Kedok Ketawa (The Laughing Mask) is a 1940 action film from the Dutch East Indies, in present-day Indonesia. After a young couple falls in love, the title character, a vigilante, helps them fight off criminals who have been sent to kidnap the woman by a rich man who wants her as his wife. It was the first film of Union Films, one of four new production houses established after the country's ailing film industry was revived by the success of Albert Balink's Terang Boelan. Kedok Ketawa was directed by Jo An Djan and stars Basoeki Resobowo, Fatimah, Oedjang (as the vigilante), S Poniman and Eddy Kock. Featuring fighting, comedy, and singing, and advertised as an "Indonesian cocktail of violent actions ... and sweet romance", the film received positive reviews, particularly for its cinematography. Following the success of the film, Union produced another six before being shut down in early 1942 during the Japanese occupation. Screened until at least August 1944, the film may be lost.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedok_Ketawa

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

660 BC:

According to tradition, Emperor Jimmu (ukiyo-e depiction pictured) founded Japan and established his capital in Yamato. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu

1823:

About 100 boys were killed in a human crush at the Convent of the Minori Osservanti on the last day of the Maltese Carnival in Valletta, Malta. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_tragedy_of_1823

1919:

Friedrich Ebert was elected the first President of the German Weimar Republic by the Weimar National Assembly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Ebert

1938:

The BBC aired an adaptation of Karel Čapek's play R.U.R., the first science fiction television programme ever broadcast. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.R.

1968:

After two black employees were killed on the job, about 1,300 black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., began a strike that lasted over two months. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_sanitation_strike

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

zaikai: Collectively, the powerful and influential businesspeople and tycoons of Japan. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/zaikai

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify.   --Leó Szilárd https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Le%C3%B3_Szil%C3%A1rd