WAR IN THE EAST

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: COI 19).

Synopsis

An explanation of the background to the War in the Far East and of its probable strategic development, founded entirely on a commentary illustrated by film of a large map of the Pacific on which points are demonstrated, occasionally by animation, more usually by a man working in front of the camera.

Background: Japan's economic motivations for aggressions (of which Pearl Harbor "was not the first"); the strategic situation in the Pacific, bases and outposts: Japan's dependence on imported raw materials, the blocking of which in 1941, following the invasion of Indo-China, led into the war. The likely course of the war: blockade by the Allies with the advantages of strong bases (especially Singapore) but hampered by their remoteness from home and each other; Japan (believed to have stockpiled a year's war material) will seek to counter-blockade and to break the Allied blockade; the consequent importance to the Allies of Chinese resistance (supported by the Burma Road) holding down Japanese troops; hopeful mention of Russian presence in Vladivostok.

Notes

Remarks: the primitive technique works surprisingly well in this interesting and reasonably accurate forecast; only the hope for Russian aid and the confidence in Singapore really provide grounds for critical hindsight. Compare "Alert in the East" (COI 122).

Documentation/associated material: extra credits from DNL

 

Titles

  • WAR IN THE EAST
 

Technical Data

Year:
1941
Running Time:
7 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
644 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
Ministry of Information
director
Baxter, R K Neilson
producer
Anstey, Edgar
Production company
Shell
[maps]
[Rodker, Francis]
[with]
[Horrabin, J]