Joris Ivens’s wartime documentary of China’s resistance to the Japanese invasion, cross-cutting civilian exodus and bombing with the Nationalist state’s mobilization—schools, industry, dispersed war production, foreign relief—and guerrilla fighting. Framing an ancient nation of “400 million,” it contrasts tradition with modernization and closes on the unresolved question of victory.
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Cast
8 people
Fredric March
Narration (voice)
Known for
The Best Years of Our Lives
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Morris Carnovsky
Additional Voice (voice)
Known for
Gun Crazy
Dead Reckoning
Sidney Lumet
Additional Voice (voice)
Also in
The Manchurian Candidate
One Third of a Nation
Robert Q. Lewis
Additional Voice (voice)
Known for
Good Neighbor Sam
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Alfred Ryder
Additional Voice (voice)
Known for
True Grit
T-Men
Adelaide Bean
Additional Voice (voice)
Lai Sek
Himself (archive footage)
Madame Chiang
Herself (archive footage)
Also in
CBS Reports
Joris Ivens Director · John Fernhout Director Dudley Nichols Writer
United States release March 7, 1939 · Produced in United States · Languages Cantonese, Chinese, English
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
Cantonese · Chinese · English
Release dates
United States · March 7, 1939
Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.