Gagak Item (Indonesian for Black Raven) is a 1939 film from the Dutch
East Indies (now Indonesia) written by Saeroen and directed by Joshua
and Othniel Wong for Tan's Film. Starring long-time screen couple Rd
Mochtar and Roekiah (pictured), with another role held by Eddy T.
Effendi, the black-and-white film followed a masked bandit known only as
"Gagak Item". The film was shot in rural Bogor (then known by the Dutch
name Buitenzorg). It featured the cast and crew from the 1937 hit Terang
Boelan, who were hired by Tan's so that the company could better imitate
the earlier film's success. Gagak Item was part of the recovery of a
domestic film industry which had been severely affected by the Great
Depression; in 1939 four domestic productions were released in the
Indies. Recorded as a commercial success and receiving positive reviews
for its kroncong music and the leading actress' "demure" performance,
the film was last shown sometime after 1951, and is now thought to be
likely lost.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagak_Item>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1777:
American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command
of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the
Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Assunpink_Creek>
1941:
Second World War: Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, was
severely damaged by German bombing during the Cardiff Blitz.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llandaff_Cathedral>
1963:
Vietnam War: The Viet Cong won its first major victory in the
Battle of Ap Bac.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ap_Bac>
1967:
Former actor Ronald Reagan began his career in government when
he was sworn in as the 33rd Governor of California.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan>
1976:
The Gale of January 1976 began, which resulted in coastal
flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, leading to at least 82
deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_of_January_1976>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
Silent Sam:
(informal) A person who seldom or never speaks; a taciturn or
unresponsive individual.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Silent_Sam>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
 There are no happy endings in history, only crisis points
that pass.
--Isaac Asimov
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov>