MIDNITE HOUR - 01 September 2025

Part 4

In our fourth iteration, Bangkok Eyes take another nostalgic look at Bangkok's historic cinema scene. Few of Bangkok's old-timer expats will remember these grand old Bangkok theaters and / or the films they were offering. On the other hand, a number of well known films starring film icons of the past did make it to Thailand in the 1960's. (It is just as likely an even greater number of films, actors and actresses will be among those historical curiosities no one remembers, remaining only as footnotes in the dustbin of entertainment history...)

The Long Duel was an "adventure" film set in India starring Yul Brynner and Trevor Howard. Produced by Rank (Britain) in 1967. Receiving 'modest' reviews, it was considered by many to be a "Western" transplanted to India.

The Longest Hundred Miles An NBC made-for-Television movie (1967) was a WWII-era movie made in the Philippines. Due to its popularity, it was then released to theaters.

The Fighting Prince of Donegal was based on the book, Red Hugh: Prince of Donegal (by Robert T. Reilly), which was based (loosely) on the real-life exploits of the 16th-century Irish prince Hugh Roe "Red Hugh" O'Donnell. A story of the Irish fight for independence in the mid 1500s. Walt Disney, 1966.

Herculese Against Rome (Ercole Contro Roma - 1964) an Italian "Sword & Sandal" film of Roman intrigue in the days of the Emperors. Directed and co-written by Piero Pierotti.

The Enemy Below (20th Century Fox, 1957) was a WWII film of a US Navy ship's battle with a German submarine. Based on the novel of the same name. The film won an Oscar (1958) for 'Best Effects, Special Effects'.

Guns for San Sebastian (CIPRA, Producciones Enr�quez, MGM -1968) was a 'French Western' based on the 1962 novel, A Wall for San Sebastian. It was filmed entirely in Mexico. The "big guns" were Charles Bronson and Anthony Quinn.

Danger: Diabolik (Paramount, Dino de Laurentis - 1968) was an action-crime-humor film directed by Mario Bava, and was taken from the comic series Diabolik (Italian).

Days of Vengeance (French/Italian production - 1967) was actually called "Long Days of Vengeance" but the name was shortened for Thai viewing. (Renaming films in Thailand the '60s and '70s was not unusual.) A typical Spaghetti Western dubbed in English.

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

This month Midnite Hour continues to review Bangkok's Nightlife Scene offering live entertainment, both foreign and local, as found in the bigger hotels, expat Night Entertainment Areas, and other Venues within the City.

The Ramayana, (at the Rama Hotel, Silom) was publishing the same ad the prior month (?) One of two popular Nitespots at that hotel. The other, the Tropicana.

April 1969

The Cafe de Paris 'won the battle' of the Big Three Night Entertainment Venues in Bangkok during the '60s - '70s - as far as bringing in the big names. (The other two - the Tropicana and the Sani Chateau). This was a return engagement for the ever-popular Lionel Hampton (first gig - March 1966).

April 1969

The Gaysorn Coffee House opened in, as you might have guessed, the Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area. Open 24 hours, they were poised to take over some of the freelancer scene from the Thai Yonok (just across the street). However that did not eventuate, as the Thai Yonok had been the entrenched freelancer go-to for a number of years, to include when it previously was called the Dew Drop.

April 1969

(From the Bernard Trink archives)

The Bernard Trink 'collection' appearing regularly in this column, is a compilation of Trink's Nightlife pics and writings that did not appear in his Nite Owl column. Above, the Club 99 (Silom near Patpong) and the Copacabana on Sukhumvit Road were closely linked, and when the Club 99 eventually closed - much of the management and staff moved over to the Copa. The Copa, through a number of name-changes, became Check Inn 99.

April 1969

The then-brand-new Fire Cracker Club was located in the Federal Hotel at the downtown end of Petchburi Road - so far down, in fact, it was not part of the 'Golden Mile Night Entertainment Area'. A good part of its clientele was from the Opera Hotel, just down the soi. (Opera Hotel was a US Special Forces R&R hotel.

April 1969

The Caravelle Lounge atop the Florida Hotel (then an R&R hotel) remains open today, however the hotel no longer hosts a Nitespot.

April 1969

This is the second reopening of the Sani Chateau. Their first closure was December 1965 due to a fire (they reopened May 1966). The second closure was end of January 1969 for, apparently, renovations only. During each closure they moved lock, stock and barrel, across town to their sister Venue, the Bar Mikado on New Road. Sani Chateau was located in the Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area.

April 1969

(From the Bernard Trink archives)

The Bernard Trink 'collection' (additional Nitespot news not found in his Nite Owl column) was most often found amongst the cinema ads and reviews. The Naturist A Go-Go was on Sathorn Road near JUSMAG.

April 1969

The Young Americans were a popular touring group appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and other variety shows during that time.

April 1969

(From the Bernard Trink archives.)

The Caravelle Lounge (top) was at the intersection of Paholyotin and Sri Ayuthaya Roads atop the Florida (R&R) Hotel. Bill Book (lower photo) would eventually move his Cellar Bar (Silom Rd.) to Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area.

April 1969