reader Posted October 22, 2017 Posted October 22, 2017 From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A new documentary is set to stir fresh debate over one of Asia’s most enduring mysteries: What happened to Jim Thompson, Thailand’s legendary silk king. The former American intelligence officer turned textile tycoon went for a walk in the Malaysian jungle 50 years ago and never returned. Despite a massive search, no trace of Thompson was ever found. One of the most prominent Westerners in Asia had simply vanished. Theories abound: He was killed by a tiger; he got lost and perished in deep forest; he disappeared himself as part of a political intrigue. Those behind the documentary say they have new evidence that Thompson was killed. Their film, “Who Killed Jim Thompson,” premiered Oct. 20 at the Eugene International Film Festival in the U.S. state of Oregon. “There’s been all sorts of theories and mostly silly theories, but I’m hoping that this will put some closure to, you know, the whole story,” said Barry Broman, the film’s producer. The filmmakers, from Adventure Film Productions, said they got their break out of the blue: An old contact approached them with a tale of a death-bed confession. They eventually found a second source whose information dove-tailed with the first. Their conclusion: Thompson was slain by rebels from the Communist Party of Malaya who grew suspicious after he arrived in the jungle and began requesting a meeting with the party’s secretary-general, at the time Malaysia’s most-wanted man. Rather than vacationing, the filmmakers said, Thompson was on what turned out to be a final, fatal mission. Continues with photo http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2017/10/21/jim-thompson-disappearance-case-solved/ For those who wish to learn more about this fascinating character in modern Thai history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thompson_(designer) traveller123 1 Quote
vinapu Posted October 22, 2017 Posted October 22, 2017 makes sense but still it's only speculation at it's best Quote
ggobkk Posted October 23, 2017 Posted October 23, 2017 Did Jim Thompson meet at Madrid for pizza and plots? Quote
steveboy Posted October 23, 2017 Posted October 23, 2017 Their film, “Who Killed Jim Thompson,” premiered Oct. 20 at the Eugene International Film Festival in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is usually difficult in the U.S. to view a film from an international film festival, unless it has mass appeal. And here in the U.S. we are now living in real time what could be a political conspiracy film. In this days it is about the four U.S. soldiers killed in a patrol team in Niger. And about a condolence call made by the president. And about a black congresswoman with a big hat who criticized this call. And about a chief of staff general who bashed the congresswoman. And we don't know where we are in the film and how long it will last. Quote
vinapu Posted October 23, 2017 Posted October 23, 2017 Did Jim Thompson meet at Madrid for pizza and plots? no, he disappeared 2 years before Madrid opened ggobkk 1 Quote
reader Posted October 23, 2017 Author Posted October 23, 2017 And here in the U.S. we are now living in real time what could be a political conspiracy film. In this days it is about the four U.S. soldiers killed in a patrol team in Niger. And about a condolence call made by the president. And about a black congresswoman with a big hat who criticized this call. And about a chief of staff general who bashed the congresswoman. And we don't know where we are in the film and how long it will last. If she was a white congresswoman in small hat would it make any difference? Don't believe any members appear anywhere in the film. It lasts 106 minutes. If you haven't toured the Jim Thompson House, it's located a short walk from the National Stadium BTS stop. Quote
vinapu Posted October 24, 2017 Posted October 24, 2017 If you haven't toured the Jim Thompson House, it's located a short walk from the National Stadium BTS stop. also vary short walk along canal from Saen Saep khlong boat stop, both regular and tourist one Quote
PeterRS Posted October 24, 2017 Posted October 24, 2017 I will be interested to watch the movie but I think the "revelation" about new evidence is hardly likely. So much has been written about Thompson over the years the chances are that one of the old theories is likely to be the correct one. In May 1984 Life Magazine printed a very extensive 8 page article suggesting he was on a CIA mission to meet with the Head of the Malayan Communist guerillas. Thompson's friend Richard Hughes, the late, fabled Hong Kong correspondent of the London Sunday Times, went to his grave believing that Thomson was on a mission for the CIA when he disappeared, Hughes's reasoning was simple. Thompson had been a "spook" for the OSS, and, as Hughes put it in one of his columns he wrote about the Thomson case, "once a CIA man, always a CIA man." The Life article fails to mention that few knew more than Hughes about the murky world of spies and spymasters in the Far East of the time. The disappearance was not just at the height of the Cold War but also of the Vietnam War. Surely interesting that the Life article available on the web is a sanitised version approved by the CIA! https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-01208R000100100104-7.pdf vinapu 1 Quote
reader Posted October 24, 2017 Author Posted October 24, 2017 I will be interested to watch the movie but I think the "revelation" about new evidence is hardly likely. So much has been written about Thompson over the years the chances are that one of the old theories is likely to be the correct one. In May 1984 Life Magazine printed a very extensive 8 page article suggesting he was on a CIA mission to meet with the Head of the Malayan Communist guerillas. The Life article fails to mention that few knew more than Hughes about the murky world of spies and spymasters in the Far East of the time. The disappearance was not just at the height of the Cold War but also of the Vietnam War. Surely interesting that the Life article available on the web is a sanitised version approved by the CIA! I'd certainly agree that we'll probably never know with any certainty what became of Thompson, despite all the research and supposition. But if you put aside his life as a CIA operative, the life of the other Jim Thompson is fascinating in its own right. Highly-educated with a designer's eye, he revitalized the silk craft in Thailand. He was welcomed into the hi-so society of Bangkok elite and invitations to his parties were much sought after not so much for his company but for the opportunity to rub elbows with other hi-so's higher in the pecking order--a time-honored pursuit that persists to this day. Thompson may have even fooled himself occasionally into believing he had been accepted by these Thais as one of their own but in reality it was an illusion. That's always a bridge too far for any foreigner. Few old Asia hands have had more written about him. And it's not uncommon for one researcher or biographer to conflict with the other, particularly when it comes to his disappearance. He simply makes for great copy. If a reader is interested in the original hard-copy version of the Life (May, 1984) article, they're available on Ebay and Amazon. Quote
vinapu Posted October 24, 2017 Posted October 24, 2017 one thing about Jim Thompson is sure, with his house he left behind one of most popular Bangkok's tourist attractions reader 1 Quote
PeterRS Posted October 25, 2017 Posted October 25, 2017 If I remember correctly from one of my tours of the house, he initially gave employment to a lot of the Muslim community just across the klong to make his silks. Quote
Guest Hutchison Posted October 25, 2017 Posted October 25, 2017 Gorgeous house that could only be created by a gay man like Jim..another man living a double life because of the values of the time. A double life however, was not foreign to a man who worked in Espionage. He had quite a number of cute "servants" in attendance in the house when he lived there. His legacy lives on in his exquisite taste and his revival of the Thai silk industry. Gone but not forgotten. Quote
Alexx Posted October 25, 2017 Posted October 25, 2017 He disappeared, relocated to Buenos Aires and lived happily ever after. Don't take my word for it though. reader 1 Quote
reader Posted October 25, 2017 Author Posted October 25, 2017 He disappeared, relocated to Buenos Aires and lived happily ever after. Don't take my word for it though. All is opinion, Marcus Aurelius (quoting Cynic Monimus) Quote
vinapu Posted October 25, 2017 Posted October 25, 2017 He disappeared, relocated to Buenos Aires and lived happily ever after. Don't take my word for it though. since body was never found that theory about his disappearance is as good as any other Quote
DivineMadman Posted December 1, 2017 Posted December 1, 2017 The film will be getting its Thailand premiere Wednesday 6 December (2017) at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Bangkok. 450baht for non members and the film's producer will be there as well. reader and vinapu 2 Quote
PeterRS Posted December 1, 2017 Posted December 1, 2017 Start time is 7:00pm. The FCCT is right by Chidlom BTS station. https://www.fccthai.com/items/2333.html Quote
DivineMadman Posted December 1, 2017 Posted December 1, 2017 Start time is 7:00pm. The FCCT is right by Chidlom BTS station. https://www.fccthai.com/items/2333.html Thanks PeterRS. I meant to include the link but forgot. Quote
PeterRS Posted December 8, 2017 Posted December 8, 2017 Did anyone attend the movie? Is the mystery of Jim Thomsons disappearance now solved? Quote
