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An American soldier is found drowned in Tokyo Bay. A year later, while the authorities are still investigating, the U.S. Army suddenly declares the case closed. There have been several other deaths which seem to be connected with the case and these, in turn, appear to be connected with the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The authorities continue their investigations, but the case becomes more and more complicated as deaths occur one after another. This suspense drama is based on actual cases which are referred to as the "Black Mist", and which occurred in Japan shortly after the end of the war. The film vividly sketches in the social background of the time, and dramatically portrays the people who took advantage of the unsettled conditions during the Occupation. A Chain of Islands, together with Kwaidan and Tokyo Olympiad, were named the best three films of 1965 by a poll of critics conducted by the leading Japanese film magazine "Kinema Jumpo". The film also received the Tokyo Newspaper Film Critics' Prize, and the New Director Prize from the Japanese Directors' Association. Melbourne audiences will see the film before its presentation at European Festivals later in the year.