Pre-1975 Films (Folklore, Mythology and Melodramas)
BIRDS OF PARADISE/ L'OISEAU DE PARADIS (1962)
Directors: Marcel Camus
Genre: Romance
Cast: Nop Nem, Keo Montha
Production: Lopert Pictures
The little-known French romance film launched the film careers of lead actors Nop Nem, Keo Montha and Saksisbong.
Read about the film here:
http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F07E5DD1E30E033A25756C2A96E9C946591D6CF
CHET MDAI (1963)
Directors: Yvon Hem
Genre: Melodrama
Cast: Nop Nem, Keo Montha, Saom V. Sodany
Production: Van Chan
Playback Singers: Pan Ron/Pen Ran
A mother's heart.
APSARA (1966)
Directors: King Norodom Sihanouk
Genre: Melodrama
Cast: Bopha Devi
Production:
Playback Singers:
SOVANNAHONG (1966)
Directors: Yvon Hem/Hem Yvon
Genre: Folklore/Legendary/Boran
Cast: Kong S. Eun, Saom V. Sodany
Production: Baksey Tansuo
Playback Singers: Im Song Seum, Huoy Meas
Sovannahong (en.Golden Phoenix) is about the drawn-out and complicated love story between Princess Keth Soriyong, the daughter of a giant king, and Sovannahong. The film delights in lavish decors, in court ceremonial and in ornamental set design that is remindful of the Bollywood or Tamil cinema of its period: Beautiful servants serve huge bowls of tropical fruits and pour wine into golden goblets, while muscle men in the background fan the court with palm leaves.
Read about the film here:
https://southeastasiancinema.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/yvon-hem-sovannahong-cambodia-1967-review/
VIL VINH NA BONG (1966)
Directors: Tea Lim Kun
Genre: Modern
Cast: Nop Nem, Dy Saveth
Production: Dara Rath
A man separates from his pregnant wife, to fulfill a duty, lending her into the hands of a vicious woman and his enraged mother.
Playback Singer: Sinn Sisamouth, Houy Meas
POV CHOOK SAW (1967)
Directors: Tea Lim Kun
Genre: Folklore
Cast: Chea Yuthon, Dy Saveth
Production: Dara Rath
A man separates from his wife in order to engage in warfare, oblivious of the fact that she is an angel.
Playback Singer: Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea
PREAH TINAVONG (1967)
Directors: Ly Va
Genre: Folklore/Legendary/Boran
Cast: Chea Yuton, Pov Tevi
Production: Hemapeap, Van Chan
Neang Peou (Pov Tevi), the most beautiful of the daughters of King Vibol Reach, is deceived by her jealous older sisters into pouring boiling water over her handsome husband Preah Tinavong. Preah Tinavong divorces Neang Peou and in order to regain his love she must disguise herself as his deaf-mute servant, watching him elope with his new wife in silence.
Read about the film here:
https://southeastasiancinema.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/ly-va-preah-thinavong-cambodia-1967/
PUTHISEN NEANG KONGREY (1967)
Directors: Ly Bun Yim
Genre: Folklore/Legendary/Boran
Cast: Kong Som Eun, Virak Dara
Production: Runteas Pich
Playback Singers: Sinn Sisamouth, Virak Dara
Puthisen Neang Kong Rey, also known as Twelve Sisters, is a 1967 Cambodian film based on the Twelve Sisters whose heroine is Lady Kong Rey, after whom a mountain range in Kampong Chhnang was named. The tale follows the romance between a giant (Kong Rey) and a man. The film has been re-released twice, in 2000 and 2002. Director Ly currently retains the full version.
TEP SODACHAN (1968)
Directors: Lai Nguon Heng
Genre: Folklore/Boran
Cast: Kong Som Eun, Vichara Dany
Production: Van Chan/Re-released by Rasmey Peanmeas
Tep Sodachan (Khmer: រឿងទិព្វសូដាច័ន្ទ) is a widely acclaimed Cambodian film released in 1968 by Van Chan Pheap Yun. It was directed by Lay Nguon Heng and stars Kong Sam Oeurn, Vichara Dany, and Saksi Sbong. It has become one of the more enduring creations from the nation's pre-communist era and copies are still sold today.
Playback Singers: Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea
THE SNAKE KING (1970)
Directors: Tea Lim Kun
Genre: Folklore
Cast: Chea Yuthon, Dy Saveth
Production: Dara Rath
Pos Keng Kong/The Snake Man is a 1970 Cambodian folklore horror film based on a Cambodian myth about a mystical snake. The film stars Dy Saveth and Chea Yuthon, whom became widely popular in Thailand after the film's release. The film was a huge commercial success in Cambodia and had been released at worldwide box offices, with twice as much success in neighboring Thailand, bringing back an extremely better result of gross revenue than from it's native country. The film was one of the biggest box-office hits in Southeast Asia at the time, remaining today as a Cambodian cult classic. As reported by Thailand’s Krung Thep Turakij newspaper, The Snake Man is a Khmer film that sacked 6 awards, including Best Director and Best Actress, at the 19th Asian Movie Awards in Singapore in 1972. Director Tea currently hones the original copy in full color.
ON EUY SREY ON (1972)
Directors: Ly Bun Yim
Genre: Folklore
Cast: Kong Som Eun, Virak Dara, Nop Nem
Production: Runteas Pich
On Euy Srey On/An Euil Srey An is a highly popular classic directed by Ly Bun Yim of Runteas Pich Pheap Yun. The film is a melodramatic love-triangle between former friends, Chea and Sou, over a woman named On. The film stars Kong Som Oeurn as Chea, Virak Dara as On, and Nop Nem as Sou.