Kukan

For other uses, see Kukan (disambiguation).

Kukan
Directed byRey Scott
Written by
  • Rey Scott
  • Ralph Schoolman (adaptation)
  • Yutang Lin (foreword)
Produced by
  • Herbert T. Edwards
  • Rey Scott
  • Li Ling-Ai (technical advisor)
Narrated byNiles Welch
CinematographyRey Scott
Edited by
  • Charlie Bellante
  • Sam Citron
Music by
  • Uncredited:
  • Edward Craig
Distributed by
Release date
  • June 23, 1941 (1941-06-23)
Running time
62 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Kukan (originally subtitled The Secret of Unconquerable China) is a 1941 American documentary film co-produced by Li Ling-Ai[2] and Rey Scott, and directed by Scott about the Chinese resistance to Japanese aggression during the early part of World War II (see Second Sino-Japanese War). Though Li served as co-producer and sponsor, she was credited as a "technical advisor" in its credits.[3]

The film was distributed in 16mm by Adventure Epics and given an Honorary Academy Award at the 14th Academy Awards. United Artists acquired the film for broader distribution in April 1942 and renamed it KUKAN: The Battle Cry of China before releasing it in 35mm in August of the same year. Considered lost for many years, a print was located and partially restored at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[4]

In 2016, Robin Lung produced a documentary about Li, Finding Kukan.[5] Kukan is available as an extra on Finding Kukan's home release.[6]

  1. ^ "The Battle Cry of China". British Board of Film Classification. May 9, 1943.
  2. ^ Finding Kukan and a piece of Chinese-American history
  3. ^ Allison Griner. "Finding Kukan and a piece of Chinese-American history | China". Al Jazeera. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  4. ^ "Only copy of KUKAN Arrives at AMPAS for Restoration". April 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  5. ^ "Finding KUKAN"., the homepage of the documentary about Li Ling-Ai.
  6. ^ "Purchase Information for the documentary FINDING KUKAN". August 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2019.