Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Earliest Indonesian Films



10. Terang Boelan (Full Moon), 1937

Dircetor: Albert Balink

Actors: Roekiah, Rd Mochtar, ET Effendi, Tjitjih, Muhin, Kartolo

Synopsis: A love story that voiced criticism of traditional values that prevent the marriage between young 

lovers

Importance: Was direct adpotion of the Hollywood movie ‘ The Jungle Princess’

· The movie pioneered the star and formula system that was applied to movies that came later

· Movie used stage play elements such as Romance, fights, comic mischief and popular songs

· Attracted the indonesian’s that enjoyed stage plays into theater

· Commercial success was http://mediaranahjaya.blogspot.com due to the beautiful lead actors, Roekiah and

 Rd Mochtar. Movie paved their way to stardom

· Proved that local movies can be highly profitable, resulting in more movies produced per year

· Demand for many stage play actors after this movie

Production Company: Algemene Nederlands Indiche Film (ANIF)


9. Pareh (Rice), 1935

Director: Albert Balink, Mannus Franken

Actors: Rd Mochtar, Doenaesih, Soekarsih, T Effendy, Roegaya

Synopsis: Film about the indigenous people, that also showed off the exotic Indonesian landscape

Imprtance: Another joint venture film. The director seeked the help Mannus Franken, and the Wong 

Brothers to help make the movie

· Film was praised by critics but flopped at the box office

· The first Indonesian film in which the camera was given a dynamic and active role

· Served as momentum to produce the directors next film which was a milestone in Indonesian film

. Film Preserved in Netherlands Film Museum

Production Company: Java Pacific Film


8. Doea Siloeman Poetien Item (2 White Snake Devils), 1934

Director: The Teng Cun

Actors:?

Synopsis: A film about a snake goddess who disguises herself as a pretty woman whom later marries a guy 

she is attracted to

Importance: Was the first horror film in Indonesia. Use of pretty and ghostly female character to draw 

audience.

. The influence to use pretty and ghostly female characters continued to be seen in this commercially popular 

genre in later Indonesian cinema.

. The Teng Chun continued developing the horror genre and stopped doing films on Chinese legends

Production Company: Cino Motion Pictures


7. Zuster Theresia (Sister Theresia), 1932

Director: MH Schilling

Actors: Alice Heyman, MH Schilling, Ida Schilling, Hugo de Roode, Daisy Diephuis, Heng Maschaup, R 

Diephuis, F Bernhard, Carl Schilling

Synopsis: A love story where the third becomes a nun

Importance: Had sound that was comparable to films from Germany and United States.

. Film uses Dutch language and was probably the ethnic Chinese attempt to attract Dutch audiences

Production Company: Halimoen Films


6. Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang (The Rose from Tjikembang), 1931

Director: The Teng Cun

Actors:?

Synopsis: About the inter-ethnic relation between a Chinese and a native

Importance: First Indonesian Sound film

· First movie that was about inter-ethnic relations and assimilation

· Marked the start when The Teng Chun started to produce domestic sound films

Production Company: Cino Motion Pictures


5. Resia Boroboedoer (The Secret of Borobudur), 1928

Director: ?

Actors: Olive Young

Synopsis: bout a women who departs from China to go to Borobudur to get the ashes of Buddha

Importance: Company paid a lot to star Shanghai actress, Olive Young

. The movie was a failed attempt to compete with the imported Shanghai movies that were popular than

· Company went bankrupt after one movie

Production Company: Nancing Film Corporation



4. Si Tjonat, 1929

Director: Nelson Wong

Actors:Herman Sim, Ku Fung May, Lie A Tjip

Synopsis: About Thio Sing Sing a Chinese hero who defeats and stops the pribumi (Indigenous Indonesian

villain Si Tjonat

Importance: Precursor to the eventual centraility of Jakarta to the film industry and the settings for their 

narratives

· First movie to pit a Chinese hero against pribumi villains

· Combined popular fiction stories with lots of fighting, a narrative model used by films till the early 1930s

Production Company: Batavia Motion Picture


3. Lily Van Java (Lily from Java), 1928

Director: Nelson Wong

Actors: Lie Lian Hoa, Lie Bouw Tan

Synopsis: About the forced marriage within a Chinese Indonesian family

Importance: Marked the arrival of the Wong Brothers

· It was the first joint venture film

· The first Chinese Indonesian film catered to Chinese audiences

· Initiated the film industry

Production Company: South Seas Films Company



2. Eulis Atjih, 1927

Director: G. Kruger

Actors: Arsad, Soekria

Synopsis: A silent family melodrama

Importance: Film screened together with Keroncong music performed by groupled by Kajoon, a popular

 musician at the time.

Production Company: Java Film Company.



1. Loetoeng Kasaroeng (The Monkey Kasaroeng), 1926.

Director: L. Heuveldorp

Actors: Martoana, Oemar.

Synopsis: An Indonesian story based on famous West Javean Legend

Importance: Indonsia’s first feature film

· Technical standards could not compare with Hollywood and European films, but was on par with other 

foreign films

Production Company: Java Film Company


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