Maria Menado

Acting

Maria Menado

Born February 2, 1932 · Manado, Indonesia (age 94)

Maria Menado (born Liesbet Dotulong; 2 February 1932), also known as Liesje Mandagi, is an Indonesian-born Malay actress, model, and producer. She was known for her contributions to Malaysian cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. At the height of her fame she was voted “Malaya’s Most Beautiful” by Times Magazine and the “Best Dressed Woman in South East Asia” by publisher United Press International. In a…

Known For

Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-JulangSultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-Julang · 1961
Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-Julang
1961
MovieHistoryDrama
Based on the royal and political events during the heyday of the Malacca Sultanate. A member of the Sultanate, Megat Datuk Seri Rama, successfully defeats a group of pirates, and rescues a local beautiful woman in the process. The king, Sultan Mahmud, was delighted with his victory for his kingdom and promotes Megat Datuk Seri Rama to Rear Admiral Datuk. This leads to resentment and jealousy from another member of the court, Bija Tun Ali, especially after Rear Admiral Megat Datuk Seri Rama marries the woman he rescued. Bija Tun Ali then leads a conspiracy against him which ultimately leads to tragedy and upheaval in the kingdom. Written by mahajanssen
LifeLife · 1951
Life
1951
Movie
In the Katong area, in eastern Singapore, lives Jaafar, a rich man, together with his wife Rubiah and her brother, the charming but badly-behaved Salim. One day, Salim visits his grandfather in Johor, where he meets a young and attractive girl, Salbiah. Salbiah's family is deeply in debt to a man, and unable to pay him back. The only solution is for Salbiah to marry that man. Salim, after sympathizing with Salbiah, promises to help raise the money. Ecstatic and thankful, Salbiah gives her chastity to Salim. Back in Singapore, Salim, after a long silence, writes to her that he in fact cannot help her and that he will not see her again. Heartbroken, Salbiah leaves her family and starts wandering through Singapore in search of the treacherous Salim.
Raja BersiongRaja Bersiong · 1963
Raja Bersiong
1963
MovieDramaThriller
Based on a Malay folklore, it tells the story of a King who carve the blood of men after his chef accidentally cut his finger and mixed the blood into the King's meal. The King was satisfied with the meal and promoted the cook of rank. The chef honestly tell the King that his blood got mixed up into his food due to chopping ingredients. From that moment he began to indulge with the taste of human blood and grew fangs; thus his own people soon become his next victims.
Dendam PontianakDendam Pontianak · 1957
Dendam Pontianak
10.01957
MovieHorror
After the success of Pontianak, Balakrishna Narayana Rao (B. N. Rao) directed and released a sequel to his horror film – Dendam Pontianak. It came out in the same year as Pontianak, and Menado reprised her role in this sequel.
Bunga TanjongBunga Tanjong · 1963
Bunga Tanjong
1963
Movie
Aminah and her step daughter Noraini embark on a journey to seek a better life and to find her long lost sister Siti
Son of the VampireSon of the Vampire · 1958
Son of the Vampire
5.51958
MovieHorror
"Anak Pontianak" aka "Son of Pontianak' in 1958 starring the Shaw studio's leading lady Hashimah Yon and its male heartthrob Jins Shamsuddin. This horror film also featured a host of supernatural beings,besides the Pontianak and her werewolf son there was also a Polong (in the film the creature was shown as a kind of Mr Hyde alter-ego of one of the characters) and a Hantu Ular (Snake Ghost).
Sumpah PontianakSumpah Pontianak · 1958
Sumpah Pontianak
8.01958
MovieHorrorMusic
The original "Pontianak" was made in 1957 directed by B.N. Rao and starred Maria Menado.The film was such a hit that in quick succession, two sequels were made "Dendam Pontianak" aka "Revenge of Pontianak" later in the same year (1957) and "Sumpah Pontianak" aka "The Curse of Pontianak") in 1958,both with Maria Menado."Dendam Pontianak" started the trend of introducing more than one supernatural being into the story,the other character being an old witch Nenek Kebayan(The Old Woman of the Forest)and by the time "Sumpah Pontianak" was made that had increased to four-female vampire Pontianak,an Orang Hutan(Wild Forest Man),a kind of bird-lizard creature and a Hantu Raya or "King Ghost"."Sumpah Pontianak" is an entertaining Malay horror movie with cheap special effects.The main female character Comel is infected by been infected with sumpah pontianak,the curse of the vampire and the villagers begin to die!
Mata HariMata Hari · 1959
Mata Hari
1959
MovieHistoryWar
'Mata Hari', the daughter of a kampong headman is captured by the Japanese. She witnesses the atrocities committed by the invaders, who tortured her father to death and round up innocent women to become prostitutes and mistresses for their commanders. Not wanting to cower to the enemy, Mata Hari decides to form and lead a guerilla force to fight the Japanese.

Filmography

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Sumpah PontianakSumpah Pontianak · 1958
Sumpah Pontianak
8.01958
MovieHorrorMusic
The original "Pontianak" was made in 1957 directed by B.N. Rao and starred Maria Menado.The film was such a hit that in quick succession, two sequels were made "Dendam Pontianak" aka "Revenge of Pontianak" later in the same year (1957) and "Sumpah Pontianak" aka "The Curse of Pontianak") in 1958,both with Maria Menado."Dendam Pontianak" started the trend of introducing more than one supernatural being into the story,the other character being an old witch Nenek Kebayan(The Old Woman of the Forest)and by the time "Sumpah Pontianak" was made that had increased to four-female vampire Pontianak,an Orang Hutan(Wild Forest Man),a kind of bird-lizard creature and a Hantu Raya or "King Ghost"."Sumpah Pontianak" is an entertaining Malay horror movie with cheap special effects.The main female character Comel is infected by been infected with sumpah pontianak,the curse of the vampire and the villagers begin to die!

Chomel

Victim of SlanderVictim of Slander · 1959
Victim of Slander
7.51959
MovieCrimeDrama
Husein is brought to trial after trying to commit suicide. He refuses to give an explanation until he is forced to. Then he begins his story. Husein enters university with help from his unmarried brother, Hasan, who dedicates his life for Husein and his sister Munah who has a heart ailment. But when Hasan meets Rahimah, Husein’s friend, Wahab, gets jealous as he considers her as his girlfriend. Wahab is very bitter about this and swears revenge. At Munah’s urging, Hasan marries Rahimah. Their happiness is short-lived since Wahab starts to woo Rahimah. After Husein punches Wahab, the latter starts spreading slander. He tells Hasan that Husein is sleeping with Rahimah. Jealousy and rage start to build up and Husein and the pregnant Rahimah are thrown out of the house.

Rahimah

Siti ZubaidahSiti Zubaidah · 1962
Siti Zubaidah
9.01962
MovieDramaHistory
Siti Zubaidah is based upon the 19th century poem 'Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina'. It centers on Siti Zubaidah, the wife of Sultan Zainal Abidin, who is left defenseless after her husband is taken hostage by a Chinese empress. She eventually allies herself with Princess Rukia of Yunnan, who had fled her own palace under threats of sexual assault. Taking matters into their own hands, they adopt male identities and lead a military conquest across China to rescue the Sultan. Directed by B. N. Rao and starring Maria Menado, the Cathay production borrowed from both of its niches at the time: the film language and costume styles of Malay cinema and Chinese wuxia films, resulting in an imagined reality fusing both visual cultures. At the core of the myriad garbs, armour, accessories and makeup donned by the characters, the tale chronicles the adoption of transformative identities to overcome adversity, enact justice and revenge.

Siti Zubaidah