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Native Industries of Java
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Bertram Bracken?
Cast: (unknown)
G. Méliès production; distributed by [?] The Vitagraph Company of America through? The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 5 June 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot on-location in Java.
Documentary.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? This interesting picture of the principal industries which keep the Javanese busy, opens with the designing of Sarongs. The Sarong is the dress, or robe, that the men and women alike drape around their bodies in a characteristic fashion. Next is the making of Krees, the native weapon. The Krees is on the order of a dagger, but somewhat longer, and every native, as a rule, has at least one in his possession. They are in most cases ornamental, and we see the interesting operation of forging, filing, stamping and engraving them. The fancy brass work industry comes next, with its skilled artisans, reared from boyhood in the one trade, and sometimes passing it down from generation to generation. All stages of the work are shown, from moulding to the finished article for sale. Last, and perhaps the most interesting to Americans, is the pottery industry. Java pottery is known throughout the world, but to see it rounded into shape from the getting of clay at the bottom of the lake to the baking of it in kilns, is a sight which few have witnessed.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 21 June 1913, page ?] There is freshness of interest as well as value in this offering. It shows us how the queer, elaborately decorated dresses of Java are designed; how that strange flame-like sword, the kriss, is forged and engraved, and how Javanese pottery and brass work is manufactured. Most of this stuff is new, though there is no difference in the way pots are molded on the wheel, whether in Babylon or Thebes or Bangkok. The photography is clear enough to be acceptable.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Java
Listing updated: 4 June 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 234 : Website-IMDb.
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