” McNamara. Over the next 46 days, they struggled to survive in two small, inflatable rafts while drifting across miles and miles of water.
What was Louis Zamperini fastest mile?
In 1938, Zamperini also set a national collegiate Mile record (4:08.3), which held up for fifteen years, earning him the nickname "Torrance Tornado".
How old was Louis Zamperini when died?
97 years (1917–2014)Louis Zamperini / Age at death
How long should you hold a plank for?
How long should you hold a plank? The world record for holding a plank is more than four hours, but thankfully, you don't need to devote that much time. Most experts suggest anywhere from 10 up to 30 seconds is plenty.
How hard is a 2 minute plank?
Ten-second holds sound easy until you do 5 sets of three different exercises. That's tough. And that two-minute plank Dan John advocates? “From one minute to two minutes is the hard part,” he says, especially if you've never tried going beyond 60 seconds.
How long can the average person hold a plank?
Also, a recent study on 168 college students found that your average college-aged female has a plank time of about 1 minute, 30 seconds, while an average college-aged male has a plank time of about 1 minute, 46 seconds (2).
How long can athletes hold a plank?
Veteran strength coach and Men's Health contributor Dan John suggests holding the plank for no more than 120 seconds.
What is the bird interview?
This CBS Sports documentary on Louis Zamperini features the rare Mutsuhiro Watanabe interview (aka "The Bird"). It was produced by CBS Sports as part of their coverage of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. Zamperini and his story are featured first. The Bird interview starts at the 30:20 mark.
What university did Louis Zamperini represent?
Left: Louis represents the University of Southern California in the late 1930s. Dive deeper into the Unbroken true story with the interviews below, including a candid Louis Zamperini interview and a short documentary that features the rare Mutsuhiro Watanabe interview.
Why was Mutsuhiro Watanabe so cruel?
Coming from a wealthy Japanese family of high pedigree, Corporal Watanabe, who had a privileged upbringing, felt humiliated and disgraced when his application to become an officer was rejected. This infuriated him and made him bitterly jealous of officers, including Louis Zamperini. It is believed that this was part of the reason for his cruelty. In 1945, Mutsuhiro Watanabe was ranked number 23 on General Douglas MacArthur's list of the 40 most wanted war criminals in Japan. However, he went into hiding for seven years and never ended up being prosecuted. -Unbroken book
How long did Mutsuhiro Watanabe hide?
However, he went into hiding for seven years and never ended up being prosecuted. -Unbroken book.
Where did Louis Zamperini meet Watanabe?
Louis Zamperini met Corporal Mutsuhiro Watanabe (aka "The Bird") at the Omori POW camp located on an island in Tokyo Bay. When Watanabe was transferred to Naoetsu, the most hellish POW camp in Japan, Louis Zamperini was eventually transferred there too as punishment for not doing the Radio Tokyo propaganda broadcast.
What did Louie remember about Pete?
Louie did remember Pete's words during his race, which helped him to achieve the 56-second final lap in the men's 5000-meter event. The book states the phrase as, "A lifetime of glory is worth a moment of pain.". Louie (left) crosses the finish line in the 1936 Olympic 5000 meter trial, Randall's Island, New York.
How long did Watanabe hold Louis?
After holding the beam aloft for 37 minutes, Watanabe charged Louis and punched him in the stomach. The beam fell and struck Louis in the head, momentarily knocking him out. This differs from the movie, in which Watanabe continues to beat Louis after the beam falls. -Unbroken book.
Background
Inspired by the story Come on SeaBiscuit in childhood, as an adult Hillenbrand wrote Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001). While researching that novel, Hillenbrand came across a 1938 newspaper article about Louis Zamperini.
Synopsis
Louis Zamperini grows up in a strict Christian home. In his youth he is a troublemaker in his hometown of Torrance, California. Louis steals and stashes food, liquor, and cigarettes. Louis is also bullied for his Italian background.
Character list
Louis Zamperini: Olympic middle distance runner (1936) who becomes a POW during World War II .
Publication
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption was officially published on November 16, 2010 by Random House Publishing Group. Soon after its publication, the book was praised on the New York Times Bestseller list and remained on the list for a consecutive 160 weeks; To this day the book has sold well over 4 million copies.
Adaptations
A feature film based on the book was adapted by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures. Angelina Jolie directed this film while the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson wrote the screenplay.
What plane did Zamperini take?
At the lieutenant’s insistence, Zamperini and his crew took the Green Hornet, a “haggard” B-24 even though crew member Russell “Phil” Phillips (played by Domhnall Gleeson in the movie) warned their commander that the plane wasn’t “airworthy.”. A second plane, the Daisy Mae, accompanied them on the search.
How were Zamperini and Phillips treated?
It’s not seen in the film, but Zamperini and Phillips were initially treated quite well by their Japanese captors, since they were worth more alive than dead. Each man had lost “about half of his body weight” since the crash, and once the boat landed on an island, they were attended to in an infirmary by a doctor and fed well over the course of three days. The respite was brief: They were informed by the deputy commanding officer that a freighter was coming to take them to Kwajalein, known as Execution Island; Zamperini recalled that he told them, “After you leave here, we cannot guarantee your life.”
How long did it take Zamperini to run a mile?
One of those records is played out in the film: In 1934, at the Southern California Track and Field Championship, he ran a mile in 4 minutes, 21.3 seconds, “shattering the national high school record set during World War I by more than two seconds.”
Why did Zamperini appear on Radio Tokyo?
Zamperini did indeed appear on Radio Tokyo to renounce an earlier NBC Radio broadcast that had pronounced him dead, as seen in the movie; his family was relieved to learn his fate. Also depicted in the film is the radio producers’ intent to use him as a propaganda tool; they asked him to read other, pre-written statements over the radio in exchange for living more comfortably with other propaganda prisoners, but Zamperini refused. He was returned to Omori.
How long did Louis hold a beam over his head?
Likewise, the pivotal, triumphant moment in the film when Louis holds a heavy wooden beam over his head for several minutes at the order of the Bird, is also chronicled in Hillenbrand’s book. One of the POWs who witnessed the feat while working nearby kept an eye on the clock and noted that Zamperini held the beam for 37 minutes before the Bird charged at him angrily, knocking him to the ground. Zamperini would later say of his endurance that day, “Something went on inside of me. I don’t know what it was.”
Where were Phillips and Zamperini sent?
Instead of being killed, Phillips and Zamperini were eventually separated, the latter sent to Omori Camp in Japan.
What was the most significant omission from the movie?
Perhaps the most significant omission from the movie is a plot to murder the Bird. Around early August 1945, after the Bird told Zamperini that he planned to drown him, he and around a dozen officers hatched a plan:
Why was Wade punched in the face?
Wade himself was punched in the face repeatedly by the sadistic guard for a minor infraction of camp rules. Mutsuhiro Watanabe also used a four-foot kendo sword like a baseball bat and bashed Wade’s skull with 40 repeated blows. Watanabe’s punishments were especially cruel because they were psychological and emotional, not just physical.
How long did Wade hold a beam of wood?
Wade recounted several brutal incidents in the camp, including one when Watanabe made Zamperini pick up a beam of wood over six feet long and hold it up above his head, which the former Olympian managed to do for an astounding 37 minutes. Wade himself was punched in the face repeatedly by the sadistic guard for a minor infraction of camp rules.
What was Angelina Jolie's movie Unbroken about?
The film, which portrayed the trials suffered by the former Olympian Louis Zamperini in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, was accused of being racist and of over-exaggerating the brutality of the Japanese prison.
What did Watanabe see as a disgrace?
In a culture so deeply rooted in honor, Watanabe saw this humiliation as a total disgrace. According to those closest to him, this left him completely unhinged. Having been focused on becoming an officer, he moved to his new position at the Omori prison camp in a bitter and vengeful state of mind.
Why did Watanabe think he would be automatically granted the rank of an officer when he en?
Because of his life of privilege, he thought he would be automatically granted the esteemed position of an officer when he enlisted. However, his family’s money meant nothing to the army and he was granted the rank of a corporal. In a culture so deeply rooted in honor, Watanabe saw this humiliation as a total disgrace.
What was the name of the camp where unruly POWs were sent to have the fight beaten out of?
It took no time at all for Watanabe’s vicious reputation to spread throughout the entire country. Omori quickly became known as the “punishment camp,” where unruly POWs from other camps were sent to have the fight beaten out of them.
Why was Watanabe's punishment so cruel?
Watanabe’s punishments were especially cruel because they were psychological and emotional, not just physical. In addition to horrendous beatings, he’d destroy photographs of POW’s family members and force them to watch as he burned their letters from home, often the only personal belongings these tortured men had.
How long did Zamperini spend at sea?
He spent 47 days lost at sea. On May 27, 1943, Zamperini and his crew were participating in a search and rescue mission over the Pacific when their plane suddenly lost power to two of its engines and careened into the sea.
What is the most interesting fact about Zamperini?
With the new film "Unbroken" about to hit theaters, learn eight fascinating facts about one of the most celebrated American servicemen of World War II. 1. He was a juvenile delinquent. Born in January 1917 to Italian immigrant parents, Zamperini spent his youth as one of Torrance, California’s most notorious troublemakers.
When did Zamperini return to Japan?
He went on to discuss his conversion to Christianity on nationwide speaking tours and started a wilderness camp for troubled youths. In 1950 , Zamperini returned to Japan for the first time since his liberation to address the Japanese war criminals held at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo.
When did Zamperini get liberated?
Zamperini and his fellow POWs were liberated following the Japanese surrender in September 1945, but his wartime experiences would continue to haunt him. His years of malnourishment and torture left him unable to resume his career as a runner, and he became dependent on alcohol to stave off nightmares and flashbacks.
Did Zamperini get shot?
Despite winning congratulations from the German “Fuhrer,” Zamperini wasn’t above getting into trouble during the Olympics. Before leaving Berlin, he was nearly shot while trying to swipe a Nazi flag from the Reich Chancellery as a souvenir. 3. He was a leading candidate to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile run.
Where did the B-24 crash?
Leaking hydraulic fluid, the shredded B-24 only narrowly avoided disaster during an emergency landing at the island of Funafuti. Zamperini and his crewmates later learned that their plane had been riddled with nearly 600 holes from enemy gunfire and shrapnel. Recommended for you.
Who did Zamperini meet?
Zamperini competing in a 1939 track meet (Credit/AP Photos) 2. He met Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Olympics. After graduating high school, Zamperini set his sights on competing in the 1936 Olympic games.
How much did Phil and Louis weigh?
When they were weighed on the Japanese boat, Louis weighed 87 pounds and Phil weighed 80 pounds.
Why did Louis return to the barracks?
While in training in Texas, Louis is in the theater at the military base when the theater lights are turned on and he commaded to return to the barracks because Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor.
What does Louis dream about?
Louis has a dream that he is fighting the Bird and begins strangling him. When Louis hears screams it wakes him up and he realizes that he is on top of his wife strangling her.
What happened to Louis in The Bird?
For the first time in five years, The Bird hadn't haunted Louis' dreams and he never would again.
Why does Louis want to kill the bird?
Louis plans to kill The Bird because he doesn't know that he has already been declared dead although no one know that he really isn't dead and Louis becomes a raging alcoholic.
Where is Louis transferred to?
Louis is transfered to Omori POW camp where he meets Mutsuhiro Watanabe a.k.a The Bird who will torment Louis day in and day out physically and mentally even after the war is over.
When did Louis and Cynthia get married?
Sometime in August of 1946, Louis and Cynthia get married.
Overview
Unbroken is a 2014 American war film produced and directed by Angelina Jolie and written by the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson. It is based on the 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. The film stars Jack O'Connell as American Olympian and Army officer Louis "Louie" Zamperini and Miyavi as Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) corporal Mutsuhiro Watanabe. Zamperini su…
Plot
During an April 1943 bombing mission against the Japanese-held island of Nauru, Louis "Louie" Zamperini is flying as a bombardier of a United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator when his plane is damaged in combat and a number of the crew injured. The pilot brings the aircraft to a stop at the end of the runway despite an exploded tire.
In a flashback to his early youth as an Italian-American boy in Torrance, California, Louie misbeh…
Cast
• Jack O'Connell as Capt. Louis "Louie" Zamperini, a former Olympian and bombardier who is held in captivity by the Japanese.
• Domhnall Gleeson as Lt. Russell "Phil" Phillips, Louie's companion at sea and his capture
• Garrett Hedlund as Lt. Cmdr. John Fitzgerald (captain of submarine USS Grenadier)
Production
Universal Pictures purchased the rights to the book in January 2011, having already acquired the film rights to Zamperini's life story towards the end of the 1950s. Early drafts for the film were written by William Nicholson and Richard LaGravenese while Francis Lawrence was scheduled to direct. Joel and Ethan Coen were then tapped to rewrite the script after Jolie was named director.
On September 30, 2013, Jolie was confirmed to direct the film in Australia. Jolie was paid a $1 mi…
Reception
Unbroken grossed $115.6 million in the U.S. and Canada and $47.6 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $163 million, against a budget of $65 million.
The film opened in North America on December 25, 2014, across 3,131 theaters and grossed $15.6 million on its opening day (including Christmas Eve previe…
Sequel
A faith-based film also based on Hillenbrand's book, titled Unbroken: Path to Redemption, which depicts later events of Zamperini's life than those depicted in Unbroken, was released by Pure Flix Entertainment on September 14, 2018. It was directed by Harold Cronk with the script written by Richard Friedenberg and Ken Hixon. Aside from producer Matthew Baer and actors Vincenzo Amato and Maddalena Ischiale, who reprised the roles of Anthony and Louise Zamperini, none o…
See also
• The Great Raid, a 2005 war film about the raid at Cabanatuan in the Philippines during World War II.
• To End All Wars, a 2001 film set in a Japanese prisoner of war labour camp where the inmates are building the Burma Railway during World War II.
• Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
External links
• Official website
• Unbroken at IMDb
• Unbroken at Box Office Mojo
• Unbroken at Rotten Tomatoes
• Unbroken at Metacritic
Overview
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption is a 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand. Unbroken is a biography of World War II veteran Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who survived a plane crash in the Pacific Theater, spent 47 days drifting on a raft, and then survived more than two and a half years as a prisoner of war (POW) in three Japanese …
Character list
Louis Zamperini: Olympic middle distance runner (1936) who becomes a POW during World War II.
Pete Zamperini: Louis Zamperini's older brother, his role model and first running coach.
Louise Zamperini: Louis’ mother, who refuses to give up on Louis for dead.
Anthony Zamperini: Louis’ father, depicted as a disciplinarian.
Background
Inspired by the story Come on SeaBiscuit in childhood, as an adult Hillenbrand wrote Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001). While researching that novel, Hillenbrand came across a 1938 newspaper article about Louis Zamperini. The discovery led Hillenbrand to tell the story of Louis Zamperini's experience as a prisoner of war (POW) during World War II. “Unbroken” (2010) became a New York Times Bestseller and formed the basis for a feature film.
Synopsis
Louis Zamperini grows up in a strict Christian home. In his youth he is a troublemaker in his hometown of Torrance, California. Louis steals and stashes food, liquor, and cigarettes. Louis is also bullied for his Italian background.
Louis is caught by law enforcement and returned to his family. Although his father disciplines him with beatings, Louis’ behavior does not improve.
Publication
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption was officially published on November 16, 2010 by Random House Publishing Group. Soon after its publication, the book was praised on the New York Times Bestseller list and remained on the list for a consecutive 160 weeks; To this day the book has sold well over 4 million copies.
Awards and honors
• 2010 Publishers Weekly "Top 10 Best Books"
• 2010 The New York Times Best Seller list (Nonfiction)
• 2010 Time magazine's "Top 10 Nonfiction Books" (#1)
• 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist (Biography)
Adaptations
A feature film based on the book was adapted by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures. Angelina Jolie directed this film while the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson wrote the screenplay. Jack O'Connell portrays Louis Zamperini and the film had its general release on Christmas 2014 to mixed reviews but was a box office success.
A subsequent movie, Unbroken: Path to Redemption was made as a sequel in 2018 to this first m…
External links
• Official website