The Burning Sky (1940): cast, story & where to watch
1940 · Film
Released in 1940, The Burning Sky is a war film directed by Yutaka Abe, running about 101 minutes.
What it’s about. The film was produced during Second Sino-Japanese War, before the Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941. The film mainly concerns the training of newly-recruited pilots and their daily life, then their subsequent fighting experiences in China. Army supported the production, providing all the authentic airplanes, training and actual actions. They even provided the older biplanes disguised as Chinese fighter planes. Obinata plays the trainer-turned-combat-leader, who is passionate and cool at the same time. All his boys love him, of course. The film is not as intense, full of sugar-coated camaraderie, until young pilots are killed in action one by one. Last twenty minutes are fairly grim, as the message of self-sacrifice is heard loud and clear.
Who’s in it. The Burning Sky stars Susumu Fujita, Taizō Fukami, Katsuhiko Haida and Seishirō Hara, among others.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Burning Sky page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Burning Sky tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Grave of the Fireflies, The Pianist and Apocalypse Now.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Burning Sky (1940)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Burning Sky change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in The Burning Sky?
- The Burning Sky stars Susumu Fujita, Taizō Fukami, Katsuhiko Haida, Seishirō Hara and Kazuo Hasegawa.
- When was The Burning Sky released?
- The Burning Sky was released in 1940, with a runtime of about 101 minutes.