LAND OF THE HORNBILL

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: COI 680).

Synopsis

Film showing Sarawak, the youngest colony of the British Commonwealth.

The film indicates that a hundred years ago Sarawak was a land of poor peasants and fishermen and that its first white Rajah (Sir James Brooke) arrived there in 1839. The hornbill, which is regarded as a war god. The art and tradition of the colony; the Dyaks, who number forty per cent of the population. The film then shows how they earn a living. It shows: farmers and smallholders continuing as their forefathers did; sago from the sago farms; oil output and refineries; the exporting of rubber; timber being sold; the spectacular recovery of the pepper industry; turtles and their eggs still keenly sought after. The film concludes by showing how the powers of the white Rajah are being transferred to a local council. The Governor in Council has the Rajah's former powers. Sarawak is divided for administrative purposes into five divisions, each in charge of a residence. Each division is split into districts where social services, education and health are closely watched. The final shots indicate that 'there is hope and peace here'.

 

Titles

  • LAND OF THE HORNBILL
 

Technical Data

Year:
1955
Running Time:
9 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
944 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
Malaya
director
Law, Ow Kheng
film editor
Weng, Wong Khye
narrative
Wood, Tom
photography
Shamsudin, Osman
producer
Hipkins, B H
Production company
Malayan Film Unit
sound recordist
Bhaskaran, V G
 

Countries

 

Production Organisations