Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness

Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness, also known simply as Chang (from Thai ช้าง, "elephant") is a 1927 American silent documentary film about a poor farmer in northern Nan Province (northern Thailand) and his daily struggle for survival in the jungle. The film was directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack.[1] It was released by Famous Players–Lasky, a division of Paramount Pictures.

"Chang (film)" redirects here. For the 1997 South Korean Film, see Downfall (1997 film).

Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness
Film poster
Directed by
Written byAchmed Abdullah
Produced by
  • Merian C. Cooper
  • Ernest B. Schoedsack
Starring
  • Kru
  • Chantui
  • Nah
CinematographyErnest B. Schoedsack
Edited byLouis R. Loeffler
Music byHugo Riesenfeld
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • April 29, 1927 (1927-04-29)
Running time
64 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages

Plot

Kru, the farmer depicted in the film, battles leopards, tigers, and even a herd of elephants, all of which pose a constant threat to his livelihood. As filmmakers, Cooper and Schoedsack attempted to capture real life with their cameras, though they often re-staged events that had not been captured adequately on film. The danger was real to all the people and animals involved. Tigers, leopards, and bears are slaughtered on camera,[2] while the film's climax shows Kru's house being demolished by a stampeding elephant.

Release

Home media

Chang was released for the first time on DVD by Image Entertainment on November 21, 2000.[3] Milestone Video would release the film on VHS and on DVD on January 8, 2002[4] and October 29, 2013, respectively.[3]

Reception

Chang was one of the "biggest movies of 1928."[2]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on eight reviews, with a weighted average rating of 7.6/10.[5]

Author and film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film three and a half of four stars, calling the film "[a] fascinating ethnographic documentary/narrative."[6] Mordaunt Hall from The New York Times praised the film, calling it "vivid and thrilling."[7]

Awards

Chang was nominated for the Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production at the first Academy Awards in 1929,[2] the only time that award was presented.

See also

References
  1. Hall, Mordaunt (April 30, 1927). "Chang A Drama of the Wilderness (1927)". The New York Times.
  2. Biggs, Andrew (July 21, 2019). "What's past is prologue". Bangkok Post. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  3. "Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness (1927) - Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack". Allmovie.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. "Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness Silent VHS". Amazon. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  5. "Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness (1927) Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Flixer. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  6. Leonard Maltin; Spencer Green; Rob Edelman (January 2010). Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide. Plume. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-452-29577-3.
  7. Hall, Mordaunt. "THE SCREEN". New York Times. Mordaunt Hall. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
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