A sympathetic look at "the storm centre of the war in the Far East".

Reel 1 explains China's geography and culture, concentrating on 20th century history of efforts by Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai-shek to modernise their country in the face of difficulties (eg geographical) and opposition (reactionary war lords and pressure for swifter action from communists). Japan is characterised as an imitator - originally of China, but quick to switch to imitation of Western models - and increasingly militaristic, with an eye on China's raw materials; 1931 occupation of Manchuria and subsequent strategy explained. Reel 2 traces the course of the war: Japanese reach objectives, but fail to conquer China; Chinese carry out a 'scorched earth' retreat and conduct guerrilla warfare based on Chungking, but film explains they cannot do more without sophisticated supplies and therefore adds the motive of reopening the route to China cut off by Japanese expansion to other reasons for stepping up pressure in Burma.

Notes

Remarks: much use made of maps to fill in visual gaps. A good, lucid survey considering the complexity and unfamiliarity of the subject and the short time allotted.