MovieChat Forums > Krakatoa: East of Java (1969) Discussion > 'East' in the title explained

'East' in the title explained

posted 18 years ago by Deusvolt
23 replies | jump to latest

The makers of the film knew that Krakatoa was west of Java but they decided to use the word "east" anyway because they believed that would make it more exotic in the minds of the western audience for which it was made. So there is no case of disorientation here, pardon the pun. Try imagining: "Krakatoa, West of Java." But why did they not title the film simply "Krakatoa?" They just wanted to emphasize its orientalness. This was explained by the studio to movie reporters at the time and it appeared in a number of publications including in the Sunday edition of the Manila Times.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] OrchestraOnTheHalfShell 18 years ago

No wonder it didnt get off the ground - Krakatoa - Pacific island, is it?!?!? Someone clearly failed Geography at school.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] ragreen259 17 years ago

I'm thinking a better title could possibly be "It Was There A Minute Ago."

[–] TrevorAclea 16 years ago

Yordan got sidetracked with the Samuel Bronston Organisation in the late 50s and early 60s, and after that went spectacularly bust he took up where he left off with pictures like Battle of the Bulge and, at ABC, Custer of the West. This was part of Yordan's deal with ABC, although he's uncredited - presumably because at the time he was more actively involved with The Royal Hunt of the Sun in Spain. It's not altogether unusual for producers not to be credited until recently - Cecil B. De Mille didn't take a producing credit on The War of the Worlds and George Lucas didn't take a producing credit on Body Heat.

"Life flash before your eyes? Cup of tea, cup of tea, almost got a shag, cup of tea."

[–] Deusvolt 17 years ago

But Java is more famous among Westerners than Sumatra probably because of its diverse and quite liberal Hindu culture along with its sister province Bali. The rest of Indonesia is Muslim.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] pkirkaas 17 years ago

Java is overwhelmingly Muslim. Bali is the only Hindu remnant in Indonesia.

[–] Deusvolt 17 years ago

Thanks for the info. Nevertheless, I find that the Indonesians seem to be quite tolerant of other cultures and religions. I attended graduate school with an Indonesian Catholic priest and he told me he had no problem with Indonesian Muslims. Also Sukarno was a good friend of the Philippines and our statesmen and diplomats described him as very cosmopolitan and he insisted that the Hindu culture of Bali not be disturbed. But of course, all of this was some 20-30 years ago. I understand that fundamentalism is making inroads in Indonesia as elsewhere in the world.

[–] wilso127 17 years ago

I somehow missed Simon Winchester's excellent book on the 1883 cataclysm when it was published a decade or more ago, but found it in the local library last week. I've been fascinated with this subject since seeing an 'educational' film in the subject some 50 years ago. But what has mystified me since is the fact that there are motion picture clips of a Krakatoa eruption included in that film. This coverage must have been taken on some occasion in the early 20th Century, perhaps when the new "Anak Krakatoa" rose from the sea. Can anyone recall that film, and when it was 'taken'?

[–] CGMCC 16 years ago

That film is probably the 23 minute documentary called Krakatoa, made in 1933 by (fittingly) Joe Rock. It was in black & white and color, and won an Oscar for Best Short Subject! I think I saw this film when I was in school in the 1950's, but can barely remember it. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing it again.

What is also interesting is that Krakatoa has been erupting recently and as such is still a very active volcano.

The title of Krakatoa, East Of Java is wrong, and the reasoning explained earlier in this thread doesn't satisfy me for the error in geography. To me, Krakatoa, West Of Java or Krakatoa, Northwest of Java would sound just as good and be geographically correct as well.

[–] g-of-warks2 16 years ago

I remember this fim being shown on the tv a few years ago. It had been retitled "Volcano" because of the geographical inaccuracy in the original title (that is what the tv section in the paper said anyway). Everytime that it has been on since though it has gone back to its original title.

[–] Sumpmonster 16 years ago

What about Krakatoa North West by West 1/2 West of Java - got a real ring to it.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] McStallen 15 years ago

Why does that explanation not satisfy you? The movie is produced in the "west" by a "western" company for a mostly "western" audience. By stating "west of Java," the title implies a location that is closer to the "west" than Java and thus less exotic/mysterious. By using "east of Java," the producers try to give movie-goers the impression this will be a movie about an adventure in a very far off land that they know little or nothing about- builds the mystery, excitement, appeal etc. It's a stupid title, but that rationale behind it is really pretty simple.

[–] ClarkF1 15 years ago

It is East of Java.

You just have to go the long way round to get there.

ClarkF1

[–] romarub 15 years ago

The title is misleading and erroneous in the information it conveys - pure and simple - and there is simply no justifiable rationale for deliberately mis-stating the location of Krakatoa relative to Java. If the mis-statement of fact occurred unintentionally, that's one thing; to deliberately mislead the public, and for no purpose other than to convey a sense of the "exotic", is idiotic, at best. I know of no other movie title that deliberately includes mis-information, for the purpose of "effect", or for any other reason, for that matter. The writing/production staff should have been made to walk the plank!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] mel-pearce47 13 years ago

Given that the circumference of the Earth is approximately 26,000 miles, then Krakatoa is either 200(approx) miles to the west of Java or 25,800(approx) miles to the East. The title is therefore correct.

[–] mel-pearce47 13 years ago

[–] Deusvolt 13 years ago

mel-pearce:If I were to travel by air from the city of Jakarta on the island of Java to the city of Bandar Lampung in Sumatra island, it would be 340 miles. Since Krakatoa is roughly in between Java and Sumatra, the distance from Java to the volcano island would be in between 170 -200 miles. That is, if I would travel westward. I certainly would not tag along somebody who would say he is going to Krakatoa from Java by traveling eastward because in that case, he would be going around the world and then we would be discussing another movie starring David Niven and Cantinflas.

[–] icanihsanuddin 12 years ago

If the film makers do not know the krakatoa is in west java, they are stupid. If the film makers know the krakatoa is in west java, but still call it in east java, they are idiot!