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Terang Boelan

AKA: Het Eilan der Droomen

1937 :: Drama

  

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Colour BW

Synopsis

(literal translation of title: Full Moon)

Kasim and Rohaya promise to love and stay loyal to each other. But Rohaya's father, the reverend, pairs her off with Musa, a smuggler. Before the wedding takes place, Rohaya runs away with Kasim from her island, Sawoba, to Malacca (Malaysia). There they meet Dullah. But their happiness only lasts for a while since Musa, who disguises as an Arab under the name of Syekh Ba' Abul to smuggle opium, manages to locate them. Then Rohaya's father comes to pick her up. Karim joins Rohaya again in Sawoba, followed by Dullah who comes to help. Kasim finally defeats Musa during a violent fight.

Note

In the film’s promotional leaflet, Sawoba is described as an island whose beauty is comparable to Hawaii. But in fact, it is only a fantasy island as the name is an abbreviation from SA(eroen), WO(ng), BA (link), the creators of the film. It became the first box-office hit in 1938 and was sold to RKO Singapore. Within the two months after the launch, the film made about SGD200,000.

This film also ignited the romance between actor RD Mochtar and Roekiah, a well-known singer, even though Roekiah was married to Kartolo, also a famous musician who was hired for the film’s keroncong soundtrack. Singer, actor and director, Rachmat Kartolo, was the son of Roekiah and Kartolo.

Source:

- Interview with Joshua Wong, Othniel Wong, and JJW Steffens, 1973.

- Film Varia I/II/1955 page 18-19.

- Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad 9 Desember 1937

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