This film was made by the Japanese occupation authorities in the Philippines as a propaganda film to show the Philippine people the "benefits" of the Japanese invasion and takeover of their country.
Director Gerardo de Leon was notified by the Japanese authorities that he had been selected to direct this film. When he protested that he was a doctor - he had passed his medical exams just a few years prior to the invasion - and preferred to practice medicine instead, he was told, "There are many doctors in the Philippines, but only one director".
Real American and Filipino POWs were used as "extras" in this film, which was a clear violation of the Geneva Convention.
A scene was filmed showing the withdrawal of American forces from Manila during the Japanese invasion. Large crowds of Filipino civilians showed up for the filming, and the Japanese authorities were pleased at the turnout. They were not pleased to later discover that the reason for the large crowds was that the Filipinos wanted to see and talk to the American and Filipino POWs who were being forced to portray "enemy" troops.