🎬 Thai Movies 1937

Flight Lieutenant Chamrat Yiamphayom, an officer of the Siamese Air Force, is involved in an accident when his plane crashes into a forest in the country of San Kossar. Fortunately, he is rescued by Lillin, the daughter of a potter.

One day, while walking in the forest, Chamrat comes across a beautiful woman bathing in a stream. She claims to be a lady-in-waiting to the queen and invites him to the royal palace. In truth, she is the Queen of San Kossar herself.

At that time, San Kossar is in danger. A military regent has accepted a bribe from the country of Yurawi in exchange for leasing part of the nation—simply to obtain six hundred thousand coins to buy a pearl necklace for Mala, a famous stage performer. By chance, the royal secretary discovers the scheme and asks Chamrat for help. They devise a plan: newspapers will spread rumors that Chamrat is romantically involved with Mala to divert attention, while Lillin disguises herself as a dancer to distract the regent.

The plan works smoothly. When the regent sees Lillin, he is so captivated by her beauty that he momentarily forgets Mala. On the day the agreement is to be signed, the regent happens to read a newspaper reporting Mala’s supposed romance with Chamrat. Heartbroken, he loses interest in her and cancels the agreement.

With the mission accomplished and his plane repaired, Flight Lieutenant Chamrat respectfully bids farewell to the Queen of San Kossar and returns to Siam.

Release date: October 1, 1937

Screened at: Sala Chalerm Krung Theatre

Re-run: October 21, 1950 at Sala Chalerm Krung Theatre

Format: Black-and-white film with synchronized sound on 35 mm

Benja and Prakong are two sisters who lost their mother at a young age, while their father was murdered by bandits. Later, the elder sister, Prakong, becomes the wife of Mongkol, a violent gambling thug who frequently abuses her. Benja is forced to endure a miserable life under the same roof, as her crude brother-in-law constantly harasses and attempts to take advantage of her.

Fortunately, Luang Ranarongkarn, a police officer, leads a raid that shuts down Mongkol’s gambling den. As a result, Benja and Prakong must go out to work to support themselves.

One day, Benja comes across a newspaper advertisement seeking a young woman to serve as a model for doll sculpting. The job is offered by Sanae, the son of Luang Ranarongkarn, who has never experienced love and instead devotes himself to collecting dolls. He hires a sculptor named Naem to create the dolls. Benja applies for the position and is selected as the model.

However, as the deadline approaches, Naem accidentally breaks the doll. To buy time, Benja offers to disguise herself as the doll until a new one can be completed. When Sanae sees the “doll” delivered by Naem, he is deeply impressed by the craftsmanship—unaware that it is actually Benja in disguise.

At night, after everyone in Sanae’s household has gone to sleep, Benja quietly slips away to return home. Meanwhile, Mongkol, who has been imprisoned, harbors deep resentment toward Luang Ranarongkarn. Upon his release, he heads straight to the officer’s house, intending to take revenge.

By chance, Benja is just about to leave when she notices the intruder. She quickly alerts Sanae, and together they manage to subdue the attacker in time. It is then that Sanae finally learns the truth—that the “doll” he admired was actually Benja in disguise—just as the clock strikes midnight.

Release date: April 18, 1937

Screened at: Sala Chalerm Krung Theatre

Format: Black-and-white film with synchronized sound on 35 mm

In the rice fields of Phon Thong subdistrict in Lopburi Province, the family of Mr. Chote and Mrs. Perm are welcoming an honored guest from Bangkok. She is Madam Khae, a wealthy widow, who brings along her son, Prasert, to visit Mr. Chote, who helps manage her rice fields. On this occasion, Prasert meets Poon, Mr. Chote’s daughter. The friendship between the two children grows quickly, and before returning to Bangkok the next morning, Prasert takes a photograph of Poon as a keepsake.

Ten years later, Prasert has grown into a handsome young man. Madam Khae, now much older, asks him to go and look after the rice fields again while taking the opportunity to visit Mr. Chote’s family. Though reluctant, Prasert follows his mother’s request, accompanied by his loyal servant Piak. Pensri, Madam Khae’s beloved niece and Prasert’s fiancée, insists on going with him, but Prasert makes excuses because he does not want to take her along.

Upon arriving in Phon Thong, Prasert sees a young woman planting rice and immediately recognizes her as Poon, the girl he met in childhood. The two gaze at each other without looking away until Piak nudges his master back to reality.

During his stay, Prasert often wanders about looking for scenic views to photograph. One day, he sees a pair of thugs attempting to assault Poon. Prasert and Piak rush in to fight them, and all four tumble into a pond. In the end, the attackers—Kaen and Luea—are defeated and flee for their lives. Before returning, Prasert asks Poon’s parents for permission to take her to Bangkok, promising to care for her as dearly as his own life.

Poon is astonished by Prasert’s grand house in Bangkok. Madam Khae warmly welcomes her, except for Pensri, who shows jealousy at Prasert’s obvious affection for Poon. Troubled, Madam Khae asks her son to send Poon back to Phon Thong for the sake of her niece, but Prasert refuses. Instead, he rents a house for Poon to live in permanently. Living alone together, love blossoms between the two.

Prasert provides Poon with fine clothes and a luxurious life in Bangkok, unaware that this causes her mother great distress out of worry, eventually leading to illness. Mr. Chote travels to bring Poon home, but Madam Khae lies, saying Prasert has already taken her back to Phon Thong. Jaew, a household servant, reveals the truth—that Prasert has secretly rented a house for Poon. Mr. Chote immediately takes Poon back home without delay. Shortly after, Prasert returns to the rented house and is heartbroken when Piak tells him what happened.

Not long after Poon’s return, Mrs. Perm passes away. Worse still, Mr. Chote is blinded after being attacked by Kaen and Luea. Poon is left to raise alone the child she has with Prasert. When a matchmaker named Nang Ploy persistently urges her to find a new husband, Poon reluctantly agrees just to end the nagging. However, as she passes a lotus pond, she recalls her mother’s teachings—to live virtuously like a beautiful flower. She turns back home in tears, regretting that she did not follow her mother’s advice.

Moved by pity, Nai Pluem travels to Bangkok to find Prasert, only to discover that Prasert is in the midst of his wedding ceremony.

Release date: March 10, 1937

Screened at: Sala Chalermburi Theatre

Source: Phapphayon Sarasarn Magazine, February 1937

Chamrat and Lawan, a married couple, move into a new house and hire a servant named Khun Eu, formerly known as Nom. However, as soon as they settle in, Chamrat’s old “illness”—his fear of his wife—quickly returns. Even a small remark from Lawan, such as insisting her portrait be placed above others on the wall, is enough to unsettle him.

One afternoon, Nom brings Chamrat a newspaper featuring a photo of a young woman fishing and encourages him to go see her in person. Amused, Chamrat devises a plan to deceive Lawan, pretending he is overworked and suffering from a nervous condition. He claims a doctor has advised him to go fishing as therapy. Unaware of his scheme, Lawan agrees.

At the pond mentioned in the newspaper, Chamrat meets the girl he had hoped to find. He seizes the opportunity to introduce himself and receives her name card—her name is Kamon. In the following days, Chamrat repeatedly lies to Lawan so he can visit Kamon at her home. There, he meets her father, Kim Mong, a wealthy mill owner who once tried to insure his rice mill and secretly planned to burn it down to claim the insurance money.

Meanwhile, Lawan grows increasingly fed up with her husband’s flirtatious behavior. She even threatens to take him to a doctor for nerve surgery, but Chamrat remains undeterred. He later lies again, claiming he must travel to Chiang Mai for work, when in fact he goes to stay with his close friend Thong-on.

Taking advantage of his absence, Lawan visits Kim Mong’s house herself, declares that she is Chamrat’s wife, and warns Kamon to stay away from him. When Chamrat later tries to visit Kamon, he is chased away by Kim Mong for deceiving his daughter despite already being married.

Ashamed, Chamrat returns home, only to be interrogated by Lawan, who quickly discovers he never went to Chiang Mai. He ends up being beaten and bedridden, bringing his attempts to deceive his wife to a humiliating end.

Release date: February 8, 1937

Screened at: Sala Chalerm Krung Theatre

Format: Black-and-white 35 mm film with synchronized sound