Monday, October 13, 2008

Lights, camera ..... Action!! - RT

The 50s and 60s was considered the golden era of Singapore’s film making industry, 300 films were produced. Later, the invasion of television and influx of imported Hollywood films caused the downfall of the filmmaking industry in Singapore.

How many of these stars do you know?

Western film stars


Asian film stars


Watch a home-grown film in comfort


Film cases and 16mm film reel

These film cases contain 16mm version of Malay films produced in Singapore and processed in Hong Kong. These 16mm films were screened at outdoor venues. They were also transported by vans or by rail to rural Malaysian estates where there were no cinemas. The films would be shown in open air for a charge of 10 to 15 cents.

Open-air film screening in a rural estate


National Museum of Singapore - Film Gallery



My Ruby Tuesday friends


46 comments:

  1. i love movies. i love films. this is the best entertainment man has ever invented --- not the karaoke! hahaha!

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  2. ecl,
    I know none of the filmstars. I'm still young mah! :P

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  3. Remember watching movies of the famous Shaw Bros Production in cinemas in the 60's. Movie star like Lin Dai, Fung Bo Bo and Lin Po were popular.

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  4. I'd know them if the names were read out.

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  5. jaejae,
    I love movies too! The karaoke is a great de-stressor... for me. hehe....

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  6. Kok,
    *piak piak* Are you implying I'm old? grrr....
    I don't know many of them too.

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  7. Sweet Jasmine,
    Whoa! Finally someone who has watched some of the movies in the golden era!

    Jas, can you tell us more?

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  8. Capt Picard,
    Should I list them down? hmmmm.... not many readers would know them.

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  9. Hi Ms. ECL, I am sorry to say but I haven't seen any of the asian actresses that I know of.
    Happy Ruby Red Tu,
    ..
    BTW, there weren't any candles for my Elmo birthday cake.
    ..

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  10. Jim,
    I don't know many of the Asian actresses too.

    It's your birthday? awww... Happy Birthday Jim!
    *hugs*

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  11. Drive-In movies are fun as well. Will be good if they revive drive-in movies. It'll definitely bring back memories :)

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  12. napaboaniya,
    I have never been to a drive-in movie. :(

    Shall we organise one? I'll get a lorry. hehe....

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  13. Shawbrothers was BIG during those days. Now they have them digital remake selling as VCD at many stores now. It kinda inspire the making of "Kill Bill" too.

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  14. Come and get it and I hope you like it!!

    http://shinade.blogspot.com/2008/10/morning-glories-vines-that-tie.html

    Big Hugs:-)

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  15. I love movies! I can't imagine life if there isn't one! :D haha Nice post, ECL!~

    Re: Peanut. Who knows you can meet him up close someday;) It would be so cool! And I'd be trilled to meet you :D

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  16. Looks like I dunno anybody there but I do love quality films - comedy action and drama.

    I've never been to a drive in movie too but I am thinking of doing that once in a small village in Palawan, Philippines because no one there has been to the cinema so guess I'll just bring it to them one day as fiesta gift maybe.

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  17. ecl,
    Nolah, I know you're almost the same age as me. Where got old?? kakakakaka!

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  18. A lot of Malay films were made in Singapore. Studio Jalan Ampas is synonym with the old Malay films with actors like P Ramlee, Siput Sarawak, Nordin Ahmad coming to mind.

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  19. wah ECL, you also peng hiong...museum allow you to take picture there ah ? the last time i went in with a camera, the security nearly drive me out.

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  20. wah ECL, you also peng hiong...museum allow you to take picture there ah ? the last time i went in with a camera, the security nearly drive me out.

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  21. ECL, I'm always learning from you! That last shot of outdoor view of film is the way we watched film at a hotel in the mountains way back! :) Happy Ruby Tuesday! :)

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  22. Very educative posts, even for Ruby Tuesday!! great!

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  23. These are nice. I don't know a single one of those Asian stars. I guess I wasn't watching enough movies.

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  24. Your last photo reminded me of growing up in Australia, when it was a real treat to visit the open air cinema in the little country town where we spent our summers. We would bring blankets and pillows and settle down in canvas deck chairs. There's nothing like watching a film under the stars.

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  25. Wah so nolstagic.. i just had Abba on my blog and now you are showing this here.. wowee.. down memory lane indeed :)

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  26. Very cool! I love those old movies. They were the best!

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  27. I don't know any of the stars...hardly.... Anyway, the National Museum of Singapore has some very nice exhibits. Actually, the exhibit I like best about the Film & Wayang gallery is the finger puppets. The simplicity of the film that were made in the 50s and 60s are also worthy of a good look too, even though I am personally not someone who likes to sit down to watch a movie. I prefer to read....and go at my pace.

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  28. I always learn something new and interesting when I visit you. Lovely reds... and that black and white shot is wonderful too.

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  29. LEon,
    Shaw Brothers was big those days. My Dad still remembers those days because he was a cinema usher! I didn't know he was an avid movie-goer. :P

    Hey I can't comment on your posts! I've been trying to do it for the past 2 weeks. Can't even find your email, anyway my Hotmail is inaccessible now. :(

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  30. Shinade,
    Thank you for recommending my blog and the lovely awards. *hugs*

    Hope you get better, dear. Praying for you daily.

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  31. Yen,
    I love to watch movies... some made me cry, some made me laugh until tears flow. Some made me hold my breathe and I need to grab my seat tight. Some made me so scared that I needed hubby to be with me whenever I needed to go to the bathroom. haha.... they are such great entertainment!

    I would love to meet up with you one day. And hug lil Peanut! hehe...

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  32. Jade,
    I don't know many of them too. I'm not into old movies.

    It's great that you are thinking of bringing movies to the people. It would be interesting and a great threat for them.

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  33. lina,
    Oh yes. There were lots of Malay films produced in Singapore then. I watched a couple of P.Ramlee movies and I love them! I need to find time to watch more. :)

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  34. articulator,
    My son was stopped from taking photos in the past too.

    Now the museums allow photography!! But no flash allowed. It is a good move because there are so many undiscovered or lost treasures which I want to keep as memories of my visit.

    Going to the musuem is made more enjoyable these days, thanks to the hardworking and broad-minded staff in NHB!

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  35. theteach,
    Wow! Watching a movie in the open air and up in a mountain! I want to experience that.

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  36. Thank you Mar! I'll try not to preach too much. hehe...

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  37. Just Say These Words,
    ahhh... looks like you watched a lot of movies. It's not easy to get your hands on old movies these days and our local TV station is not showing them at all due to lack of interest from the younger audience. :(

    I don't know many of the Asian stars too.

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  38. Milly,
    Hey, that sounds fun! Watching a movie under the stars comfortably. Would like to do that one day. :)

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  39. LadyJava,
    Yeah! Welcome to the good old days! hehe...

    Whoa, Abba!!

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  40. lala,
    I need to get my hands on more old movies. I have yet to watch most of them, so I cannot comment much. :P

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  41. oceanskies,
    Yes, there is so much to see in the National Museum. I didn't have much time to go through all and the exhibits changed regularly too.

    Jaymes will be the better person to write about the museums in Singapore because he brings my foreign guests to visit the museums whenever they are in Singapore. :)

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  42. Raven,
    awww... thank you. Just trying my best to show the interesting and cool places in Singapore.

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  43. ECL, thanks for informing. I have email you on your gmail. pls check. :)

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  44. ECL!! If you are still having problems with your TC...email me .. i can give you the code and then you can just copy and paste..

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  45. nowadays, singers have many acoustic assistance and aids to help them, not wth the past singers who have really need some solid talent to be in the league.

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