Little Tokyo, U.S.A. (1942): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1942, Little Tokyo, U.S.A. is an action and drama film directed by Otto Brower, running about 64 minutes. “SHOCKING! DARING!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Filmed in the months immediately following Pearl Harbor, 20th Century-Fox's Little Tokyo USA is 63 minutes' worth of speculation about prewar Japanese espionage activities. Los Angeles cop Preston Foster suspects that there's dirty work afoot in the city's Japanese community, but no one will believe him except for intrepid girl reporter Brenda Joyce. When the spies frame Foster on a trumped-up murder charge, Joyce does a little detective work herself. The enemy agents are rounded up just before they can do any real damage. Because of its strident insistence that most (if not all) Japanese-American citizens were secretly loyal to the Rising Sun, Little Tokyo USA is seldom seen these days.

Who’s in it. Little Tokyo, U.S.A. stars Preston Foster as Michael Steele, Brenda Joyce as Maris Hanover, Harold Huber as Ito Takimura and Donald Douglas as Hendricks, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Little Tokyo, U.S.A. page.

If you liked it. Fans of Little Tokyo, U.S.A. tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.