Sergeant Hassan

1958

Sarjan Hassan

P. Ramlee As Sergeant Hassan · Directed By Lamberto Avellana And P. Ramlee

• Honorary rank of sergeant, conferred by the Malay Regiment for his portrayal, 1958

Sergeant Hassan (Sarjan Hassan) is a war film set during the Japanese invasion of Malaya during the Second World War. The film stars P. Ramlee as the titular character, Sergeant Hassan, a brave and patriotic soldier fighting for his homeland against the invading forces.

Begun by Filipino director Lamberto Avellana and completed by P. Ramlee (uncredited), the film portrays the hardships and sacrifices endured by those who fought against the Japanese occupation of Malaya during the Second World War.

Hassan’s childhood was marred by tragedy, as he lost his mother at a young age and then his father when he was only ten. However, his late father’s compassionate employer took him in, becoming a mentor and guide for the young boy. But the employer’s son, Aziz, grew resentful of Hassan’s presence and nurtured a deep animosity towards him. As they grew older, Aziz and his friend Buang frequently clashed with Hassan, causing trouble and strife. Matters were further complicated when Salmah, the woman Hassan loved, returned his affections, causing Aziz’s jealousy to boil over.

When World War II loomed, the “Askar Melayu” or Malay Regiment made a call for volunteers. Aziz enlisted, but Hassan was prevented from joining by his foster father, who needed him to manage the plantation. The villagers viewed him as a coward, and the taunts and mockery became too much to bear. Eventually, Hassan could take it no longer, and he ran away to become a soldier. His skill and bravery earned him a promotion to Sergeant.

When the Japanese invaded Malaya, Hassan fought valiantly alongside his comrades, risking his life to save Aziz when he was taken as a prisoner of war. However, as the war raged on, Buang chose to betray his own people, joining the Kempeitai, the Japanese military police. With his newfound power, he terrorised the village, forcing Salmah into marriage against her will by threatening to execute her father if she refused.

Sergeant Hassan and his comrades launched a daring attack on the occupying Japanese forces and liberated the village. In the film’s climactic scene, Hassan confronts the treacherous Buang.