OPERATION MALAYA

This film is held by the BFI (ID: 13125).

Synopsis

INTEREST. The Government's struggle against Communist terrorists in Malaya - several reconstructions of patrol work, jungle warfare etc.

r.1 General Sir Gerald Templer arrives at a regimental parade ground. He thanks the troops (about to be recalled for their work (186). Shots of a patrol of armoured cars ambushed by terrorists: the troops get out of the trucks and give chase to the Communists, killing two, and capturing one (405). A "reporter" arrives at Singapore (460). Shots of Singapore (474). He meets Malcolm MacDonald, the Commissioner-General in S.E. Asia (487). Further shots of Singapore (524). Newsreel items show that the terrorists were first organised in 1941 as the People's Anti-Japanese Army (562). The A-Bomb explosion (580). Japanese soldiers surrender their swords (595). Troops of the P.A.J.A. march in triumph (608). After unsuccessful attempts to force Communist rule on Malaya, they return to the jungle as the People's Anti-British Army (648). "Wanted-Posters" for some of the guerrillas (671). A copy of the 1948 Declaration of the State of Emergency (686).

r.2 Aerial shots of Malaya as the "reporter" flies to Kuala Lumpur (32); tin mine workings (57). Port Swettenham (68), fishermen bringing in their nets (109); paddy fields and rubber plantations (149) and jungle seen from the air (173); aerial shots of Kuala Lumpur (198). The "reporter" is driven to King's House, where Sir Gerald Templer lives (206). Shots of the High Commissioner's swearing-in (232), the Federal Legislative Council (258), his planning meetings against the terrorists (268), touring villages with Lady Templer (291). The "reporter" flies out to see military operations - aerial shots of the jungle (335). Reconstructed scenes of terrorists leaving their camp and attacking a village to get food (562).

r.3 The village headman encourages his people to ask for police protection (110). The police superintendent meets an informer who tells him the approximate location of the terrorist camp (250). A military patrol is sent out to find this camp: going through dense jungle and swampland (683).

r.4 A small village populated by squatters: these people co-operate with terrorists who go there and give them food and stolen weapons (187). The military patrol makes camp for the night (502); breaking camp in the morning and moving out (575). Information about another terrorist camp is received at the police headquarters (610). This time a Malayan police patrol is sent out through the jungle (665), past a logging camp and through the village that gave the information (814).

r.5 The squatter community is raided by the police and the people are searched for weapons (214). Shots of a Malayan Naval patrol boat taking a gun-runner's boat (373). The squatters are to be moved to a resettlement area. Shots of the new areas amenities: good houses, shops, market place, clinics, sports facilities and schools (710). The military patrol discovers an abandoned terrorist camp (813).

r.6 The patrol continues to search and then decides to rest for the night as it nears its objective (172). The manager of a rubber plantation leaves home in the early morning to inspect the factory and estate (272). Shots of crepe rubber manufacture in the factory (320). Tappers coming in with the first latex collection (355). Three terrorists enter the plantation (382). Shots of latex weighing (392). Terrorists hack at the rubber trees making them unfit for proper tapping (451). The estate manager leaves to inspect the plantation: the terrorists ambush and kill him and the guards, and take their weapons (666).

r.7 The Malayan police patrol finds their camp abandoned - they burn the huts and take away a baby abandoned by the Communists for lack of food (180). The military patrol reaches the terrorist forces and attack them. The Communists withdraw, leaving two dead and one captured. The patrol takes away the prisoner and the bodies (for identification) and destroys the camp (558). Terrorists attack a tin mine but are held off by the Home Guard forces (703).

r.8 A police patrol arrives and the Communists retreat. The military patrol brings in the bodies and the prisoner who is taken for interrogation. The bodies are identified by a number of terrorists who have given themselves up (278). The prisoner is questioned but will give no information and a court commits him for trial (473). Shots of the various forces in operation against the terrorists: Home Guard, Police, British Army, Malayan Navy, Royal Air Force (574).

r.9 Air Force planes patrol, drop supplies and the helicopters provide an air ambulance service (43). British military hospital (55). The "reporter" goes to the Malayan High Court (98). Here the captured terrorist is tried by a judge and two assessors, and found guilty (390). The "reporter" boards a plane (418) which takes off for England (445). Aerial shots of the jungle (474). Credits (546).

 

Titles

  • TERROR IN THE JUNGLE (Alternative)
  • OPERATION MALAYA
 

Technical Data

Year:
1953
Running Time:
77 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm Film
Colour:
Black/White
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
6010 ft
 

Production Credits

Director
MacDONALD, David
Producer
CRANE, Peter
Producer
CROYDON, John
Script
CROYDON, John
Script
MacDONALD, David
Assistant Director
MORRIS, Ernest
Commentary Writer
CROYDON, John
commentator
HUMPHREY, John
commentator
RAFFERTY, Chips
commentator
SLATER, John
commentator
VAUGHAN-THOMAS, Wynford
Dubbing
RIDER, Sidney
Dubbing
SMITH, Richard
Editor
HUNTER, Inman
Music Consultant
HOLLINGSWORTH, John
Photography
FAITHFULL, Geoffrey
Photography
GRAHAM, Arthur
Production Company
David Macdonald Productions
Production Supervisor
LYNDON-HAYNES, T.S.
Sound
COTTER, Terence
Sound
SANDERS, George
Sound Editor
HILTON, Ernest
Studio
Merton Park