Imperial Japan at the Movies Publications / index / Imperial Japan at the Movies

Anti-Japan War of China

Most of the anti-Japanese films made in China were produced during and just after the war. In Shanghai, the center of film industry, patriotic filmmakers made films that appealed for the salvation of the nation but they eventually had to give up their efforts in the face of Japanese occupation. Filmmakers who escaped to Chongqing set up a new base of operations and continued production of anti-Japanese films. In Yan'an, the headquarters of the Chinese communists, the Yan'an film group was organized under the direction of Chou Enlai, and it began to document the war against Japan.

(11k)

The Diary of Yan'an

Production: The Central Newsreel and Documentary
Film Studio Photography: Wu Yinxian
Editor: Gao Weijin, Jiang Yunchuan
1961 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 17 min /
Source: The Central Newsreel and Documentary
Film Studio

During the war against the Japanese, the Chinese Communists used Yan'an as a headquarters.


Days at Jinchaji

Production: The Central Newsreel and Documentary
Film Studio Photography: Wu Yinxian
Editor: Wang Mengmeng
1988 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 18 min /
Source: The Central Newsreel and Documentary
Film Studio


(7k)

Days of Yan'an

Production: The Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio
1990 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 55 min /
Source: The Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio

The title of work signifies Yan'an, but it deal
substitute for CCP.



 

The Battle of Shanghai

Production: Minxin Film Company
Photography: Li Minwei, Xu Changlin, Zhu Shuhong
1937 / CHINA / 35mm (VTR) / B? / Silent
26 min / Source: Hong Kong Film Archive, Family of Li Minwei


(8k)

Scenes of Yan'an

Production: Youth Photographic Unit
Director: Lam Tsong, Tsui Tin-cheong
Photography: Kam Kun
1938 / HONG KONG / 35mm (VTR) / B&W /
Silent, Chinese subtitles / 14 min / Source: Hong Kong Film Archive

Yan'an, base of operations for the Chinese Communists through the eyes of a Hong Kong filmmaker.



 

Hong Kong Before the War

Production, Original title: unknown
1930-40 / 35mm (VTR) / B? / Silent / Source: Hong Kong Film Archive

"A Home movie" shot by British living in Hong Kong. Shows an era of refined elegance.


(9k)

The Bombing of Canton

Production: unknown
1938 / CHINA / 16mm (VTR) / B? / Silent, English
subtitles / 6 min / Source: Hong Kong Film Archive

A school blazing following Japanese military bombing. Burning school book. The character for "The Three Principles of the People" also burn.



 

Go Ahead! My Fellow Citizens of All China

Production, Original title: unknown
1938 / 16mm (VTR) / B? / Silent, Chinese and English subtitles /
9 min / Source: Hong Kong Film Archive

British and American students read out a declaration supporting China


(8k)

Protect My Country

Production: Political Department of Military Affairs
Committee China, China Film Studio Photographic Unit
Director, Script: Ho Feiguang
Photography: Wan Shizhen
Sound: Zheng Bozhang
Cast: Ying Yin, Wang Ban, Zhu Jiadi, Actors and actress
of China Film Studio Photographic Unit,
Soldiers of Chinese Army Fifth Division
1939 / CHINA / 35mm (VTR) / B? / Silent
Chinese subtitles / 37 min (Original seven reels) /
Source: Hong Kong Film Archive

A feature film which depicts the fight against Japan in a farm village.


(7k)

The Four Hundred Million

Production: History Today Inc.
Director: Joris Ivens
Photography: John Ferno, Robert Capa
Editor: Helen van Dongen
1938 / USA / English / 35mm / B? / 53 min /
Source: Nerderland Flimmuseum

A film shot by the Dutch director sympathetic to the Chinese struggle against Japan. 400 million refers to the population of China at the time.

(9k) Joris Ivens in the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio (1950s)


 

Children of Troubled Times

Production: Diantong Film Company
Director: Xu Xingzhi
Script: Tian Han
Photography: Wu Yinxian
Music: Nie Er
Cast: Wang Renmei, Yuan Muzhi, Tan Ying, Gu Menghe
1935 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 97 min /
Source: China Film Archive

A dramatic feature made during the war against Japan. The theme song of this film is presently China's national anthem.


(7k)

Guerrillas Sweep the Plain

Production: Changchun Film Studio
Director: Wu Feidi, Su Li
Photography: Lee Guanghui
Cast: Guo Zhenqing,
Zhang Ying, Liang Yin, Fang Hua, Ge Cunzhuang
1955 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 100 min /
Source: China Film Archive

An military corps made up of farmers opens a guerrilla war to protect their village from the invading Japanese forces.



 

Tunnel Warfare

Production: August First Film Studio
Director, Script: Ren Xu-dong
Script: Pan Yunshan,
Wang Junyi, Xu Kuoteng
Photography: Yang Guangyuan
Cast: Zhu Longan,
Zhang Yongshou, Wang Bingyu, Wang Xiaozhong
1965 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 90 min /
Source: China Film Archive

Practicing Mao Zedong's theory, farmers and peasants begin the struggle to oppose the invading Japanese military.


(8k)

Women Walk Together

Production: Kunlun Film Company
Director: Chen Liting
Script: Tian Han
Photography: Han Zhongliang
Cast: Zhao Dan,
Sha Li, Lan Ma, Shangguang Yunzhu
1949 / CHINA / Chinese / 35mm / B? / 107 min /
Source: China Film Archive




Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Organizing Committee