The Rape of Malaya (Lopert Films) (1959)

Mat 2A The terror which befell a group of women caught by the Jap war machine in Malaya during the early days of the war, is graphically retold in ‘“‘The Rape or Malaya,’ ° Lopert Films import opening Sica 0a. co nee RAGES LEER TT ee eee AtsthO seo cco es re ae esate: VIRGINIA McKENNA PETER FINCH THE RAPE OF MALAYA From the novel by Neville Shute with Marie Lohr, Eileen Moore, Maureen Swanson, Renee Houston, Jean Anderson and Nora Nicholson Screenplay by W. P. LIPSCOMB and RICHARD MASON Produced by JOSEPH JANNI Directed by JACK LEE A Rank Organization presentation Distributed by LOPERT FILMS, Inc. 50 West 57th St. New York City Running time: 72 MIN. 2 CAST Virginia McKenna Peter Finch Takagi Tran Van Khe Jean Anderson Marie Lohr Jean Paget Joe Harman Japanese Sergeant Captain Sugaya Miss Horsefall Mrs. Dudley Frost Ellen Maureen Swanson Ebbey Renee Houston Mrs. Frith Nora Nicholson Mrs. Holland Eileen Moore Mr. Holland John Fabian e CREDITS Dir. of Photography Geoffrey Unsworth, B.S.C. Sidney Hayers Jack Hanbury Alex Vetchinsky Film Editor Production Mgr. Art Director Camera Jack Atcheler Sound A. Ludski, Harry Miller, Music Matyas Seiber Page 2 Malaya Rape Tale Retold By Film (Advance Reader) The personal tragedies which _ befell a number of European women who were not fast enough to get out of the way of the Japanese war machine as it thundered down the Malay Peninsula during the early days of the war, is graphically retold in “The Rape of Malaya,” a Lopert Films import which opens ............00 ER CITGME ccatcyassesctettartetent vasseseieies Theatre. This is the story as noted novelist Neville Shute wrote it from eye-witness accounts and from the lips of survivors, for his famous novel “A Town Like Alice,” upon which the motion picture is based. Readers of the novel will recall its candor as well as its tender love story and its touches of humor. To add to the candor, the picture was filmed almost in its entirety on the lush Malaya Peninsula where the story actually happened. Lovely Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch play the roles of the lovers with the support of a host of competent players including a number of Malayan natives. Joseph Janni produced and Jack Lee directed. “The Rape of Malaya” is the latest of a number of pictures brought to our shores by Lopert Films, the company which has dedicated itself to bringing the world’s finest to us. Shute Movie Here Neville Shute’s “A Town Like Alice” comes to the screen of the sets censeseee assesses AD eh inwomechiterrr cere next as the motion picture Rape of Malaya,” starring Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch. Directed by Jack Lee and produced by Joseph Janni, the picture is a Lopert Films import. Plight of Women Caught in Jap War Machine Dramatically Retold (Prepared Review) When World War II broke out in Asia there were a number of European women on the Malay Peninsula for many reasons ranging from tourist to the fact that they were married to men who happened to have business there. Despite rumblings and rumors of war, these women did not leave, hoping to flee only when and if war became a reality. Shute Novel of Malaya Terror Here as Film (Advance Reader) Neville Shute’s famous novel “A Town Like Alice,” which retells the horrors which befell a number of women who were caught up by the Japanese war machine in Malaya during the early days of the war, comes to the local screen as the motion picture “The Rape of Malaya,” WIC MOEN Sic essctesctecesetescectesesse+s at the Rep e occccicorsteseseesees Theatre. Written from first-hand witness and survivor accounts, the Shute novel was famous among other things for its candor in treating with the ancient oriental code of the conqueror which makes his captives his slaves in both body and mind. The motion picture is said to be faithful to the original in this respect. The roles of the lovers in the story are played by Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch and they are supported by a long list of players including many native Malayans, photographed right on their terrain for this picture. Joseph Janni produced “The Rape of Malaya” and it was directed by Jack Lee. There is an excellent musical score by Matyas Seiber. The picture was imported by Lopert Films, Inc., the company which has devoted itself to bringing the world’s best to American screens. Mat 1A Lovely Virginia McKenna plays the feminine lead in “‘The Rape of Malaya,” graphic tale of terror on the peninsula during the opening days of the war, coming coats Seated Catena HO GENE eevee. cokes Theatre. But when that happened, it was too late. The Japanese war machine rolled down the peninsula unchecked and almost unchallenged and these women became prisoners of war, subject to all the ancient claims which a ruthless and barbaric conqueror could place upon the conquered which means they became his slaves in body and in spirit. Exactly what befell one such handful of women, according to eye witness and survivor accounts, is dramatically and forcefully retold in the motion picture “The Rape of Malaya,” which opened at the.......... sae coeetns Theatre last night. This is not as the sensationalist or the propagandist would report it, but as world-famous novelist Neville Shute reported it in his famous novel “A Town Like Alice.” As such it rates high not only as gripping motion picture fare but as reportage as well. Readers of the novel will recall that all this story of horror and bestiality was built around a_ tender love story—that of Jean Paget and Joe Harman and, faithful to the book, the picture also retells it with lovely Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch in the prime roles. Much of the grim realities of war are relieved in this picture by photography of some of the most beautyful scenary you'll ever see—the lush rain forests of Malaya. This alone, perhaps, is worth the price of admission. “The Rape of Malaya” is strong, stirring, candid stuff and we heartily recommend it. Congratulations for an excellent job go to Jack Lee for his direction; Joseph Janni for his production, and Lopert Films, Inc., for bringing it to the local screen. STORY TREATMENT This is the story of a group of white women in Malaya who were caught up by the fast-moving Japanese war machine when that nation over-ran the peninsula. It is from Nevil Shute’s famous novel “A Town Like Alice,” and Shute is one of the major literary figures of our day. The picture pulls no punches. It is based on fact. The women were subjected to the cruelest bestialities by a foe who thought he was invincible and answerable to nobody. But it is also rich in humor, in understanding of the human spirit under duress —and there is a tender story. The way you sell this picture depends uvon your audiences. But remember, it carries the Lopert Films signature, which means it is a QUALITY picture from a QUALITY writer. And there is plenty of action—and ENTERTAINMENT—for EVERYBODY! love