Bang Rajan

In 1765, Burmese forces invaded Siam, attacking many villages. Two young men from Wiset Chai Chan, Phon and Saen, rode on horseback to warn the village headman of Si Bua Thong about a plot by Thit Dok of Ban Klap and Thongkaew of Ban Pho Thale, who had allied themselves with the Burmese in order to loot property. Although the plan was successfully foiled, the headman of Si Bua Thong was killed in the conflict, leaving the villagers in deep grief.
With their leader gone, Than—skilled in warfare—proposed that they join forces with the Bang Rachan camp. The villagers of Si Bua Thong then appointed him as their commander.
At that time, the formidable Burmese general Ne Myo Thihapate repeatedly attacked Bang Rachan but failed to defeat it. Growing anxious that the villagers might gather even more strength, he assigned Sukki, a Burmese officer who had lived in Siam for many years, to lead a new assault.
Than was still seriously wounded from a previous battle. Nai Chan (known as “Nuad Khiao”), Khun San, Phan Rueang, and others agreed to send Phon on horseback to Ayutthaya to request cannons. However, high-ranking officials refused to help. Only Phraya Rattana sympathized with the Bang Rachan villagers and followed Phon back to assist in casting cannons, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Sukki then launched a full-scale attack on Bang Rachan and managed to break through the camp gates. The villagers—both men and women—fought bravely together, but in the end, they were overwhelmed and defeated by the Burmese forces.
Release date: July 1, 1939
Screened at: Sala Chalerm Krung Theatre
Re-run: July 28, 1950 at Sala Chalermburi Theatre
Format: Black-and-white 35 mm film with synchronized sound