Thread by @whincupm

OTD 75 years ago, the killing of three plantation managers led to the declaration of a state of emergency in #Malaya.

Often overlooked now, the "#MalayanEmergency" was a major event and inspired a number of big screen features.

A thread on those often forgotten films...

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To depict the plight of planters defending their rubber crop from Communist rebels, Rank enlisted Jack Hawkins and Claudette Colbert for THE PLANTER'S WIFE (1952).

A morally unambiguous take on the conflict, the film was nonetheless popular with the public.

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WINDOM'S WAY (1957) was willing to explore moral ambiguity, as Peter Finch's titular doctor finds himself stuck between a belligerent British planter, the local police and rebels.

Far from perfect - it tries to do too much - but an illustration of a complex situation.

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Hollywood's look at Malaya takes that idea and runs with it as in, THE 7TH DAWN (1964), William Holden adds colonial angst into the mix.

There's plenty of stereotypes here, but a big budget and willingness to look at difficult aspects of the conflict add a lot.

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If it's nuance you're after, don't look for it in THE VIRGIN SOLDIERS (1969) or STAND UP, VIRGIN SOLDIERS (1977).

Coming of age comedies set against the backdrop of the conflict in Malaya, the films give a reminder of the lives and role of national servicemen.

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EAST OF ELEPHANT ROCK (1978) does add something new, using conflict in a "F E Colony" to comment on the decline of Empire.

The story could have been handled better, but it does give a greater insight into the emergency from a non-British perspective.

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Malaysian-made BUKIT KEPONG (1981) does that too, focusing on fighting between the Malayan National Liberation Army and Federation of Malaya Police in 1950.

Director, producer, and star, Jins Shamsuddin, based the film on facts gathered from research and interviews.

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The most recent depiction of the conflict, THE GARDEN OF THE EVENING MISTS (2019), uses the emergency as a backdrop to explore loss and grief.

Set against the impact of the Second World War in the region, it's a reminder that events do not happen in isolation.

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There are relatively few films on what became known as the Malayan Emergency - a complex conflict with plenty to explore, much of it uncomfortable.

Perhaps, for popular (western) cinema, it falls between the "good war" narrative of WW2 and the anguish of Vietnam.

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