Pontianak Film Seres: Sumpah Pontinanak

Subtitle: 
B.N. Rao, 1958
Activity Type: 
Film
Date: 
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 - 19:00
Event Status: 
As Scheduled
Location: 
Vimeo
Contact Email: 
asia@pitt.edu

Third in the series of schlocky films from the 50s. The first Pontianak film appeared in 1957 Singaporean Malay horror film directed by Indian film director B.N. Rao starring Maria Menado and M. Amin. Based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash hit premiered on 27 April 1957 and screened for almost three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels, Dendam Pontianak (Revenge of the Pontianak, 1957) and Sumpah Pontianak (Curse of the Pontianak, 1958). It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy and several movies of the same genre were also made in Malaysia.

UCIS Unit: 
Asian Studies Center
Other Pitt Sponsors: 
Film and Media Studies Program; SCREENSHOT: ASIA
Is Event Already in University Calendar?: 
No