Signal Fires of Shanghai (1944) Takasugi Speech

226 views · Published 3 October 2018 · 0:48 · Indexed 29 September 2026

Channel: Bloomsbury Publishing · 2018 · Film & Animation

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From the 1944 film Signal Fires of Shanghai, this speech by Bandō Tsumasaburō’s character on the importance of rallying as a nation earned Bandō some pointed criticism by contemporary critics, who apparently felt the speech lacked conviction or passion. Indeed, in late 1944 actors’ incentive to throw themselves into this sort of speech was perhaps waning, as the writing was already on the wall militarily for the Japanese empire.

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