''Koeda Sembrani'' (

Perfected Spelling The Enhanced Spelling of the Indonesian Language ( id, Ejaan Bahasa Indonesia yang Disempurnakan, EYD) is the spelling system used for the Indonesian language. History The Enhanced Spelling of the Indonesian Language ( id, Ejaan Bahasa Indone ...

: ''Kuda Sembrani'') is a film from the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...

(now Indonesia) which began filming in 1942 and was completed sometime before 1943. Released by Tan's Film and directed by Joshua and Othniel Wong, it was the last film featuring the romantic partnership of

Roekiah Roekiah ( Perfected Spelling: Rukiah; 31 December 1917 – 2 September 1945), often credited as Miss Roekiah, was an Indonesian ''kroncong'' singer and film actress. The daughter of two stage performers, she began her career at the age of sev ...

and

Djoemala Ismail Djoemala (also credited Rd Djoemala; Perfected Spelling: Ismail Jumala; 1915/18 – 10 June 1992) was an Indonesian actor active in the 1940s. He was often cast alongside Roekiah as her romantic interest. Biography Djoemala was born in ...

Production

''Koeda Sembrani'' was directed by brothers Joshua and Othniel Wong and produced by Tan Koen Yauw of Tan's Film. The black-and-white production starred

(as Princess Shams-al-Nahar) and

; the two had been paired in romantic roles since ''

Sorga Ka Toedjoe ''Sorga Ka Toedjoe'' (; vernacular Malay for ''Seventh Heaven''; also advertised under the Dutch title ''In Den Zevenden Hemel'') is a 1940 film from the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) directed by Joshua and Othniel Wong for Tan' ...

'' in 1940. The film also featured Wolly Sutinah,

Kartolo Raden Mas Kartolo (before 1918 – 18 January 1949) was an Indonesian actor and songwriter. Born in Yogyakarta to a noble family, he entered the theatre and married the actress Roekiah around 1933. The two, living in Batavia (now Jakarta) acted in ...

, Husein, Ali, Rd Dadang Ismail. Production of ''Koeda Sembrani'' had begun by February 1942. Tan's promotional material stated that it had employed "hundreds, if not thousands" ("ratoesan, kalau boleh riboean") of cast members. The company included scenes such as Roekiah flying on an enchanted horse, as well as beautiful scenery. Part of the film was shot on an extravagant palace set which Tan's had constructed. The story for ''Koeda Sembrani'' was drawn from the '' One Thousand and One Arabian Nights''. It was one of several contemporary works adapted from ''Nights'', though all were taken from different stories. Other contemporary works with similar source material were Tan's Film's ''Aladin'', Populair's Film's ''

Moestika dari Djemar ''Moestika dari Djemar'' (Perfected Spelling: ''Mustika dari Djemar'') is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Multiple modern sources also use the incorrect spelling ''Moestika dari Djenar'',For instance and but contemporary so ...

'' (''Jewel of Jemar''), and Java Industrial Film's '' Ratna Moetoe Manikam''. Neither of Tan's works adapted from ''Nights'' were completed the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies began in 1942. Filming of ''Koeda Sembrani'' was completed sometime afterwards, before October 1943.

Release and legacy

''Koeda Sembrani'' was showing in theatres by 28 October 1943. The film marked the last on-stage collaboration between Djoemala and Roekiah. The Japanese occupation government had closed all but one film studio, including Tan's. Djoemala, by trade an entrepreneur, left acting soon afterwards. Roekiah appeared in a single film, the short

propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...

piece ''Ke Seberang'' (1944), before her death in 1945. JB Kristanto's ''Katalog Film Indonesia'' records a

35 mm 35 mm may refer to: * 135 film, a type of still photography format commonly referred to as 35 mm film * 35 mm movie film, a type of motion picture film stock * 35MM 35 mm may refer to: * 135 film, a type of still photography format ...

Production

Release and legacy

Explanatory notes

References

Works cited