The New China (1952)
Directed by Sergey Gerasimov
Run Time - 105 min. |
Countries - China |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Given the anti-Red political climate in the U.S. in 1952, it is astounding that a Russian-produced documentary titled The New China received any American bookings at all! This is especially true when one takes into consideration the rather strident anti-capitalist stance of the English-language narration. Propaganda aside, The New China turned out to be an invaluable source of stock footage for all future documentaries on its subject. One clip, depicting a gigantic blow-up photograph of Mao Tse-Tung, has probably been seen more often on TV than the Hindenburg disaster. Befitting its title, The New China was a "collective" effort, co-produced by the Chinese People's Republic Film Studios and the Central Documentary Film Studios of Moscow: the long list of directorial credits included Sergei Gerasimov, Ivan Dukinsky, Siu Siao-Bin and Su Ho-Chin.