Target For Tonight (1941 Documentary)

Target For Tonight (1941 Documentary)

Author: Awesome Movie Year April 9, 2025 Duration: 52:41

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1941 features our documentary pick, Harry Watt’s Target for Tonight. Written and directed by Harry Watt and starring members of the Royal Air Force, Target for Tonight was the first documentary feature to be awarded an Oscar.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Variety, the Monthly Film Bulletin (http://www.screenonline.org.uk/media/mfb/997449/index.html), and Colvin McPherson in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear 

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/goforjason/

You can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/, on Bluesky at signalbleed.bsky.social and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/signalbleed/

If you’re a Letterboxd user and you watch any of the movies we talk about on the show, tag your review “Awesome Movie Year” to share your thoughts.

You can find our producer David Rosen and his Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod, on Bluesky at piecingpod.bsky.social and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/bydavidrosen/ 

Join the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod for more movie discussion and our Awesome Movie Year audience choice polls.

All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.com

Subscribe on Patreon to support the show and get access to exclusive content from Awesome Movie Year and Piecing It Together, plus music by David Rosen: https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosen

Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1941 episode, featuring Josh’s personal pick, Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels.


Ever wonder what makes a particular year in cinema truly stand out? Awesome Movie Year digs into that very question, one remarkable film at a time. Co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell alongside filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris, this podcast picks a single, noteworthy year each season and meticulously explores what made it so special. Rather than broad overviews, every episode zooms in on a different movie from that chosen year, offering a deep dive into its impact, its cultural moment, and its lasting legacy. The conversations blend critical analysis with a genuine love for the medium, thanks to the hosts' complementary backgrounds. Produced by David Rosen of Piecing It Together for the All Points West Podcast Network, the show has a polished yet conversational feel. You’ll hear about blockbusters and hidden gems alike, all through the lens of why they mattered then and why they still resonate. It’s for anyone who loves to look beyond the screen and understand the context that creates a classic. Tune in to Awesome Movie Year for a thoughtful and engaging tour through some of cinema’s most fascinating periods.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 375

Awesome Movie Year
Podcast Episodes
The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939 Box Office Flop) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:08
The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1939 features the year’s biggest flop, ice skating showcase The Ice Follies of 1939. Directed by Reinhold Schünzel and starring James Stewart, Joan Crawford, L…
Stagecoach (1939 Major Filmmaker) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:51
The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1939 features our pick for a movie from a major filmmaker, John Ford’s Stagecoach. Directed by John Ford from a screenplay by Dudley Nichols and starring John…
The Wizard of Oz (1939 Box Office Champ) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:48
The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1939 features one of the highest-grossing films at the box office, fantasy musical The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Victor Fleming, based on the novel by L. Frank…
Tokyo Godfathers (2003 Holiday Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:38
In the second of two special holiday episodes for this year, we’re looking back to our season on the films of 2003, to talk about Japanese animated movie Tokyo Godfathers. Directed and co-written by Satoshi Kon and starr…
Christmas Evil (1980 Holiday Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
In the first of two special holiday episodes for this year, we’re looking back to our season on the films of 1980, to talk about holiday horror movie Christmas Evil. Written and directed by Lewis Jackson and starring Bra…
Barry Lyndon (1975 Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:22
NOTE: This episode was a timed exclusive over on our producer David Rosen’s Patreon. Sign up to one of the tiers for access to bonus episodes and more great content from us, Piecing It Together and David Rosen. https://w…
Nashville (1975 Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
NOTE: This episode was a timed exclusive over on our producer David Rosen’s Patreon. Sign up to one of the tiers for access to bonus episodes and more great content from us, Piecing It Together and David Rosen. https://w…
1987 Epilogue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:22
In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1987, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about thei…
RoboCop (1987 Audience Choice) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:45
The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1987 features our audience choice pick, Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop. Directed by Paul Verhoeven from a screenplay by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner and starring Peter…
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987 Thanksgiving Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:34
This bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1987 features a special Thanksgiving pick, John Hughes’ Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Written and directed by John Hughes and starring Steve Martin, John Ca…