King of the White Elephant
| The King of the White Elephant | |
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The 50th anniversary poster.
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| Directed by | Sunh Vasudhara |
| Produced by | Pridi Banomyong |
| Written by | Pridi Banomyong |
| Starring | Renu Kritayakon Suvat Nilsen |
| Music by | Phra Jenduriyang |
| Cinematography | Prasart Sukhum |
| Distributed by | Pridi Films Thai Film Foundation |
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Release date
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Running time
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100 minutes |
| Country | Thailand |
| Language | English |
The King of the White Elephant (Thai: พระเจ้าช้างเผือก or Prajao Changpeuk; RTGS: Phrachao Chang Phueak) is a 1940 Thai historical drama film.
Based on a novel and produced by Pridi Banomyong and released before Thailand's involvement in World War II, the English-language film carried a propaganda message from anti-war interests in Thailand, that Thailand should remain neutral, and only go to war to defend its sovereignty against foreign invaders. However, on December 8, 1941, Thailand was occupied by the Japanese and officially sided with the Axis powers during the war.
Set in the Ayutthaya Kingdom of the 16th century, King Chakra is going about his usual palace duties, granting audiences to his advisers, including his Lord Chamberlain, who is keen to see the king fulfill his royal duty of taking 366 wives, including, hopefully among them, the chamberlain's own daughter.
However, the threat of invasion by the King of Honsa (Thai: หงสาวดี Hongsawadi, Burmese: Hanthawaddy kingdom of Burma) has King Chakra pre-occupied. The peace-loving King Chakra at first wants to negotiate for peace, but is unsuccessful, and finds himself forced to go to war to stop the Honsa (Hanthawaddy) invasion.
Pridi Banomyong, at the time Minister of Finance in the government of Prime Minister Plaek Pibulsonggram, produced the film, which was based on an English-language novel he had written. The cast of the movie were lecturers and students from Thammasat University, which Pridi had founded.
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Wikipedia