REPORT ON CHINA

This battered, abused and incomplete film "Report on China" (1945) was created during WWII to promote the activities of United China Relief. Footage for the short was borrowed from Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" film entitled "Battle of China". The short is hosted by Hollywood actor Melvyn Douglas, who was best known for playing a suave leading man, such as in the romantic comedy "Ninotchka" with Greta Garbo. Two versions of the film were made, the first during the war. This print is apparently the later post-war one, which was necessitated by the Japanese surrender and had a more humanitarian focus than the wartime version. An official United China Relief article about the film states: As director of troop entertainment in the China-Burma-India theater since 1943, Maj. Melvyn Douglas has personally witnessed many of the events depicted in the film. He was tremendously interested in the picture and helpful in revising the production. “The tremendous story of China’s suffering and its desperate need for continued American help cannot be overemphasized,” said Maj.Douglas. “I earnestly hope that the commercial movie makers and other agencies of entertainment and instruction will put the whole story of China in all its drama and appeal before the American people”. The new version of “Report on China” was rushed to completion in time for exhibition in connection with China Friendship Day, October 10 . Early in the war, Maj. Douglas enlisted as a private and rose to the rank of major, doing the arduous job of bringing recreation and entertainment to our men stationed in Burma and China. His wife, Helen Gahagan, actress and singer, is now a member of Congress from California.

Complete catalog record

This battered, abused and incomplete film "Report on China" (1945) was created during WWII to promote the activities of United China Relief. Footage for the short was borrowed from Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" film entitled "Battle of China". The short is hosted by Hollywood actor Melvyn Douglas, who was best known for playing a suave leading man, such as in the romantic comedy "Ninotchka" with Greta Garbo. Two versions of the film were made, the first during the war. This print is apparently the later post-war one, which was necessitated by the Japanese surrender and had a more humanitarian focus than the wartime version.

An official United China Relief article about the film states: As director of troop entertainment in the China-Burma-India theater since 1943, Maj. Melvyn Douglas has personally witnessed many of the events depicted in the film. He was tremendously interested in the picture and helpful in revising the production. “The tremendous story of China’s suffering and its desperate need for continued American help cannot be overemphasized,” said Maj.Douglas. “I earnestly hope that the commercial movie makers and other agencies of entertainment and instruction will put the whole story of China in all its drama and appeal before the American people”. The new version of “Report on China” was rushed to completion in time for exhibition in connection with China Friendship Day, October 10 . Early in the war, Maj. Douglas enlisted as a private and rose to the rank of major, doing the arduous job of bringing recreation and entertainment to our men stationed in Burma
and China. His wife, Helen Gahagan, actress and singer, is now a member of Congress from California.

Transcription

[Music] e since the year 1941 United China relief has been asking you to help relieve the suffering that war has brought to the people of China your generous help and encouragement through the national War fund have enabled us to feed the starving to shelter the orphans to bring healing to the sick and wounded and New Hope to a courageous people now in China Asia and in the Pacific the final chapters of the second world war have been recorded 10,000 miles away American men shared the victory with their comrades in arms the soldiers of China through long bitter years these men fought and fought alone but in 1941 full realization came that China's enemy was our enemy that her cause was our cause and for a common [Music] Victory to air bases built by Chinese men and women went the planes The Fighter and bombers built by American men and women 10,000 M away planes manned by boys like these the American from Boston perhaps or theth or San Diego and the Chinese boys who were taught by American instructors in China are on the Flying Fields of [Music] Arizona the enemy to his sorrow learned all about the abilities of the Chinese American composite Wing how it crippled his supply lines throughout China and on the China [Music] Seas how it blasted the Ducks and warehouses that fed his War Machine mission accomplished back at the base inspection and we meet the in China little flying tiger Joe they found him a lonely Refugee fleeing from an enemy bombard home and killed his parents but a new life began for Little Joe and he made a fine Soldier he was so good in fact that an entirely new r was created for him assistant first

Sources

YouTube channel: PeriscopeFilm · video ↗ — title, year, description, catalog record, video

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