A total of 112 fictional films are known to have been produced in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) between 1926 and the colony's dissolution in 1949. The earliest motion pictures, imported from abroad, were shown in late 1900, and by the early 1920s imported serials and fictional films were being shown, often with localised names. Dutch companies were also producing documentary films about the Indies to be shown in the Netherlands. The first reports of fictional film production in the Indies date from 1923, although the work in question was not completed. The first locally produced film, Loetoeng Kasaroeng, was directed by L. Heuveldorp and released on 31 December 1926.
Between 1926 and 1933 numerous other local productions were released. Although Dutchmen like Heuveldorp and George Krugers continued to be active in the industry, the majority of filmmakers and producers were ethnic Chinese. The Tan brothers (Khoen Yauw and Khoen Hian) and The Teng Chun were major producers during this period, while the Wong brothers (Nelson, Othniel, and Joshua) were among the more prominent directors. During the mid-1930s, production dropped as a result of the Great Depression. The release of Albert Balink's commercially and critically successful Terang Boelan (Full Moon) in 1937 led to renewed interest in filmmaking, and 1941 saw thirty locally produced films. This rate of production declined after the Japanese occupation beginning in early 1942, closing all but one film studio; this resulted in several films which had begun production in 1941 being released several years later. The majority of films produced during the occupation were short propaganda pieces. Following the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in 1945 and during the ensuing revolution several films were made, by both pro-Dutch and pro-Indonesian backers; the Dutch formally recognised Indonesia's sovereignty on 27 December 1949, leaving the Dutch East Indies defunct.
Generally films produced in the Indies dealt with traditional stories or were adapted from existing works. The early films were silent, with Karnadi Anemer Bangkong (Karnadi the Frog Contractor; 1930) generally considered the first talkie; later films would be in Dutch, Malay, or an indigenous language. All were black-and-white.
According to the Indonesian film scholar Misbach Yusa Biran, the films released during this period could not be classified as truly Indonesian films as there was no sense of nationalism within them. The American visual anthropologist Karl G. Heider writes that all films from before 1950 are lost. However, JB Kristanto's Katalog Film Indonesia (Indonesian Film Catalogue) records several as having survived at Sinematek Indonesia's archives, and Biran writes that several Japanese propaganda films have survived at the Netherlands Government Information Service.
Indicates uncertain year of production |
Title | Year | Director | Cast | Synopsis | Ref(s). | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loetoeng Kasaroeng | 1926 | Martoana, Oemar | Purbararang teases her sister as the latter is dating a monkey. However, it is actually magical and, in its human form, more handsome than Purbararang's lover. | |||
Eulis Atjih | 1927 | Arsad, Soekria | A man leaves his beautiful young wife Eulis Atjih and their child to lead a life of partying. She falls into poverty and, when he returns several years later, he is also poor. | |||
Lily van Java | 1928 | Lie Lian Hoa, Lie Bouw Tan, Kwee Tiang An, Yah Kwee Pang | The daughter of a rich man is forced to marry a person she does not love and secretly has a relationship with another man. | |||
Resia Boroboedoer | 1928 | A Chinese woman follows a book to Borobudur temple to search for the ashes of Gautama Buddha. Upon failing, she becomes an ascetic. | ||||
Setangan Berloemoer Darah | 1928 | Tan Hian Beng looks for his father's killer and has his vengeance using martial arts. | ||||
Njai Dasima | 1929 | Lie Tek Swie | Nurhani, Anah, Wim Lender, Momo | Dasima, the mistress of a rich Englishman, is tricked into leaving him and her daughter by a greedy couple. | ||
Rampok Preanger | 1929 | , | Unknown | |||
Si Tjonat | 1929 | May Ku Fung, | Tjonat escapes from Batavia after killing one of his friends. He tries to kidnap his love interest, Lie Gouw Nio, but is stopped by Thio Sing Sang. | |||
Karnadi Anemer Bangkong | 1930 | A comedy following the exploits of a young frog hunter named Karnadi | ||||
Lari ke Arab | 1930 | Wong brothers | , Oemar | A ne'er-do-well Javanese man tries to escape the realities of the Great Depression by running away to Mecca. | ||
Nancy Bikin Pembalesan | 1930 | Lie Tek Swie | Dasima's daughter Nancy returns to the Dutch East Indies in a quest to avenge her mother's death. This leads to the murderers' deaths. | |||
Njai Dasima | 1930 | Lie Tek Swie | Nurhani, Anah, Wim Lender, Momo | Dasima, the former mistress of a rich Englishman, lives with the greedy couple that tricked her. When she realises that they have been dishonest, they have her killed. | ||
De Stem des Bloeds (alternatively, Njai Siti) | 1930 | ,, | Siti awaits her lover's return. However, when he comes he cannot find her. He is able to unite with the family after his stepdaughter unwittingly falls in love with her half-brother. | |||
Si Ronda | 1930 | Lie Tek Swie | , Momo | An action film based on a previously existing work | ||
Atma de Vischer | 1931 | N/A | Documentary following Prince Consort Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in The Hague | --> | ||
Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang | 1931 | The Teng Chun | Oh Ay Ceng is forced to marry a rich girl. Their daughter becomes engaged but dies before marriage. Her fiancé then marries Oh's daughter from his former lover. | |||
Huwen op Bevel (alternatively, Terpaksa Menika) | 1931 | An Indonesian intellectual falls in love with a woman, who is told to marry someone else. | ||||
Indonesia Malaise | 1931 | Wong brothers | , Oemar | A young woman is forced to marry a man she does not love. He leaves her and her lover is imprisoned, making her depressed. She recovers when her lover is released. | ||
Melati van Agam | 1931 | Lie Tek Swie | ,, Oemar, | Norma loves Idrus but is forced to marry a rich man. Idrus falls ill and dies, and, several years later, Norma goes to Idrus' grave and commits suicide. (in two parts) | ||
Sam Pek Eng Tay | 1931 | The Teng Chun | Based on a Chinese legend. Eng Tay and Sam Pek are in love, but are separated. She is sequestered and Sam Pek is killed; Eng Tay throws herself upon his grave. | |||
Si Pitoeng | 1931 | Wong brothers | ,, Zorro | Si Pitung, a bandit from Batavia, faces wits with the Dutch constable A.W.V. Hinne. | ||
Sarinah | 1931 | A romance set on the south coast of Java | ||||
Sinjo Tjo Main di Film (alternatively, Tjo Speelt Voor de Film) | 1931 | , | A comedy based on the Schillings' radio work in Bandung | |||
Karina's Zelfopoffering (alternatively, Pengorbanan Karina) | 1932 | Details the life of Raden Ajeng Karina, a woman of mixed-descent who lives in the palace at Yogyakarta | ||||
Njai Dasima | 1932 | Momo, Oesman | Dasima is tricked into leaving her lover and daughter by a greedy couple. When she realises that they have been dishonest, she is killed. | |||
Zuster Theresia | 1932 | ,,, | Henk works in Bandung and marries his boss' daughter. Henk calls Flora to help raise his child, but she goes to a nunnery when Daisy becomes a better mother. | |||
Pat Bie To (alternatively, Delapan Wanita Tjantik) | 1933 | The Teng Chun | A martial arts story | |||
Pat Kiam Hap (alternatively, Delapan Djago Pedang) | 1933 | The Teng Chun | A martial arts story | |||
Ouw Peh Tjoa (alternatively, Doea Siloeman Uler Puti en Item) | 1934 | The Teng Chun | Based on a Chinese legend. A man marries a snake disguised as a woman. When the snake is discovered, she is caught but not killed as she is pregnant. | |||
De Merapi Dreigt | 1934 | , Wong brothers | N/A | Documentary on Mount Merapi, north of Yogyakarta | --> | |
Ang Hai Djie | 1935 | The Teng Chun | Unknown | |||
Pan Sie Tong | 1935 | The Teng Chun | Unknown | |||
Poei Sie Giok Pa Loei Tay | 1935 | Poei Sie Giok, trained in martial arts since he was a child, defeats the master Loei Lo Ho, Loei's students, and Loei's wife. | ||||
Tie Pat Kai Kawin (alternatively, Siloeman Babi Perang Siloeman Monjet) | 1935 | The Teng Chun | The pig demon Tie Pat Kai marries a human woman. When her father drives him out, Tie kidnaps his wife and escapes. He is hunted down by two monks. | |||
Anaknja Siloeman Oeler Poeti | 1936 | The Teng Chun | A sequel to Ouw Phe Tjoa. The child of the white snake and her human husband looks for its mother. | |||
Lima Siloeman Tikoes | 1936 | The Teng Chun | A woman, aided by a cat demon, must discover which person is her husband and which is actually five mouse demons passing as him. | |||
Pareh | 1936 | , | Roegaya,, Doenaesih, | Mahmud, a fisherman, is in love with Wagini, a farmer's daughter. However, local superstition dictates that their relationship will bring disaster. | ||
Pembakaran Bio "Hong Lian Sie" (alternatively, Moesnanja Gowa Siloeman Boeaja Poeti) | 1936 | The Teng Chun | The gang of Kuen Luen Pai fights against that of Oen Kung Pai after a ship containing weapons is destroyed. | |||
Gadis jang Terdjoeal | 1937 | The Teng Chun | Han Nio is sold to a rich man as his wife. They live unhappily and eventually Han dies. Her former lover tries to take revenge against the husband but is killed. | |||
Terang Boelan (alternatively, Het Eilan der Droomen) | 1937 | , Roekiah, | Rohaya is in love but forced to marry a man she does not love. She elopes but is caught. Her lover wins her back by fighting. | |||
Fatima | 1938 | , | Kartolo,,, Roekiah | Fatima is in love with Idris, but the rich youth Ali tries to steal her. He is later arrested as the leader of a gang of bandits. | ||
Oh Iboe | 1938 | The Teng Chun | Lo Tjin Nio, Bissoe | A widower remarries and focuses on gambling, while his business is run by the dishonest Kian Hwat. His daughter Loan regains the family wealth after Kian steals it. | ||
Tjiandjoer | 1938 | The Teng Chun | Lo Tjin Nio, Bissoe | The spoiled Kim Tjiang has his brother Kim Djin exiled from home, but their father Koan Liong later realises his mistake. | ||
Alang-Alang | 1939 | The Teng Chun | Hadidjah,, Bissoe, Lena, Moesa | Suhiyat is in love with Surati, but she is kidnapped. Suhiyat eventually rescues her. | ||
Gagak Item | 1939 | , | Kartolo, Roekiah, | A bandit film, based on Zorro | ||
Impian di Bali | 1939 | A couple travel through Bali. Includes comedic acts and music. | ||||
Roesia si Pengkor (alternatively, Hadji Saleh) | 1939 | The Teng Chun | Da'ing, Bissoe, Hadidjah | Suti is left with her mother while her father leaves town. She is courted by several boys, including the one she loves. The two marry after overcoming the other suitors. | ||
Dasima | 1940 | Tan Tjoei Hock | ,,, S Talib | Dasima divorces from her husband then marries Samiun. Samiun spends her money on gambling and, she asks for it back, he has her killed. | ||
Harta Berdarah | 1940 | , | Soelastri, Zonder, RS Fatimah, Moesa | A rich man leaves his community in suffering while a young couple try to make their way. Eventually the rich man sees the negative influences of money. | ||
Kartinah | 1940 | Andjar Asmara | Ratna Asmara, Astaman,, | Suria's wife Titi has memory problems. Suria falls in love with her nurse Kartinah and, after Titi dies in an air raid, marries her. | ||
Kedok Ketawa | 1940 | Jo An Djan | , Oedjang, | Marsinah and Basuki fall in love and are protected from thugs by "The Laughing Mask" | ||
Kris Mataram | 1940 | Njoo Cheong Seng | , | The noble R.A. Rusmini is in love with the commoner Bachtiar, but their love faces heavy opposition by traditional groups. | ||
Matjan Berbisik | 1940 | Tan Tjoei Hock | Hadidjah,, Bissoe, Said | Hamid's father goes away and does not return until after his son is fully grown. By this time, Hamid and his caretaker's son are in competition for a young woman's love. | ||
Melati van Agam | 1940 | Tan Tjoei Hock | ,,, S Thalib | Siti Norma marries a man she does not love out of respect for her parents, but then elopes with her lover Idrus. | ||
Rentjong Atjeh | 1940 | The Teng Chun | ,,, Hadidjah | Two youths, Rusna and Daud, receive training to hunt and kill a pirate who left them orphans fifteen years prior. | ||
Roekihati | 1940 | , | , Roekiah, Kartolo, | Roekihati is married to Mansur. He begins to stray when he meets Aminah, but as Roekihati is ever-faithful he returns to her. | ||
Siti Akbari | 1940 | , | , Kartolo,, Roekiah | Siti Akbari's husband cheats on her, but eventually she finds happiness. | ||
Sorga Ka Toedjoe | 1940 | , | , Roekiah, Kartolo, | Kasimin and Hadidjah, long-separated spouses, are reunited after the efforts of Hadidjah's niece Rasminah and her lover Hoesin. | ||
Zoebaida | 1940 | Njoo Cheong Seng | , Soerip, Aisah, | A love story set in Timor | ||
Air Mata Iboe | 1941 | Njoo Cheong Seng | ,,, Soerip | Sumadi takes vengeance on his siblings after they refuse to shelter their mother, Sugiati, after their father dies. | ||
Ajah Berdosa | 1941 | Wu Tsun | ,,, Soetijem | A man is tempted by a "modern" city woman and leaves his wife and son, only to find misfortune. | ||
Aladin dengan Lampoe Wasiat | 1941 | Wong brothers | , Benny, | The poor youth Aladin falls in love with a princess and defeats the evil grand vizier. | ||
Asmara Moerni | 1941 | , Djoewariah, | A doctor falls in love with his maid, only to marry her after her fiancé dies. | |||
Bajar dengan Djiwa | 1941 | ,, Haroen, Oesman | A drama following the interactions between several families, including the philanthropist Basuki and the ne'er-do-well Umar | |||
Boedjoekan Iblis | 1941 | Jo An Djan | ,, Anwar, | Unknown | ||
Djantoeng Hati | 1941 | Njoo Cheong Seng | ,, Ariati | Two girls, the traditional Karina and modernist Roesdjana, are in competition. The film warns that modernity is not necessarily the best path. | ||
Elang Darat | 1941 | Astaman,, Rohana, Salam | Parlan is called to Kresek to track down a bandit called Elang Darat, who is revealed to be Parlan's half-brother Gunawi. | |||
Garoeda Mas | 1941 | Jo An Djan | ,,, | Unknown | ||
Ikan Doejoeng | 1941 | Lie Tek Swie | Asmanah, Soerjono, A Thys, S Poniman | Asmara is told to marry someone she does not love. She instead elopes with Sanusi and, when they are accosted by robbers, escapes into the night. | ||
Koeda Sembrani | 1941 | Wong brothers | Roekiah,,, Kartolo | The story of a winged horse | ||
Lintah Darat | 1941 | Wu Tsun | , Satijem,, | Kumala joins forces with Safi'i to deal with a loan shark and his wife, Kumala's selfish sister Asnah. | ||
Matula | 1941 | Tan Tjoei Hock | ,,, Bissoe | Matula goes to a dukun, asks to be made handsome, and is told to pay with a life. He tries to use Emma as his payment, but is stopped by her father and her fiancé. | ||
Moestika dari Djemar | 1941 | Jo An Djan | Dhalia,, Djoeriah | Unknown | ||
Noesa Penida | 1941 | Andjar Asmara | Ratna Asmara, Astaman,, | Two brothers are in love with a princess, but differences in their castes leads to difficulty. | ||
Pah Wongso Pendekar Boediman | 1941 | Jo Eng Sek | , | Barja begins a life of crime after his cousin rejects his advances, while Pah Wongso investigates his crimes. | ||
Pah Wongso Tersangka | 1941 | Wu Tsun | ,,, | Pah Wongso becomes a suspect | ||
Panggilan Darah | 1941 | Soetan Oesman Kariem | Dhalia, Soerip,, Mochtar Widjaja | Two orphans work at the home of Iskak. When his wife mistreats them, they run away, but find out that they are related to Iskak and thus return to him. | ||
Pantjawarna | 1941 | Njoo Cheong Seng | , Dhalia,, | Described as the first musical in the Indies | ||
Poesaka Terpendam | 1941 | Roekiah,, Titing, Kartolo | A group of people go on a search for hidden treasure. | |||
Poetri Rimba | 1941 | Aisjah, Loedi,, Bissoe, Soetiati | Achmad is taken into a village after getting lost in the jungle. He competes against Perbada for the love of the leader's daughter. | |||
Ratna Moetoe Manikam | 1941 | Sutan Usman Karim | Ratna Asmara, Astaman,, | Two goddesses compete for the love of an earthly king. | ||
Selendang Delima | 1941 | , Asmana, Soerjono | Unknown | |||
Si Gomar | 1941 | Tan Tjoei Hock | Tan Tjeng Bok, Hadidjah,, Bissoe | Soebardja and Mariani are separated and left orphans after robbers kill their parents. As adults they nearly marry each other, but are stopped when their cousin recognises them. | ||
Singa Laoet | 1941 | Tan Tjoei Hock | Tan Tjeng Bok, Hadidjah, Bissoe, | Mahmud goes against a gang of pirates led by Singa Laoet ("Lion of the Sea") to discover who killed his father twenty years earlier. | ||
Siti Noerbaja | 1941 | Lie Tek Swie | Asmanah, Momo, Soerjono, A. Thys | Sitti Nurbaya falls in love with Samsulbahri, but is forced to marry the criminal Datuk Meringgih to pay her father's debt. | ||
Soeara Berbisa | 1941 | Wu Tsun | ,, Oedjang, Soehaena | Mitra and Neng Mardinah fall in love, but the jealous Mardjohan spreads rumours that Mitra is the son of a thief. They reconcile and are revealed to be long-lost brothers. | ||
Sorga Palsoe | 1941 | Tan Tjoei Hock | Lo Tjin Nio,,, Rohana | Hian Nio is treated by as a servant by her mother. Her lover's boss, Bian Hong, marries her. However, she is distressed by the marriage, runs away, and dies. | ||
Srigala Item | 1941 | Tan Tjoei Hock | Tan Tjeng Bok, Hadidjah,, Aisah | Mochtar is forced to live with his uncle after his father disappears. The cruel uncle and his son are often accosted by a masked figure known only as De Zwarte Wolf ("The Black Wolf"). | ||
Tengkorak Hidoep | 1941 | Tan Tjoei Hock | Tan Tjeng Bok,, Misnahati, Bissoe | Darmadji and his friends go to Mustika Island, where they witness Maha Daru being reborn after 2,000 years. They must defeat him to survive. | ||
Tjioeng Wanara | 1941 | Jo Eng Sek | ,,, | Tjioeng Wanara rebels against the cruel king of Galuh. | ||
Wanita dan Satria | 1941 | Djoewariah,, | A womaniser named Soedrajat abuses his status to gain women's trust before ultimately getting his comeuppance. | |||
1001 Malam | 1942 | Wu Tsun | Unknown | |||
Boenga Sembodja | 1942 | Dhalia,,, Anwar | Unknown | |||
Mega Mendoeng | 1942 | Boen Kim Nam | , Oedjang,, | Kustini is betrayed by her friend Sujono, but they later reconcile. | ||
Poelo Inten | 1942 | , Djoeriah, Noersani, | Unknown | |||
Berdjoang | 1943 | , Sambas, Dhalia, Kartolo | Anang and Saman compete for the love of Hasanah. After Anang joins the Japanese army, Hasanah decides she wants to be with him. | |||
Di Desa | 1943 | Roestam Sutan Palindih | , Garkiah, Epen | Unknown | ||
Di Menara | 1943 | Roestam Sutan Palindih | , Garkiah, Epen | Unknown | ||
Kemakmoeran | 1943 | Unknown | ||||
Djatoeh Berkait | 1944 | Astaman, Kartolo, Dimin | Unknown | |||
Hoedjan | 1944 | , Dhalia, | Unknown | |||
Keris Poesaka | 1944 | Unknown | ||||
Koeli dan Romoesha | 1944 | Propaganda promoting the romusha programme |
Indicates uncertain year of production |
Title | Year | Director | Cast | Synopsis | Ref(s). | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Djaoeh Dimata | 1948 | Andjar Asmara | Ratna Asmara,,, | Soelastri must go to Jakarta to earn a living after her husband Asrad goes blind. | ||
Anggrek Bulan | 1948 | Andjar Asmara | ,,, | Kati is in a love triangle with Atma and Subrata, but Atma has other to worry about. | ||
Air Mata Mengalir di Tjitarum | 1948 | Roestam Sutan Palindih | Sofia,,, | Unknown | ||
Aneka Warna | 1949 | , Mochsin,, | The story of Dul Kalong and Mat Codot, two fools from the Aneka Warna troupe who live in poverty. | |||
Bengawan Solo | 1949 | Jo An Tjiang | Sofia,,, | A village woman's two children are raised by different families after she drowns herself in the Solo River. | ||
Gadis Desa | 1949 | Andjar Asmara | ,,, | Abu Bakar falls in love with his landlord's daughter despite having a wife. | ||
Harta Karun | 1949 | ,,, Herawati | Suliati and Ahmad are in love, but Suliati's father will not bless the relationship because Ahmad is poor. | |||
Tjitra | 1949 | ,,, | Harsono takes Suryani's virginity then flees to the city, where he is caught up in a murder case. | |||
Menanti Kasih | 1949 | ,,, Djoeriah | Husni Anwar discovers his schooling was paid for by Rachman, and now he must marry Rachman's daughter. | |||
Saputangan | 1949 | ,, Noorsini, | Hardjono goes blind while at sea, but has an operation to give him back his sight. | |||
Sehidup Semati | 1949 | ,,, | During a trip to Bandung Kusmayadi proposes to Asmarani despite already being betrothed to Lasminah. |
. Sejarah Film 1900–1950: Bikin Film di Jawa . History of Film 1900–1950: Making Films in Java . Indonesian . Misbach Yusa Biran . Jakarta . Komunitas Bamboo working with the Jakarta Art Council . 2009 . 978-979-3731-58-2 . Sejarah Film 1900–1950: Bikin Film di Jawa .
. George McTurnan Kahin . 1952 . Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia . Cornell University Press . Ithaca, New York . 978-0-8014-9108-5 .