Year book of motion pictures (1943)

A Report on PRC'S WAR EFFORT ■ft HE YOUNGEST company in the industry, PRC is virtually a 'War Baby', and as such has known the trials and tribulations of those born to strife and tempered in the crucible of conflict. The company had hardly emerged from its swaddling clothes when it was called on, as was its more mature comrades in the industry, to make its own constructive contribution to the War Effort, and it has done so with the enthusiasm that characterizes youth in its clear-eyed conception of the thing to do in this all-out job that confronts our nation. In its production policy, the company has taken cognizance of two essential needs of the picture-going public in these stressful times: (1) True and factual transcriptions in dramatizations of war events (2) Entertainment that provides an 'escape' medium from the grim realities. Corregidor: An outstanding example of the first group is the Special Corregidor, starring Otto Kruger, Elissa Landi and Donald Woods. This is the first film produced that tells the story of the heroic defense of the island fortress in the Philippines. The atmosphere is authentic, the action factual, and its verity is the result of many months of research. The personal theme concerns the superhuman efforts of doctors and nurses in caring for the sick and wounded. It is the most ambitious picture made by PRC thus far. Other documented war pictures include: Bombs Over Burma: A beautiful Chinese woman in the intelligence service of her country risks her life many times to uncover a European spy in the employ of the Japs, through whose machinations supply wagons are being destroyed by enemy bombers on the Burma Road. Convict Battalions: As the title implies, this is an exploitation special, written by Martin Mooney, depicting the honest efforts of inmates of various penitentiaries to help win the war. The drama of these men fighting the Japs in the Southwest Pacific is realistically mounted with actual battle footage and tells the story of heroism and sacri fice by men who have learned the value of liberty. The Cossacks Ride Again: A realistic drama of Russia's girl sniper, showing the German invasion of Russia and the subsequent rout of Hitler's army. Film is documented with actual war footage showing the famed cossacks in action against the Germans. Forgotten Children: A powerful documentary dramatization of Nazi brutality in the small conquered nations of Europe and the effects of this education of hate upon the coming generation. Lady From Chungking: An aristocratic lady demeans herself as a cooley in the rice fields to inveigle a Jap general into giving her his confidence. With the military secret, she sends the message to the American bomber squadron which brings them over at the psychological moment to destroy the enemy troop train on the way to Chungking. Miss V From Moscow: In which a beautiful Russian spy impersonates a female spy from Berlin. Going to Paris, she works with loyal French underground groups, and relays to Moscow information that enable the American convoy to outwit the German submarines. Prisoner Of Japan: An American trader on a Pacific island gives his life along with a girl from the States, to reveal to the commander of a U. S. battleship the exact location of a secret radio base of the Japs. The salvos from the battlewagon destroy the 21S