''Elang Darat'' (; Indonesian for ''Land Hawk'') is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) which was directed by Inoe Perbatasari and produced by

The Teng Chun The Teng Chun (; 18 June 1902 – 25 February 1977), also known by his Indonesian name Tahjar Ederis, was a Chinese Indonesian film producer. Born to a rich businessman, The became interested in film while still a youth. After a period as a ...

for Jacatra Film. A

detective film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

, it follows a man who comes to a village to track the villainous bandit known only as "Elang Darat".

Plot

After a series of robberies led by a bandit known as "Elang Darat", the chief of Kresek village calls in a detective named Parlan ( Astaman). While investigating the crimes, Parlan is attacked and knocked out by a blow to the head. The chief's daughter, Rukmini, nurses him back to health and the two begin falling in love. This leaves the chief's adopted son, Gunawi, in a fury, as Gunawi is in love with Rukmini as well. Parlan's investigation reveals that Gunawi is, in fact, his long-lost half brother. Later the two must fight after it is revealed that Gunawi is "Elang Darat".

Production

''Elang Darat'' was produced by

for the Jacatra Film Company, a subsidiary of his Java Industrial Film. It was written and directed by former journalist Inoe Perbatasari, who had previously been assistant director on

Andjar Asmara Abisin Abbas (; 26 February 1902 – 20 October 1961), better known by his pseudonym Andjar Asmara (), was a dramatist and filmmaker active in the cinema of the Dutch East Indies. Born in Alahan Panjang, West Sumatra, he first worked as ...

's '' Kartinah''.; Camerawork for the

black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

film was handled by Tan Kim An, while sound editing was completed by The Teng Chun's brother The Teng Liong. A large number of the cast members are recorded. The film starred Astaman and Ali Joego, with Rohana, Salam, Amalia, Louise Gunter, S Aminah, and Mas'oed Pandji Anom in supporting roles. Production began in July 1941.

Release

''Elang Darat'' was released in 1941. Inoe Perbatasari would go on to make one more film for Jacatra Pictures, '' Poetri Rimba'', later that year. It is likely lost. The American visual anthropologist

Karl G. Heider Karl Heider (born January 21, 1935) is an American visual anthropologist. Life and education Heider was born in Northampton, Massachusetts. Heider is the son of psychologists Fritz and Grace (née Moore) Heider. He had two brothers; John and St ...

writes that all Indonesian films from before 1950 are lost. However, JB Kristanto's ''Katalog Film Indonesia'' (''Indonesian Film Catalogue'') records several as having survived at

Sinematek Indonesia Sinematek Indonesia, or Sinematek for short, is a film archive located in Jakarta. Established in 1975 by Misbach Yusa Biran and Asrul Sani, the archive was the first in Southeast Asia, and remains the only one in Indonesia. It is home to rou ...

's archives, and film historian

Misbach Yusa Biran Misbach Yusa Biran (11 September 1933 – 11 April 2012) was an Indonesian writer, director and columnist who pioneered the Indonesian film archives. Personal life Biran was born in Rangkasbitung, in the Lebak Regency, to a Minangkaba ...

writes that several Japanese propaganda films have survived at the

Netherlands Government Information Service The Netherlands Government Information Service (''Dutch:'' Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst, abbrev.: RVD) is a Dutch government agency. The RVD is the official information service of the Dutch government and is the spokesbody for the prime minister, the ...

References

Works cited

* * * * * {{Use dmy dates, date=June 2013 Indonesian black-and-white films Dutch East Indies films Lost Indonesian films Films directed by Inoe Perbatasari