HOME MOVIES: 1950 OCCUPIED JAPAN & HONG KONG

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1950

Format: 16mm

Description: Shot by a member of the U.S. military in 1950, this 16mm home movie features views of Japan's Izu islands' Hachijo-jima, and Hong Kong in 1950, featuring the site of future Cordial Mansions, Chunking Arcades, Little India, and Hachijo-jima island harbor. It also shows the christening ceremony of a Norwegian fishing boat "Krill", in Japan. Based on research it seems this footage was likely shot by a member of the U.S. 8th Army before the relocation of the unit from Japan in July 1950. 0:16 Corpulent older U.S. serviceman with a 8th Army Division patch, wearing green sunglasses 0:23 Another pencil-mustachioed serviceman with a camera 0:31 US Army Jeep, plate ZA-13030 :51 Sunken ship – possibly a freighter -- in the port of a small city 0:52 Panorama of the city and the mountain 1:34 Mustachioed man running home to get something and back to the Jeep 2:00 Address plate on the house out of focus, military house, garden and deserted streets 2:38 The green-sunglass G.I. distributing candy out of a tin, to the crowd of Japanese kids. Some are emaciated, but most seem well-fed. Some kids, mostly girls, are bowing after receiving this gift, as customary, for politeness. 3:41 Same gentleman from further away, absolutely swamped with kids 4:04 Having distributed three tins of candy he's still surrounded by children and adults, who also want to have a candy. 4:08 Two young women getting candy and laughing, embarrassed. 4:11 Older man gets a piece of candy. 5:04 A third man, previously unseen, playing golf on the common lawns of the military housing, wearing only a pair of tighty-whities. 5:44 The pencil-mustachioed man sitting on the ground drinking beer and smoking, wearing only a pair of boxers. 6:10 Points his rear end at the camera 6:16 Japanese people going for a swim off a ship 6:30 Japanese and American tourists in rowboats. 7:00 More Japanese youngsters going for a swim off the ship Kuroshio-maru 7:16 Japanese man wearing sunglasses and a young woman in a swimsuit. 7:52 A group of Japanese youth, teasing each other and laughing. 8:20 Striking a pose for the camera with the Japanese women. 9:20 Japanese kids and youth on the boat, rowing a two-place boat 10:00 Dolphins 11:01 The golfer with a camera by his wife (?)'s side 11:15 Children using repurposed airplane fuel tanks as single-seat kayaks. 17:10 Children and adults on the pier 17:26 Boy, pretending to boss people around 17:41 Elderly Japanese man 17:20 The ship number K163 19:03 Old man and a boy sitting together. 19:12 Children 19:54 The K163 ship's name - Kuroshio-maru, Tokyo. Its believed this vessel was built in 1947 by the Tokyo Harima Shipyard, and known as Cruise Boat Type 28 20:06 Children diving into the water off stern railing 20:24 sailboats 20:54 American in Hawaiian shirt. 21:13 The golfer up close 21:16 ...and their wives and girlfriends 21:23 Lazy sunbathing afternoon 21:20 Fishing boats and the coast 22:06 Woman caught changing into a swimsuit 22:25 Japanese on the pier 26:37 A Japanese woman in a swimsuit 27:29 same as 8:20 except it's now the golfer striking a pose with the Japanese women.30:10 Playing cards 31:58 Hong Kong. Street Lottery and Chinese currency exchange 32:15 On the right side street corner Fresh-pressed Orange Juice  32:29 HK policeman walking by an advertisement "Mody Brothers apparel company" and   "Life Cordial Co. Ltd." Currently the site of Cordial Mansions. 32:40 Tsim Shar Tsui, intersection of the Nathan road and Middle Road - Starlight Bar and Star Hotel,  Murphy's bar , facing Rose Hotel and bar 32:50 A Caucasian-looking man and a Hindustani-looking man seem quite unhappy about being filmed. 33:14 A woman in a cheongsam, unclear footage 33:16 Chunking arcade shopping mall built in 1950 and demolished in 1962, replaced with Chunking Mansions. It was considered Hong Kong's Little India at the time. 37:00 Back to Japan, high tea, talking with a Japanese man 38:10 Setting the table. 38:29 The mustache is gone, but it's still our man, with Sports Illustrated type magazine 38:49 A demure Japanese woman with a crooked canine tooth (yaeba which is a beauty standard in Japan) – possibly the wife of the bald Japanese man is looking through the magazine 39:17 A young Japanese woman, serving some beer 39:40 Raising a toast 41:22 shaky footage of driving in Japan – tunnels, road and the seaside. 41:22 Inspecting a Norwegian fishing boat "Krill" accompanied by a Japanese mayor and Japanese officials 42:50 Christening and raising a Norwegian flag on the "Krill" 43:53Views of the wharf, fishing boat and the crowd.

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