Behind the Rising Sun

Directed by Edward Dmytryk
USA 1943

The film is told in flashback from 1943, in the middle of WW2, as respected elitist Japanese newspaper publisher Reo Seki (J. Carrol Naish) receives the ashes of his dead soon Taro (Tom Neal) and blames himself for the tragedy that has come to his family. The flashback begins in 1936 when Reo welcomes back from America his beloved son Taro, who graduated as an engineer from Cornell and is filled with love for America; he wishes to work in Tokyo for the great American engineer O'Hara (Don Douglas), but his father disapproves becomes of the nationalist fervor sweeping Japan and the hatred of foreigners as evidenced by the Chinese slaughtered in the street. Reo believes in the divine inspiration of the emperor and proudly states that one day Japan will rule the world. Taro rebels and takes the job with O'Hara, and begins a romance with the sweet American loving Japanese receptionist Tama (Margo).

Excerpt from Ozu's World Reviews located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: August 1st, 1943

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DVD Review: Editions Montparnasse - Region 2 - PAL

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Editions Montparnasse - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:27:51
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.58 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles	French, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Editions Montparnasse Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Serge Bromberg Intro (2:49) in French only DVD Release Date: March 1st, 2006 Transparent Slim Keep Case Chapters: 8

Comments:

A typical Montparnasse RKO DVD - meaning non-progressive, single-layered and contrast manipulated. The 'combing' that I see is easily discernable but not much of a threat to tube-viewing. It may again have been taken from an analog source and is not particularly sharp. Damage marks and dirt are visible. Audio is similarly weak. No extras save Bromberg's usual intro-praise (in French only).

One can't really recommend this on the basis of the DVD transfer, nor the film, but watching it so long after its obvious propaganda production values is quite interesting. It is certainly heavy-handed making it almost amusing to see - an eye-opener if you consider the time this film was shown and how it could impact on Americans viewing it.