China's Little Devils

This story is better than the original Hollywood film "The Flying Tigers" in a couple of respects. It tells of the willingness of the Chinese people in those days to cooperate with America. The "Devils" were (as with the "Devil's Brigade" in Germany) named by the enemy they pestered. The second point is: it shows how youths in all societies, in all periods of time, and in all philosophies have been the powerful force in vanquishing an enemy of freedom. These boys, some as young as five years old, formed a very tightly bound band of saboteurs who plagued the Japanese invaders - not only by blowing up their resources. They also salvaged fuel - which was common to the war machines of both sides - and helped keep the Flying Tigers in the air in their "pursuit" against the aggressors. I enclose "pursuit" in quotes because that was the primary mission of the P-40 aircraft: The "P" stands for pursuit.

This was a great movie. I remember the garroting scene, the scene where the Japanese soldier was saying that the children will be strung up by their thumbs. The five year old boy holds up his thumbs in defiance and he is pulled back into the crowd. And, of course, "banzai yourself and see if you like it!". Unfortunately, this was one of the films destroyed to make room in a vault for new films. All negatives, and prints were destroyed. The movie will only live on in our memories. there hundreds of films destroyed including one called "Hells a popping'". this was one of the original parody films in the vein of "Airplane" or "The Naked Gun".

I saw this movie many times in the early 1950's on TV in Los Angeles. I think it is one of the best war movies I have ever seen. I have been looking for it on video for several years. I hope that Turner or someone else will put it on video.

'Banzai, banzai, and see how you like it...' is the only line I really remember from this movie, but ironically, I remember many scenes. I saw it over and over again when I was around 9-11 (over 40 yrs ago), and would be interested to see how it has aged. I'm somewhat afraid that it would be laughable, but judging from the other comments, I also wouldn't be surprised to see the opposite. I most of all remember how it made the whole world war more real to me, as I watched youngsters my age fight the hated Japanese.

The high rating I give it is based ENTIRELY on what a 9 yr old boy would have rated it back then, but it's all I have right now. So....has anybody anywhere seen this movie for the last 30 years, or know where to find it?

I saw this movie with my folks at the Michigan Theater in Detroit, Michigan when it came out first run. I was eight years old at the time. I remember it as being extremely exciting and have remembered it many times over the last half century+. Having come late to the internet and taped movies, I have begun a search for a copy on tape and have so far been unsuccessful.

If my memory holds correct, then it would be, if not a best seller, at least worth a distributor's time and effort to tape it.

There is so much trash made these days that it must be worth while to delve into some of the oldies but goodies.

Thank you!