Wikipedia:Today's featured article/January 2, 2014

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Rd Mochtar and Roekiah

Gagak Item (Indonesian for Black Raven) is a 1939 film from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) written by Saeroen and directed by Joshua and Othniel Wong for Tan's Film. Starring long-time screen couple Rd Mochtar and Roekiah (pictured), with another role held by Eddy T. Effendi, the black-and-white film followed a masked bandit known only as "Gagak Item". The film was shot in rural Bogor (then known by the Dutch name Buitenzorg). It featured the cast and crew from the 1937 hit Terang Boelan, who were hired by Tan's so that the company could better imitate the earlier film's success. Gagak Item was part of the recovery of a domestic film industry which had been severely affected by the Great Depression; in 1939 four domestic productions were released in the Indies. Recorded as a commercial success and receiving positive reviews for its kroncong music and the leading actress' "demure" performance, the film was last shown sometime after 1951, and is now thought to be likely lost. (Full article...)

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