Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness

Chang is a revelation. Not only is the film the obvious prototype for Cooper and Schoedsack's later masterpiece King Kong, but it is a terrifically entertaining film in its own right. In fact, Merian C. Cooper said in 1966 that Chang was "still the best picture I ever made."

Shot entirely in Siam, the film tells the story of a farmer and his family who have settled a small patch of land on the edge of the jungle. Their existence is a constant struggle against the many wild animals around them -- bears, tigers, leopards, and even...changs! The climactic elephant stampede is still one of the most exciting scenes in cinema history.

When the filmed opened in 1927, reviewers applauded and audiences flocked to theaters to learn what a "chang" was -- making it one of the box office hits of the year.

A new score for Chang was written by Bangkok composer Bruce Gaston and performed by Fong Naam, Thailand's world-famous orchestra of traditional music.