Shingun (1930)

movie

(15)

Country: Japan
Genres: Drama
Release: 1930-03-07
Director: Kiyohiko Ushihara
Writers: Kōgo Noda
Language: None
Stars: Denmei Suzuki , Kinuyo Tanaka , Hideo Fujino , Utako Suzuki , Haruo Takeda , Minoru Takada , Tokuji Kobayashi , Shoichi Kofujita , Takeshi Sakamoto , Atsushi Watanabe
Runtime: 118 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: The Army Advances (Japan) , 進軍 (Japan) , Shingun
Plot: Denmei Suzuki is a poor farmer with a strong interest in flying. When he tells off her chauffeur, rich Kinuyo Tanaka is impressed. She tells him her brother is a flyig officer and that her father will subsidize his trying out for the air force. He says he is not a beggar, and gets his father to let him go try out. He turns out to be a young star of the air.The final third of the movie is about a land war. It's well shot, exciting, and I have no idea what war it is. Japan's participation in the First World War -- on the side of the allies -- was limited to diplomatic maneuvering, battles at sea, and the occupation of the German-controlled parts of Micronesia, subsequently given to Japan by the League of Nations. The planes Suzuki and his fellow are current as of 1930; the warfare looks like the First World War.It's impossible for me to look at a Japanese war movie of this age except through the lens of ninety years. This was made with the Army's cooperation. There are titles that refer to Japan's forbearance. The following year, in September of 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, the first fight in what would become the Second World War.
IMDB:tt0323955