Gelora (Turbulence, Malay 1970)
The late 60s must have been a lousy time for P. Ramlee. The introduction of the idiot box to Malaysia, the glamour of the Hindi films with unbelievably drop-dead suave actors and melodramatic stories and melodious songs to match in cinematographic colours, the closure of Jalan Ampas studio due primarily to labour disputes and age issues had its toll in garnering finances for his movie-making. On top of all that, he was the punching bag of ridicule for the local papers for his inability to replicate his previous successes in Singapore here. The banks were not forthcoming for loans either.
P. Ramlee expressed Utusan Melayu's dismay for constantly belittling his efforts, stories,s and direction. In a sudden twist of events, an editor from this journal, Osman Abadi, came forward to the legend with a script of this story. After some screenplay changes here and there,' Gelora' materialised. Of course 'Gelora' is the name of his favourite song. The background musical score had a heavy dose of the song in instrumental form in various beats - Indian, electric guitar etcetera.
Talking about music, P.Ramlee also to battle it out with the British invasion bands and the emerging pop yeh yeh for popularity. He had to employ 3 various musical score bands, including a modernized keroncong song sung by Ramlee himself.
This 1970 movie was nostalgic in that it showed certain popular landmark buildings around KL like the Parliament building and the clock tower, a 2-door Fiat 600 with the door hinge at the back, a beetle VW 1300 (BL8785) like the one my Standard 3 master had and a National Jetcycle refrigerator which was a familiar landscape in the more affluent years of our 1-bedroom flat of RRF!
The film starts with thoughts reminiscing a time before the blitz from the Iranian Revolution swept across the globe dividing the world into two- the believers and the nons. 9/11 just tipped the the scale even further! The credit starts with a dancing crowd gyrating and twisting to a live band in a house party. Girls are willing to dance with their new partner at the wave of the hand, dresses were modern (baby doll, mini skirt) and short at mid thigh level, hair was longer than the dresses and smiles were all around. English is used freely, I and you are used freely as pronouns in their Malay sentences. Wine and drinks tracks were available in houses. Peck in the cheek seem like an acceptable form of greeting in the film.
Ruby (Isma Rubee) is dancing happily with her boyfriend Rizman (Arman Yadi) only to be disturbed by her sore-loser ex-boyfriend Mustabab (Bob Mustafa) who wrecks the party by his mischief. Rizman, who has a stormy relationship with his step mother, decides to leave his father's home. Meanwhile, Rizman meets Ruby's mother, Rima Murni (the vivacious Sarimah), when he dines at her home. He is awed by Rima's youth and beauty.
When Rizman decides to leave KL for Singapore, he is coaxed by Rima who met him at the railway station accidentally, to stay at her home.
Rizman, a 21 year old jobless youth, is taught to drive by Rima. After obtaining his driving license, the jubilant Rizman rushes in to Rima's bedroom to thank his teacher. What he saw changed his life forever! Lying in a compromisingly provocative manner, he is lured by the temptress of a cougar to massage her sore back. When the heat built up, he was told to do the necessary and hence a 'Mrs Robinson' kind of illicit sexual liaison starts.
This jobless guy continues with his clandestine activity whilst Ruby works diligently as a secretary. Rima and Rizman are spotted at an afternoon matinee show by Mustabab (Ruby's old flame) who spills the beans to Ruby.
Meanwhile, Ruby's office has a new boss, Rozaiman (P Ramlee), a 40 something bachelor who fancies Ruby. Repeated attempts at wooing Ruby proved futile as she wishes to stayfaithful to Rizman.
After Mustabab's squealing, Ruby caught her boyfriend and her mother embraced on bed in an awkward manner. In rebound, she left her maternal house and moved in to her boss' house to stay as a mistress!
Rima and Rizman's sinful union based on lust lands on a rough patch. Rizman was not comfortable with her frequent late night early morning trips dressed to her nines to do her work which paid her bills. A small tiff ensues.
Here, Mustabab emerges again. He coaxes Rizman to go for a drive just to bring him to Rima's alleged workplace. Here, Rima is seen entertaining an old man in bed. Devastated, another confrontation happens back home and the truth is told.
Rima was a young unwed mother from Northern Sumatra who left her abode after the shame. Visibly pregnant poor and hungry, she was ushered into the care of a Tengku Zaman who took care of her so well that she decide to reciprocate her gratitude by staying as his mistress.
An ultimatum was given - "leave him or I will leave". Used to the good luxurious life, Rima hesitates and Rizman leaves.
On the rebound, drinking himself to the ground and walking around with his suitcase, Rizman is courted by Hayati, a colleague of Ruby. Pretty soon, they hold their engagement party.
Rima, on the other side, yearning for Rizman's love and longing to be legally married, decides to woo Rizman back to her life at the engagement party. A duel ensues. Rima stabs to death Rizman and Hayati with an decorative dagger displayed on the wall when she is called as a whore.
Rima then goes to see Ruby to say her peace before surrendering to the police. There, she discovers that the man that her daughter has been co-habitating all this while is indeed Rima's jilted boyfriend who absconded when he discovered that she was pregnant. In a fit of rage, she guns him down.
The movie ends with Rima calling 999 and waiting for the arrival of the police....
A full length heavy drama dealing with adult matters that seems to have crossed all boundaries of accepted norms. I am yet to see a film where father and daughter are lovers!
P. Ramlee here acts a supporting actor only whilst the main show is dominated by Sarimah and other new actors. Unfortunately, Arman Yadi (Rizman) and Isma Rubee (Ruby) need to polish on their acting skills. Bob Mustafa (Mustabab) is likeable as a villian. The famous Mak Enon with her toothless smile appears briefly in a gambling scene in Rizman's father's house and is memorable in her comedy sketch. At one time I wondered why the four main characters had their names starting with the letter R and sounded confusing.
Interestingly, a scene was shot at a A&W food outlet. Hey, I did not know that A&W was already around in 1970!
Amir Muhammad, the famous new movie-maker was searching high and low to lay his hands on a copy of the film to review in book but his effort proved to be in vain. He was probably trying to get a 35mm film copy; mine is a DVD-R copy, a good copy though!
Pictures from:
http://filemklasikmalaysia.blogspot.com/2012/02/gelora-1970-hanya-sesuai-untuk-orang.html
P. Ramlee expressed Utusan Melayu's dismay for constantly belittling his efforts, stories,s and direction. In a sudden twist of events, an editor from this journal, Osman Abadi, came forward to the legend with a script of this story. After some screenplay changes here and there,' Gelora' materialised. Of course 'Gelora' is the name of his favourite song. The background musical score had a heavy dose of the song in instrumental form in various beats - Indian, electric guitar etcetera.
Talking about music, P.Ramlee also to battle it out with the British invasion bands and the emerging pop yeh yeh for popularity. He had to employ 3 various musical score bands, including a modernized keroncong song sung by Ramlee himself.
This 1970 movie was nostalgic in that it showed certain popular landmark buildings around KL like the Parliament building and the clock tower, a 2-door Fiat 600 with the door hinge at the back, a beetle VW 1300 (BL8785) like the one my Standard 3 master had and a National Jetcycle refrigerator which was a familiar landscape in the more affluent years of our 1-bedroom flat of RRF!
 |
| Rima & Rizman |
Ruby (Isma Rubee) is dancing happily with her boyfriend Rizman (Arman Yadi) only to be disturbed by her sore-loser ex-boyfriend Mustabab (Bob Mustafa) who wrecks the party by his mischief. Rizman, who has a stormy relationship with his step mother, decides to leave his father's home. Meanwhile, Rizman meets Ruby's mother, Rima Murni (the vivacious Sarimah), when he dines at her home. He is awed by Rima's youth and beauty.
When Rizman decides to leave KL for Singapore, he is coaxed by Rima who met him at the railway station accidentally, to stay at her home.
Rizman, a 21 year old jobless youth, is taught to drive by Rima. After obtaining his driving license, the jubilant Rizman rushes in to Rima's bedroom to thank his teacher. What he saw changed his life forever! Lying in a compromisingly provocative manner, he is lured by the temptress of a cougar to massage her sore back. When the heat built up, he was told to do the necessary and hence a 'Mrs Robinson' kind of illicit sexual liaison starts.
 |
| Raziman & Ruby |
Meanwhile, Ruby's office has a new boss, Rozaiman (P Ramlee), a 40 something bachelor who fancies Ruby. Repeated attempts at wooing Ruby proved futile as she wishes to stayfaithful to Rizman.
After Mustabab's squealing, Ruby caught her boyfriend and her mother embraced on bed in an awkward manner. In rebound, she left her maternal house and moved in to her boss' house to stay as a mistress!
Rima and Rizman's sinful union based on lust lands on a rough patch. Rizman was not comfortable with her frequent late night early morning trips dressed to her nines to do her work which paid her bills. A small tiff ensues.
Here, Mustabab emerges again. He coaxes Rizman to go for a drive just to bring him to Rima's alleged workplace. Here, Rima is seen entertaining an old man in bed. Devastated, another confrontation happens back home and the truth is told.
 |
| Tengku Zaman & Rima |
An ultimatum was given - "leave him or I will leave". Used to the good luxurious life, Rima hesitates and Rizman leaves.
On the rebound, drinking himself to the ground and walking around with his suitcase, Rizman is courted by Hayati, a colleague of Ruby. Pretty soon, they hold their engagement party.
 |
| Haryati & Rizman |
Rima then goes to see Ruby to say her peace before surrendering to the police. There, she discovers that the man that her daughter has been co-habitating all this while is indeed Rima's jilted boyfriend who absconded when he discovered that she was pregnant. In a fit of rage, she guns him down.
The movie ends with Rima calling 999 and waiting for the arrival of the police....
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| Mak Enon |
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| Mustabab (with hat) |
Interestingly, a scene was shot at a A&W food outlet. Hey, I did not know that A&W was already around in 1970!
Amir Muhammad, the famous new movie-maker was searching high and low to lay his hands on a copy of the film to review in book but his effort proved to be in vain. He was probably trying to get a 35mm film copy; mine is a DVD-R copy, a good copy though!
Gelora -P. Ramlee and Saloma; Seniman Bujang Lapok (1961)
http://filemklasikmalaysia.blogspot.com/2012/02/gelora-1970-hanya-sesuai-untuk-orang.html
Those were the days where we really look forward for P. Ramlee's movie.
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