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
Gremlins (1984 Holiday Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:12
We're taking a break from our regular season on the awesome movie year of 1984 to feature a special Christmas bonus, Joe Dante’s holiday horror-comedy Gremlins. Directed by Joe Dante from a screenplay by Chris Columbus a…
Night Of The Comet (1984 Josh’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:14
The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features Josh’s personal pick, Thom Eberhardt’s Night of the Comet. Written and directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maro…
Stop Making Sense (1984 Documentary) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:44
The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features our pick for the year’s most notable documentary, Jonathan Demme’s Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense. Directed by Jonathan Demme, Stop…
Paris, Texas (1984 Cannes Palme d’Or Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:48
The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Paris, Texas. Directed by Wim Wenders from a screenplay by L.M. Kit Carson and Sam Shepard and starri…
Streets Of Fire (1984 Box Office Flop) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:38
The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features the year’s biggest flop, Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire. Directed and co-written by Walter Hill and starring Michael Paré, Amy Madigan, Diane Lane…
Sixteen Candles (1984 First Feature) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:15
The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, John Hughes’ Sixteen Candles. Written and directed by John Hughes and starring Molly Ringwald, Anthony…
Beverly Hills Cop (1984 Box Office Champ) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:36
The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features the top-grossing film at the box office, Martin Brest’s Beverly Hills Cop. Directed by Martin Brest from a screenplay by Daniel Petrie Jr. and st…
Waiting For Guffman (1996 Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
NOTE: This episode was originally a timed exclusive over on our producer David Rosen's Patreon. Sign up to one of the tiers for access to more great content from us, Piecing It Together, All Rice No Beans and David Rosen…
Space Jam (1996 Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:26
NOTE: This episode was originally a timed exclusive over on our producer David Rosen's Patreon. Sign up to one of the tiers for access to more great content from us, Piecing It Together, All Rice No Beans and David Rosen…
Murder Party (2007 Halloween Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:02
In the second of two special Halloween episodes, we’re looking back to 2007, the year we covered in our second season, to talk about Jeremy Saulnier’s debut feature Murder Party. Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier a…