In part one of a two-parter, Fikri invites friend of the show, film historian Hassan Muthalib, to discuss the Malayan Film Unit. Created by the British colonial administration, they talk about the start of Hassan’s film career and how he came to be involved with the department. They also get into its efficacy in combatting communism in the country, look at key figures like Tuan Zain and Gillie Porter, and discover its connection to films like ‘Superman’.
- We previously published a piece by Hassan on Tuan Zain, and he was also featured on episode 81 discussing ‘Mandi Safar’
- Films discussed include ‘Rohani Steps Out’, ‘Abu Nawas’ and ‘Merdeka Mission’
- Sources for this episode include papers by Hassan himself and Hee Wai Siam
- Theme Song: Airplane Mode by Josh Woodward
- Download the episode here, or catch us on PodBean, Acast, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Player FM, Stitcher and TuneIn
Featured image credit and podcast cover art: Erkan Utu / Pexels
thoughtsonfilms.com 