Shanhai Rikusentai (1939) DVD-R

Starring: Hiroshi Akitsu, Susumu Fujita, Senkichi Ōmura
Directed by: Hisatora Kumagai
Print: Black & White
Runtime: 69 minutes
Genre: War / Drama
Language: Japanese

*Shanhai rikusentai* (1939), also known as *Naval Brigade at Shanghai*, is a Japanese wartime film directed by Hisatora Kumagai. The film portrays the Battle of Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War, focusing on a Japanese marine regiment tasked with protecting Japanese nationals and Chinese refugees amidst the urban conflict. Utilizing actual battle locations and military equipment, the film presents a documentary-style narrative that combines realism with propagandistic elements. The cast includes Hiroshi Akitsu as a marine sailor, Susumu Fujita as a marine N.C.O., and Senkichi Ōmura as a Chinese young soldier. The film's production aimed to depict the war's tension and the soldiers' experiences, albeit with a perspective aligned with wartime propaganda.