FORTRESS JAPAN

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: AMY 127).

Synopsis

War with Japan.

Early Japanese successes. Film of troops training. Expansion halted by US forces. Battle of Midway - US air attacks on shipping. Japan still exploits world's second largest empire. Direction of Allied advance on Japan: (1) through the Pacific islands. Film of naval bombardments. (2) Bomber offensive from the Aleutians (3) Advance in Burma to join up with "China's veterans" and supply Chungking. "Some strategists believe this road may be the first to reach Japan". Enemy response is to prepare a Fortress Japan, to include territories providing materials over short supply lines - Manchuria, Korea, Northern China, and Formosa. Stress on the key importance of Manchuria and Japanese exploitation and preparations for defence of this area, twice the size of Germany. Inside Japan the people work for the God-Emperor - long hours, child labour, poor food - "Prepare, they say, for the total abolition of consumer life". Omnipresent government propaganda. Life held cheap. Japanese rulers know their only hope is if the exhausted Allies offer peace terms. Answer is Allies' conviction that there can be no peace "while Nippon serves her present rulers". Concluding quote by Admiral Namura warning of coming Allied onslaught. Film contains Japanese footage of civilian life, war production - tanks - and military equipment, eg light cruisers.

Notes

Remarks: film is a warning against Allied war weariness in dealing with the Japanese.

 

Titles

  • FORTRESS JAPAN
Series Title:
WORLD IN ACTION
 

Technical Data

Year:
1944
Running Time:
16 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
1557 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
Canada
Sponsor
National Film Board of Canada
Sponsor
United Artists (released by)
Production company
Warwick Pictures