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SINGAPORE - It was 1978; Peter Bogdanovich, the acclaimed director of "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon" was resorting to stealth and deception to film his latest movie about a good-hearted pimp and his expatriate life of vice set against a background of Asian triads and prostitutes during the Vietnam War.
Adapted from Paul Theroux's book, which was supposedly banned (but in reality wasn't), Bogdanovich made up a far more innocuous script than the actual one he was shooting, retitling it "Jack Of Hearts" in order to get permission to film on this exotic location half a world away from Hollywood.
Of course, the truth came out after filming wrapped, the government was livid about what it felt was a seedy libertine portrayal of their country, and the film was subsequently banned for three decades. Until now.
Bogdanovich's cult movie "Saint Jack" will now be screened as part of the National Museum Cinematheque's Once Upon A Time In The Orient programme this Thursday and Friday.
And to think that all this happened right here all those years ago. Who knew Singapore was this exciting?
"It would have been easier if everyone involved knew and I would have rather made it that way, but it didn't work out that way," the 70-year-old director told TODAY over the phone from Hollywood.
"My only regret is that it seemed as though we fooled the people of Singapore by pretending to make another film and I am sorry that that was the way it came out. We had no choice but to do it that way because they hated the book in Singapore then.
"But I think it was probably misunderstood," he added. "Because the picture was ultimately about being highly critical of the United States and the callous way the Vietnam War was approached by the Americans. It's not really about Singapore, it was just set in Singapore. And there was no where else in the world we could have shot 'Saint Jack'."
The only American film ever to be shot entirely on location here, it's interesting to see how Bogdanovich and cinematographer Robby Muller managed to preserve glimpses of our colourful and intricate past on celluloid forever.
"Every place that we've shot has been torn down, hasn't it?" he sighed. "But I think it's great that the ban has been lifted. The people of Singapore have the right to see the film. It's a part of Singapore that doesn't really exist anymore and it's part of a history that needs to be told. I think it's very forward looking of your government."
Produced by B-Movie king Roger Corman and Playboy's Hugh Hefner, this infamous film cost only about US$1 million (S$1.39 million) to make. "This is one of my favourite films," the former film critic-turned-director revealed. "I'm very proud of what we did and it's great to have gotten such wonderful reaction. Even directors as different as Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson both like the film."
For the man who has not been back to the Lion City since, his best memory of his six months filming here was of the people.
"Everyone was really wonderful to work with. All the Asian people in the picture who lived in Singapore had never acted before, and they were all getting to be so good at it," he shared. "We had a largely Asian crew, all with key roles and they were also very good. It was such an enjoyable and delightful experience. I learned a lot about tolerance and the ignorance of racism."
His worst memory? The heat. "It was very hot! I got used to it eventually but it was really like walking into a wall every morning!"
The celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the film's commercial release include two special bus tours revisiting the various locations used in the film conducted by Tony Yeow, "Saint Jack's" unit manager, and Ben Slater, the author of "Kinda Hot: The Making Of Saint Jack In Singapore".
But will Bogdanovich return to our little red dot to film again?
"You never know. I always say, never say never. Maybe you'll see me filming right round the corner one day," he quipped.
Saint Jack will be screening at the National Museum's Gallery Theatre Thursday 7.30pm and Friday 1pm. Tickets available at Sistic.Jack of Hearts Mystery Tour will be on Friday after the screening at 3pm as well as on Saturday 10am.Meeting point: Bus Bay, Level 2, Tickets available at Sistic.
- TODAY/ar
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