Summary: I. "Vision of Peace in the Philippines." Natives on Mindanao work on a hemp plantation, planted two years ago by Japanese settlers. Palms are cut, dried, bound in bales and weighed. People of Asia have for generations suffered under the domination of the British, American and Dutch but now with the help of the Japanese Navy and Army they have shaken off the yoke and have entered into the Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere.
II. "The war in Greater Asia. Fall of Corregidor." Map of Manila Bay shows the strategic importance of Corregidor Island. Mitsubishi Ki-30s bomb US positions and on May 7 Japanese Army attacks on land. Soldiers "inspired by pure patriotism" use flamethrowers as they advance. American prisoners put their hands up and Major-General Wainwright arrives to negotiate the surrender of 12500 men. Mocking music plays over view of prisoners in camp, whose faces are hard and uncomprehending, "with the indelible look of mercenaries". Subterranean fortifications like the Maginot Line were seized along with piles of guns and rifles. On May 9th General Homma makes triumphant entry into Manila being welcomed "with open arms" by locals who wave Japanese flags.
III. "Attack and capture of Mandalay." Map of Burma. Japanese soldiers, who since March have been pursuing British and Chungking Chinese, advance along a road in temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. Soldiers, who have a British prisoner, pause to drink water in a village before continuing with horses to accompaniment of Gustav Holst's Planets on the track. Signpost to Mandalay indicates distance of 82 miles. Demolition of bridge by retreating British, described as an infantile plan, does not stem Japanese, whose tanks (Light tank Type 95 HA-GO) advance as artillery (Type 94 37mm gun, 150mm howitzer) opens fire. On May 1 soldiers enter Mandalay.
Production Details: Nippon Eigasha (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Homma, Masaharu (person)
Wainwright, Jonathan Mayhew (person)
IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY (regiment/service)
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (regiment/service)
IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY (regiment/service)
Keywords: agriculture, Filipino - tropical: hemp (object name)
aircraft, Japanese - combat: Mitsubishi Ki-30 (object name)
combat, Japanese (object name)
prisoners of war, United States - surrender (object name)
armour, Japanese - tank: Light Type 95 HA-GO (object name)
operations, Japanese military - sortie (object name)
weapons, Japanese - gun: 37mm Type 94 (object name)
weapons, Japanese - gun: 150mm howitzer (object name)
Philippines & Mindanao (geography)
Philippines & Manila Bay, Luzon (geography)
Philippines & Corregidor Island, Luzon (geography)
Mandalay, Burma (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: French
Title language: French
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 946 ft; Running time: 10 mins
