battlebeast
Senior HTF Member
CHANG: A DRAMA OF THE WILDERNESS (1927)
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Cast: The Family Kru
Oscars won: 0
Nominations: 1
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences considers Wings the first Best Picture winner, and the two other films in that category, 7th Heaven and The Racket Best Picture nominees. For the first Oscar year, there were two categories of "best pictures"; the second category was labelled "Unique and artistic production," which included Chang, as well as Sunrise and The Crowd.
Chang certainly fits into the latter category; it is one of the most unique films I have ever seen. on the cover to Fox's Sunrise, they claim it to be a "best picture" winner. I consider the latter category best picture nominees, too.
Set in the wilds of northern Siam (now Thailand), Chang tells the story of the family Kru: Kru, the father; Chantui, his wife; Nah, Kru's son, and Ladah, his daughter. There is also a baby, and Bimbo, the pet monkey.
The story - only 64 minutes long - starts as we meet Kru and his family and animals. Kru is worried about leopards and tigers in the area, which may attack his most precious resources: his livestock.
Kru does indeed loose livestock to jungle cats. Horrifyingly, we see majestic leopards and tigers shot dead on camera. No tricks. No faking. two tigers and three leopards are slaughtered for our entertainment.
As sad as that is, the story moves on. Animal hunts, a trip to the local village and a pet monkey who is the comic relief are uniquely shown in a documentary sort of way. Indeed, this could very well have been a documentary, but the directors recreated some events to get the perfect shots for their Hollywood picture.
The movie culminates in a stampede of elephants. A wondrous sight caught on film. But not only that: the whole movie is filled with amazing footage of wildlife. Tigers, monitor lizards, bears, leopards, monkeys, elephants, etc, all captured as even National Geographic might do.
This is a Hollywood film, and was filmed as such. But the wilds of Siam become a character of their own. Although staged as a Hollywood film, this is a very true to life historical record of life at that time in the remote jungle primeval. I hope PETA never views this film.
The film is in desperate need of restoration. That said, it is very watchable. I found the film extremely engrossing. I guess because I'm partial to documentaries.
The film's score is newly recorded by Fong Naam. "In the late '60s, a young American by the name of Bruce Gaston arrived in Thailand: his ambition, to avoid the draft. During his stay, Gaston became captivated by the music of Thailand, studied its techniques, and decided not to return to the United States. Together with Boonyong Kethong he formed an instrumental ensemble known as Fong Naam, which is now one of the best known pi-pha ensembles in the nation. Although the music Fong Naam plays is rooted in classical tradition, it is also porous and accepts absorbs outside influences. Fong Naam have experimented with jazz and rock."
The music sounds like traditional south east Asian music, and compliments the film very well.
Overall, this is a film that shows us a historical record of life in that era and that part of the world. Staged for Hollywood or not, it still is a glimpse into our past. Oh, and if you have the DVD listen to the commentary by Rudy Behlmer. One of the best I've ever heard.
Film: 4/5
Picture: 2/5
Audio 4.5/5
RECOMMENDED
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Cast: The Family Kru
Oscars won: 0
Nominations: 1
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences considers Wings the first Best Picture winner, and the two other films in that category, 7th Heaven and The Racket Best Picture nominees. For the first Oscar year, there were two categories of "best pictures"; the second category was labelled "Unique and artistic production," which included Chang, as well as Sunrise and The Crowd.
Chang certainly fits into the latter category; it is one of the most unique films I have ever seen. on the cover to Fox's Sunrise, they claim it to be a "best picture" winner. I consider the latter category best picture nominees, too.
Set in the wilds of northern Siam (now Thailand), Chang tells the story of the family Kru: Kru, the father; Chantui, his wife; Nah, Kru's son, and Ladah, his daughter. There is also a baby, and Bimbo, the pet monkey.
The story - only 64 minutes long - starts as we meet Kru and his family and animals. Kru is worried about leopards and tigers in the area, which may attack his most precious resources: his livestock.
Kru does indeed loose livestock to jungle cats. Horrifyingly, we see majestic leopards and tigers shot dead on camera. No tricks. No faking. two tigers and three leopards are slaughtered for our entertainment.
As sad as that is, the story moves on. Animal hunts, a trip to the local village and a pet monkey who is the comic relief are uniquely shown in a documentary sort of way. Indeed, this could very well have been a documentary, but the directors recreated some events to get the perfect shots for their Hollywood picture.
The movie culminates in a stampede of elephants. A wondrous sight caught on film. But not only that: the whole movie is filled with amazing footage of wildlife. Tigers, monitor lizards, bears, leopards, monkeys, elephants, etc, all captured as even National Geographic might do.
This is a Hollywood film, and was filmed as such. But the wilds of Siam become a character of their own. Although staged as a Hollywood film, this is a very true to life historical record of life at that time in the remote jungle primeval. I hope PETA never views this film.
The film is in desperate need of restoration. That said, it is very watchable. I found the film extremely engrossing. I guess because I'm partial to documentaries.
The film's score is newly recorded by Fong Naam. "In the late '60s, a young American by the name of Bruce Gaston arrived in Thailand: his ambition, to avoid the draft. During his stay, Gaston became captivated by the music of Thailand, studied its techniques, and decided not to return to the United States. Together with Boonyong Kethong he formed an instrumental ensemble known as Fong Naam, which is now one of the best known pi-pha ensembles in the nation. Although the music Fong Naam plays is rooted in classical tradition, it is also porous and accepts absorbs outside influences. Fong Naam have experimented with jazz and rock."
The music sounds like traditional south east Asian music, and compliments the film very well.
Overall, this is a film that shows us a historical record of life in that era and that part of the world. Staged for Hollywood or not, it still is a glimpse into our past. Oh, and if you have the DVD listen to the commentary by Rudy Behlmer. One of the best I've ever heard.
Film: 4/5
Picture: 2/5
Audio 4.5/5
RECOMMENDED
JOSH> I was planning on doing a year wrap up for each year. I'll include a bunch of stuff!Thanks again everyone, and yes.. I plan on continuing until the end, despite what anyone thinks or says. 
