‘This is real film making’
Saint Jack was filmed in 1978 and is the only American film to be entirely shot on location in Singapore, capturing a ‘glowing, squirming, rhythmic blend’ of a life that was rapidly disappearing St Jack was originally banned in Singapore. Consequently, the film remains under the radar even though Quentin Tarantino believes it would have won Oscars if it was released today.
My guests today, Ben Slater and Jane Iyer have researched the back story of Saint Jack and we talk about this fascinating film and the equally enthralling story of the characters behind it.
We explore the mixed feelings the film generated; the creative fusion between the Hollywood stars, European producers, and local talent; the fallout afterwards and how the film changed lives.
Ben Slater is a writer, lecturer and curator who hails from the UK and has been based in Singapore since 2002. He is the author of Kinda Hot: The Making of Saint Jack in Singapore a book about the making of the film Saint Jack.
Jane Iyer is the founder of Jane’s Tours and is a huge supporter of the arts.
References
Kinda Hot; The Making of Saint Jack in Singapore: Ben Slater https://www.amazon.com/Kinda-Hot-Making-Saint-Singapore/dp/9812610693
Saint Jack Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Jack_(film)
Janes Tours: https://janestours.sg/