Maria Menado
Birthday: 1932-02-02 Place of Birth: Manado, Indonesia
Synopsis
Maria Menado (born Liesbet Dotulong) is a Malay actress who had her most notable work in the 1950s and 1960s. In that period she would be referred to as “Malaya’s Most Beautiful” by Times Magazine and the “Best Dressed Woman in South East Asia” by publisher United Press International. She also sang and went on to direct films. She was born in Manado, and is a convert to Islam.
Acting
Raja Bersiong
Based on a Malay folklore, it tells the story of a King who carve the blood of men after his chef accidentally cut his finger and mixed the blood into the King's meal. The King was satisfied with the meal and promoted the cook of rank. The chef honestly tell the King that his blood got mixed up into his food due to chopping ingredients. From that moment he began to indulge with the taste of human blood and grew fangs; thus his own people soon become his next victims.
Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-Julang
Based on the royal and political events during the heyday of the Malacca Sultanate. A member of the Sultanate, Megat Datuk Seri Rama, successfully defeats a group of pirates, and rescues a local beautiful woman in the process. The king, Sultan Mahmud, was delighted with his victory for his kingdom and promotes Megat Datuk Seri Rama to Rear Admiral Datuk. This leads to resentment and jealousy from another member of the court, Bija Tun Ali, especially after Rear Admiral Megat Datuk Seri Rama marries the woman he rescued. Bija Tun Ali then leads a conspiracy against him which ultimately leads to tragedy and upheaval in the kingdom. Written by mahajanssen
Sumpah Pontianak
The original "Pontianak" was made in 1957 directed by B.N. Rao and starred Maria Menado.The film was such a hit that in quick succession, two sequels were made "Dendam Pontianak" aka "Revenge of Pontianak" later in the same year (1957) and "Sumpah Pontianak" aka "The Curse of Pontianak") in 1958,both with Maria Menado."Dendam Pontianak" started the trend of introducing more than one supernatural being into the story,the other character being an old witch Nenek Kebayan(The Old Woman of the Forest)and by the time "Sumpah Pontianak" was made that had increased to four-female vampire Pontianak,an Orang Hutan(Wild Forest Man),a kind of bird-lizard creature and a Hantu Raya or "King Ghost"."Sumpah Pontianak" is an entertaining Malay horror movie with cheap special effects.The main female character Comel is infected by been infected with sumpah pontianak,the curse of the vampire and the villagers begin to die!
