The 400 Million
The 400 Million, also known as China in 1938, was a 1939 black-and-white documentary film by Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens about the Second Sino-Japanese War, part of the East Asian theater of World War II. The filmmaker moved between the Republican, Communist, and guerrilla forces of the Chinese resistance to Japanese invasion. Their dialogue in Mandarin is accompanied by English translations read by American actors.[1][2]
| The 400 Million | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joris Ivens |
| Written by | Joris Ivens John Ferno |
| Narrated by | Fredric March |
| Music by | Hanns Eisler |
| Cinematography | John Ferno Robert Capa |
| Edited by | Helen van Dongen |
Release date |
|
Running time | 52 minutes |
Name
The title refers to the population of China,[1][2] roughly estimated from the highly untrustworthy official censuses.[3]
Narrative
The film begins with the carnage left by Japanese bombing in northeastern China, describing it as an unprovoked act of aggression. It then provides a brief overview of Chinese history and its connections and importance to Europe and North America. It discusses the modernization undertaken by the Republic and suggests that nascent development provoked Japan's attack. Japan's history of aggression is detailed, with United States's continuing exports of iron and steel to the country pointedly noted. The film takes pains to present the Chinese factions as united against the invaders and ends with some small Chinese victories to suggest a turning tide of battle, especially praising the 8th Route Army.[1][2]
Legacy
Footage from the film was later incorporated into Frank Capra's American propaganda film The Battle of China,[1][2] which also made prominent use of "The March of the Volunteers", the song which later became the Chinese National Anthem.
The camera from the film was donated by Ivens to the Chinese Communist Party, which used it to begin the Yan'an Film Group.[1][2]
References
- Anderson, Kevin Taylor. "The 400 Million (Holland, Ivens, 1938)" in Encyclopedia of the Documentary Film, Vol. 1, pp. 432 f. Routledge (New York), 2006.
- Anderson, Kevin Taylor. "The 400 Million (Holland, Ivens, 1939)" in The Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of the Documentary Film, pp. 262 f. Routledge (New York), 2013. ISBN 9780415596428.
- Tanner, Harold Miles. China: A History, Vol. 2: "From the Great Qing Empire through the People's Republic of China", p. 146, n. 33. Hackett (Indianapolis), 2010. ISBN 9781603842020.