Cashiers du Cinemart article 2012

October 29, 2012, 2:19 am

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Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to say I am a published author once again! My 15-page article on mad Filipino satires is in the latest bound issue of one of my favourite US magazines, Mike White's Cashiers Du Cinemart. To read the entire rant where I wax lyrical about Dolphy's James Batman, Chiquito, the Pinoy Bruce Lees and James Bonds, Tintoy, Niño Muhlach and (of course) Weng Weng, please click HERE:

"The Great Manila Cinema Heist!" A Brief History of Philippine Parody and Outright Thievery In The Country That Copyright Forgot, Part One by Andrew Leavold

[The entire article appears in Cashiers Du Cinemart #17 (October 2012)]

INTRODUCTION: I still remember watching my first exploitation classic from the Philippines, the midget James Bond spoof For Y’ur Height Only (1981), almost twenty years ago. Over the astounding course of the ratty VHS tape’s running time our 2 foot 9 inch hero Agent 00 played by Weng Weng, a curious little brown creature with a receding Ramones bowl cut and an all-white suit and trick straw boater hat, cracks an international drug ring, gets the girl, loses the girl (“Irmaaaaa!”) and infiltrates the secret lair of evil criminal mastermind Mr Giant (played, appropriately enough, by a dwarf named Goliath!), all with an armful of miniature gadgets and his signature move of punching someone in the balls, then running between their legs.

It’s not just the novelty of seeing a Filipino midget pretending to be a gun expert and ladies’ man, or the inexplicable thrill of watching bad (and I mean BAD) kung fu movies. Maybe it’s the mad vision of a Manila caught in a perpetual Seventies twilight of bad disco, Marlborough Man mustaches, flared collars and equally-flared nostrils. Absurd, tangential logic abounds, as does the knee-jerk colonial impulse to subvert AND embrace their dominant Western culture simultaneously. For me, For Y’ur Height Only rammed a point home with a vengeance, that the Philippines' relationship with Hollywood is a strange mixture of awe and loathing; beneath the Hello Joe's you're not sure if they're trying to steal your jeans or stick you in the ribs with their balisong blade. An outsider will never know precisely where the awe ends and the loathing begins. On the surface at least there's a playfulness, an anarchic and gleefully deranged rearranging of pop motifs for amusing and delirious effect. It should add up, but doesn’t. And it doesn’t matter, for whatever the reasons, the Philippines B-film can be as addictive as their local crack known as “shiboo”, and the hit lasts a lifetime.

Once I started travelling to the Philippines and began to wade through the morass of unexplored Tagalog language B films, I soon discovered that Weng Weng was just the top balancer's toupee on the enormous human pyramid of parodists, and there existed an culture unfamiliar and fundamentally unfathomable to the rest of the world: one of wholesale, guilt-free and consequence-free commandeering of global and local pop iconography via clever counterfeiting, relentless lampooning or direct theft. Unlike their Turkish counterparts, Filipino filmmakers were never so brazen as to steal entire sections of footage and edit it without shame into their own knockoffs of Star Trek or The Empire Strikes Back. In the Philippines, musical cues, theme songs, story ideas, characters and titles were nevertheless all up for grabs, either stolen without a thought paid to the copyright holders, or fed through the Pinoy Pop Culture mincing machine (“Pinoy” being the colloquial term for “Filipino”), to emerge as a mutant-looking amalgam or queer multi-hatted hybrid. Despite being signatories to the Berne Convention since 1950, the tyranny of distance and cost of mounting court proceedings in a foreign country gave free rein to these scoundrels and opportunists, or Dadaists and post-modern revolutionaries, depending upon your political persuasion, taste for adventure, and personal limits of patience and perseverance.

Humour never travels well. Sady, much of the Philippines' cinema prior to the mid-80s is lost forever, and those few Filipino comedies that have made it beyond the Philippines' borders, dubbed poorly and thus losing much of their raison d’etre in the transition, have done so for the most bizarre reasons and under the most freakish of circumstances. That leaves the bulk of their comedies unreleased to the outside world and not subtitled, making their puns, wordplay, cultural references and mangled English (beyond the conventional mix of English and Tagalog known as "Taglish") completely incomprehensible.

Then there's the recognition factor that's lost on us foreigners, the delight in watching sometimes decades-old schtick, which often requires some comedians to be left on the shelf long past their use-by date. More so than parody, much of Philippine comedy is of the romantic or domestic variety, sticky and sickly sentimental, and centring on family misunderstandings, teen love affairs, hen-pecked husbands and screeching mothers-in-law, but countered by a streak of derision and decidedly un-PC cruelty, aimed at taking childish glee at the differences of the "other". This translates roughly to a carnival-like atmosphere, in which audiences gawp at the grotesquely fat, emaciated, freakishly tall, small, toothless, bald, screamingly effeminate, stooped, stuttering, cross-eyed, brown- or black-skinned and, by Filipino standards, plain ugly...

TO ORDER A HARD COPY OF THE ISSUE, PLEASE CLICK HERE

"Cashiers du Cinemart 17 authors: Jef Burnham, Jason Coffman, Chris Cummins, Skizz Cyzyk, Jim Donahue, Ralph Elawani, Mike Faloon, Paul Freitag, Joshua Gravel, Josh Hadley, Kristy Jett, Zachary Kelley, Andrew Leavold, Scott Lefebvre, David MacGregor, Mike Malloy, Bob Moricz, Rich Osmond, James Sanford, Calum Syers, Mike Sullivan, Dan Tabor, Don Takano, and Mike White with cover art by Tom Bagley. This issue boasts features about Filipino exploitation films, Chuck Vincent, Andy Sidaris, Gaspar Noé, Brad Dourif, and Pierre Maheu and more including interviews with Sid Haig, Keith Shapiro, Eli Craig, Louie Bonnano, Peter Filardi, and many more. And, don’t miss appreciations of films as diverse as After Last Season, The Touch of Her Flesh, Blood Sucking Freaks, Dream Home, and Eat My Dust."

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FILIPINO EXPORT FILMS, INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS AND CO-PRODUCTIONS SHOT IN THE PHILIPPINES

November 10, 2012, 11:12 pm

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As part of my PhD thesis on the history of genre filmmaking in the Philippines, I am proposing a list of features filmed in the Philippines, either by local or foreign companies, for international release. These include international productions such as Apocalypse Now and Platoon, Cirio Santiago's co-productions with Roger Corman and others, European and Asian films using the Philippines as a location, and local films dubbed into foreign languages for international markets.

NOTES: This list is far from complete, and is merely a work in progress. Additions, retractions and suggestions are more than welcome!

Films with an asterisk next to the title are already on DVD-R in the Bamboo Gods archives. Titles without an asterisk are desperately needed.

*Above The War/Search And Destroy (1989) - JAPAN
Action Is Not Missing (1987) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
The Adventurers (1995) - 90s HONG KONG
*Aladdin and the Adventure of All Time (2000) - CIRIO
*Alien From The Deep (1989) - MARGHERITI/GICO
Alfredo Sebastian (1981) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Ambush Bay (1966) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*American Commandos (1986) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*American Force 2: The Untouchable Glory (1988) - IFD
*American Force 3: High Sky Mission (1988) - IFD
*American Force 4: Soldier Exterminators (1988) - IFD
*An American Guerrilla In The Philippines (1950) - US PRODUCTIONS 1950s
*American Kickboxer 2 (1993) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*American Ninja (1985) - CANNON FILMS
*Angelfist (1993) - CIRIO
*Angel In The Dark (1991) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*Angel of Destruction (1994) - CIRIO
*Angel On Fire/Matira Ang Matibay (1995) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
Apocalypse Now (1977-79) - 70s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*The Arizona Kid (1970) - EARLY CIRIO
Armour Of God II: Operation Condor (partly shot in the Philippines, 1991) - 80s HONG KONG
*Arnis The Sticks Of Death (1979) - KUNG FU
Assault Platoon (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
*Atrocities Of The Orient (1948) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
*Attack And Destroy (1981) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Back Door To Hell (1964) - HELLMAN
Back To Bataan (1945) - US PRODUCTIONS 1940s
*Bamboo Gods And Iron Men (1974) - 70s CIRIO
*Barracuda: Terror Of The Sea (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Bad Blood (1996) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT
*Battle Rats (1989) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN
Bayside At Midnight (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN
*Beach Red (1967) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Beast Of Blood (1970) - ASHLEY/ROMERO
*Beast Of The Yellow Night (1971) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD
The Beggar/Ang Pulubi (1969) - NEPOMUCENO
*Behind Enemy Lines (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Beyond Atlantis (1973) - ROMERO
*Beyond The Call Of Duty (1992) - CIRIO
*The Big Bird Cage (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD
*The Big Doll House (1971) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD
*The Bionic Boy (1977) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
Birds Of Passage (2001) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Blackbelt (1992) - CIRIO
*Blackbelt II (1993) - CIRIO
*Black Cobra 2 (1988) - MARGHERITI JR
*Black Cobra 3 (1990) - MARGHERITI JR
*The Black Dragon (1974) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*Black Dragon (Ron Van Clief, 1974) - KUNG FU
*Blackfire (1985) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Black Mama White Mama (1973) - ROMERO
*Black Mamba (1974) - ASHLEY/TAGALOG EXPORTS
Black Market Love (2008) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Black Panther Of Shaolin/Bamboo Trap (1975) - LEO FONG
Blasting Bullets (1985) - DAVIAN
*Blind Rage/The System (1976) - LEO FONG
*Blood Chase (1989) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Blood Debts (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*The Blood Drinkers (1964) - PINOY HORROR
*Bloodfist (1989) - CIRIO
*Bloodfist II (1990) - CIRIO
*Bloodfist 2050 (2005) - CIRIO
Blood Hands (1990) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Blood Hero/The Bloody Hero (1973) - KUNG FU
Blood Hunt (1981) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
Blood Of Bataan (1953) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
*Blood Ring (1991) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
Blood Ring 2 (1995) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
Blood Run (1994) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Blood Surf (2000) - 2000s EXPORTS
*Blood Thirst (1965/71) - DUPONT
*Blood War (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Blowback 2 (1992) - JAPAN
Body Blow (David deCoteau, 2010) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Bodyguard (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS/VIKING FILMS
*Body Parts/Vital Parts (2001) - CIRIO
*Boni En Klayd/Los Intocables De Redford White (1981) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Born On The 4th Of July (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Born To Fight (1989) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Born To Gamble (1987) - 80s HONG KONG
The Bourne Legacy (2012) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Boy God/Stone Boy (1982) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
The Boys In Company C (1978) - 70s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Braddock: Missing In Action 3 (1988) - CANNON FILMS
*Brides Of Blood (1967) - ASHLEY/ROMERO
Brides of Sulu (1937) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
Brothers (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/AUSTRALIA
Brokedown Palace (1999) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Brothers In War (1989) - ITALIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES OR SANTO DOMINGO?/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]
*Bruce And The Shaolin Bronzemen (1980) - KUNG FU
*Bruce's Fists of Vengeance (1980) - KUNG FU/KINAVESA
*Bruce The Super Hero (1979) - DICK RANDALL
*Bruka Queen Of Evil (1975) - JIMMY PASCUAL/ HK FANTASY/HORROR
*Bye Bye Vietnam (1988) - CAMILLO TETI/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]
*Caged Fury (1982) - 80s CIRIO
*Caged Heat II: Stripped Of Freedom (1994) - CIRIO
*Calibre .357 (1984) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL
Cannibals - Legend Or Reality (2008) - PAOLUCCI
*Cannibal World (2004) - MATTEI PART 2
*A Case Of Honor (1988) - ROMERO/GINNANE
Caxambu! (1967) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*The Chain (1996) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Chaku Master (1974) - REY MALONZO
*Champion Fighter/The Fighter The Winner/Grease Gun Brothers (1991?) - IFD
Chateau de Roses (2005) - JAPAN
*Checkered Flag Or Crash! (1977) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2
The Children Of An Lac (1980 TV Movie) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*China And Sex (1993) - MASSACESSI
*Chinese Kamasutra (1993) - MASSACESSI
*Circle Of Fear (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/CLARK HENDERSON
*Classified Operation (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Closer To Home (1995) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Clouds/Alapaap (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Cobrador (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Cobra Mission (1986) - DE ANGELIS/DIETRICH
Cobra Mission 2 (1989) - ITALIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES OR SANTO DOMINGO?/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]
*Codename: Wildgeese (1984) - MARGHERITI/DIETRICH
Combat Killers (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*The Commander (1987) - MARGHERITI/ASCOT [DIETRICH]
*Commander Lawin (1986) - DAVIAN/SUNNY
*Commando Invasion (1986) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Commando Leopard (1985) - MARGHERITI/DIETRICH
*Cop Game (1988) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Cosa Nostra Asia (1973) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
Counterthrust! (1959) - ROMERO
*Cover Girl Models (1975) - CORMAN/CIRIO
*Crackdown (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/JOHN GARWOOD
The Crazy Bunch/Hepe (1980) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Crime Stopper (1990) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Crossbone Territory (1985) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
Cross Mission (1988) - ALFONSO BRESCIA/AM TRADING INTERNATIONAL
*Cruel Horizon (1989) - BELGIUM
The Cruel Stone/Yûsha No Hihô (2005) - JAPAN
*Cry Of Battle (1963) - ROMERO
*Curse/Cannibal Curse (1987) - 80s HONG KONG
*Curse Of The Vampires (1966) - PINOY HORROR
*Dance Of The Dwarfs (1983) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
A Dangerous Life (1988) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Dangerous Passion (1998) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
The Dark Side of a Woman (2005) - MATTEI
Dark Tide (1994) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Daughters Of Satan (1972) - SCHENCK
*Day Of The Trumpet/Cavalry Command (1957) - ROMERO
*The Day They Robbed America/The Sangley Point Robbery (1985) - DAVIAN/SUNNY
*Deadly Commando/Suicide Force (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Deadly Target (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS/VIKING FILMS
*Deadly Target /Walang Kasukat Sa Tapang (1994) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
Dead Men Can't Dance (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Death Bond (1989) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Deadringer (1985) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Deathfight/Rage (1992) - SELLERS/MAHARAJ
*Death Force/Fighting Mad (1978) - 70s CIRIO
*Deathhhead Virgin (1974) - AMERICAN MISC
Death Match (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN
*Death Raiders (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990) - CANNON FILMS
*Demon Of Paradise (1987) - CIRIO
*Demonstone (1989) - GINNANE
*Desert Warrior (1988) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
Desperate Hours (1997) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT
*The Destroyers (1985) - 80s CIRIO
*Devil's Angels/Devil's Three/Pay Or Die (1981) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*Devil Woman (1974) - JIMMY PASCUAL/ HK FANTASY/HORROR
*Dirty Games - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*DNA (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Dog Tags (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Doomsdayer (2000) - SELLERS
Double Blast (1994) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*Double Edge (1986) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Double Target (1987) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Dragons Never Die (1974) - JIMMY PASCUAL/KUNG FU
*The Dragon, The Lizard, The Boxer (1977) - RAMON ZAMORA
*Driving Force (1988) - GINNANE
Drug Connection (shot in Japan, USA and the Philippines, 1992) - JAPAN
*Dune Warriors (1991) - CIRIO
*D'Wild Wild Weng (1982) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL
*Dynamite Johnson (1978) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
Darna (1950) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
*Eagle Of The Jungle (1987?) - SUNNY
Eastern Condors (1987) - 80s HONG KONG
*Ebony Ivory And Jade (1976) - 70s CIRIO
Emanuelle in Manila (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN
Emergency Call/Kinkyû Yobidashi (1995) - JAPAN
*Enemy/Fatal Mission (1990) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/GEORGE ROWE
*The Enforcer From Death Row (1975) - LEO FONG
*Enter The Ninja (1982) - CANNON FILMS
*Equalizer 2000 (1987) - CIRIO
*Escape From Blood Plantation/Island Of The Bloody Plantation (1983) - DIETRICH
*Escape To Mindanao (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Escape To Nowhere/Battle Geese (1990) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*Eternal Fist/Fist Of Steel (1991) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*Ethan (1964) - DUPONT/GROFE JR
*Evidence (1974) - KUNG FU
*The Expendables (1988) - CIRIO
*Eye of the Eagle (1987) - CIRIO
*Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy (1989) - CIRIO
*The Fantastic Sword (1976) - HK FANTASY/HORROR
Far East (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/AUSTRALIA
*Fast Gun (1993) - CIRIO
*Fatal Chase (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
Fatal Desire (1998) - CONFIRM!! 90s HONG KONG
*Fatal Vacation (1989) - 80s HONG KONG
*Field Of Fire (1991) - CIRIO
*The Fighter/The Kickfighter (1987) - MAHARAJ
The Fighting Dragon/Challenge The Dragon (w/Yusuka Kurata, 1975) - CONFIRM!! KUNG FU
*Fighting Spirit (1992) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Final Mission (1984) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ
*Final Reprisal (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT/SOLAR
*Firebird Conspiracy (1983-85) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Fireback (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Firecracker/Naked Fist (1981) - 80s CIRIO
Firehawk (1993) - CIRIO
*The Firing Line (1991) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Fist Of Glory (1992) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
Five And The Skin (1982) - FRANCE
*Flight To Fury (1964) - HELLMAN
*Fly Me (1973) - CORMAN/CIRIO
*Forbidden Women (1948) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
*Force Of Shaolin Boxer (1980) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Forever Emmanuelle/Laure (1976) - FRANCE
*Forgotten Warrior (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/RON MARCHINI
*Fortress In The Sun (1975) - TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Fortress Of The Dead (1965) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*Fortunes Of War (1994) - SELLERS
*For Y'ur Height Only (1981) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL
*From Hell To Borneo (1964) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*Future Hunters (1986) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ
The Game Of Death! (1974) - RAMON ZAMORA
*Genghis Khan (1950) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
Get My Son: Dead Or Alive (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Get The Terrorists (1987) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
Going Back (2001) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*The Golden Chaku/Bruce And The Golden Chaku (1977) - RAMON ZAMORA/REY MALONZO
*The Golden Nightmare (1998) - 90s HONG KONG
*Golden Triangle (1975) - KUNG FU
Goodbye America (1997) - SELLERS
Green Eyes (1977 TV Movie) - 70s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Guardian Angel (1994) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*Guerrillas In Pink Lace (1964) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*The Guys From Paradise (2000) - JAPAN
Hamburger Hill (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Hard To Kill (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*The Headhunters (1973) - TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Heated Vengeance (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/EDWARD D. MURPHY
*Heatseeker (1995) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/ALBERT PYUN
*Hell Camp (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Hell Hole/Women Of Hell Island/Escape From Hell Hole/Guardian Angels (1981) - 80s CIRIO
Hell Raiders (1986) - GROFE JR
*Heroes Blood/The 13th Mission (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
*Heroes For Hire (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*High Velocity (1976) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2
High Voltage (1995) - 90s HONG KONG
*Hill 171 (1987) - DAVIAN/SUNNY
*Hitman The Cobra/Kumander Sumulong: 1940-1970 (1986) - IFD
Honey I Love You (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN
Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore (1965) - SHAW BROTHERS
*Hong Kong 97 (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/ALBERT PYUN
*Horror Of The Blood Monsters (w/50s caveman footage from the Philippines, 1970) - AL ADAMSON
*Hostage Syndrome (1988) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*The Hot Box/Hell Cats (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD
*The House Of Pleasure (1993) - MASSACESSI
*Huk! (1958) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*The Hunted (1970) - NEPOMUCENO
*The Hunted (1989) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*The Hunted Hunter (1997) - 90s HONG KONG
*Hunter's Crossing (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Hunters Of The Golden Cobra (1982) - MARGHERITI/GICO/REGAL? FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]?
*The Hunt For Eagle One (2006) - CIRIO
*The Hunt For Eagle One: Crash Point (2006) - CIRIO
*Hustler Squad (1976) - 70s CIRIO
I Am Blushing (1981) - SWEDEN
*Igorota (1968) - NEPOMUCENO
*Impasse (1969) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Impetus Fire (1988) - 80s HONG KONG
*The Impossible Kid (1982) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL
*Indio (1988) - MARGHERITI
*Indio 2: The Revolt (1990) - MARGHERITI
*Intrusion Cambodia (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Invaders Of The Lost Gold/Greed/Horror Safari (1981) - DICK RANDALL
*I Racconti Della Camera Rossa (1993) - MASSACESSI
*Island of the Living Dead (2006) - MATTEI
*Jailbreak 1958 - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*The Jail: The Women's Hell (2006) - MATTEI
*Jiboa (1989)
*Johnny Rambo Tango (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Joy And Joan (1985) - FRANCE
*Jungle Raiders (1985) - MARGHERITI
*Jungle Rats (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
*Jungle Wolf (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/RON MARCHINI
*Just A Damned Soldier (1988) - FERDINANDO BALDI/REGAL
*Karate Warrior (1987) - FABRIZIO DE ANGELIS/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]
Karate Warrior 2 (1988) - FABRIZIO DE ANGELIS/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]
*The Kid And The Gunfighter/The Gunfighter (1983) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Kieu (2006) - VIETNAM
*Killer Instinct (1987) - CIRIO/GINNANE
*Killer vs Ninjas (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*The Killing Of Satan (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
Kill Zone (1993) - CIRIO
*Kiss The Sky (1998) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Kris Commando (1987) - SUNNY
*The Labyrinth Of Love (1993) - MASSACESSI
*Land Of Death (2003) - MATTEI
Land Of Scarecrows (2008) - SOUTH KOREA/FRANCE
*The Last American Soldier/The Commander (1988) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/REGAL
Last Dance Of August 15th (2005) - JAPAN
*Last Flight To Hell (1990) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/GICO
*The Last Hunter (1980) - MARGHERITI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
Last Platoon/Angel Hill (1988) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/GICO
*Last Stand at Lang Mei/Eye Of The Eagle 3 (1989) - CIRIO
*Leathernecks (1988) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/GICO
Legacy (1998) - SELLERS
*Leopard Hunting (1998) - 90s HONG KONG
*The Lethal Hunt/Partida (1985) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN
*Lethal Panther/Deadly China Dolls (1991) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*Lethal Panther 2/Magkasangga Sa Batas (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*Live By The Fist (1993) - CIRIO
The Longest Hundred Miles (1967) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*The Losers (1970) - GARFIELD/SMITH
Lost Battalion (1960) - ROMERO
Lost Command (1988) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN
Love In Ambush (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Mad Doctor Of Blood Island (1969) - ASHLEY/ROMERO
*Mad Dog (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Mad Killer (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*The Madonna And The Dragon (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Mad Warrior/Clash Of The Warlords (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Magic Curse (1977) - HK FANTASY/HORROR
*Magic Of The Universe (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Magindanao (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Maharlika (1970) - MARCOS/NEPOMUCENO
*Manila, Open City (1968) - NEPOMUCENO/ROMERO
*Mannigan's Force (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
Man On The Run/The Kidnappers (1958) - ROMERO
*Mantis Boxer (1979?) - KUNG FU
Marco Polo - Oriental Sex Journey (2003/05) - MASSACESSI
*Marianna (1982) - 80s HONG KONG
*Master Samurai (1974) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*McBain (1991) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Merrill's Marauders (1962) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
Midnight Angels (1997) - CONFIRM!! 90s HONG KONG
*Missing In Action (1984) - CANNON FILMS
*Mission Batangas (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Mission Manila (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Mission Terminate/Return Of The Kickfighter (1987) - MAHARAJ
Moro Witch Doctor (1964) - ROMERO
*Movie In Action (1987) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Murder In The Orient/Manila Gold (1974) - LEO FONG
Murder On The Menu (1998) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT
*The Muthers (1976) - 70s CIRIO
Mutiny In The South Seas (1965) - WEST GERMANY
My Lai Four (2011) - PAOLUCCI
*Naked In The Dark/Hubo Sa Dilim (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Naked Vengeance (1985) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ
*Nam Angels (1989) - CIRIO
*Narco Dollar (1988) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
Night Games (1982) - ROGER VADIM
Nightmare Honeymoon (1997) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT
*Night Of The Cobra Woman (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD
*Nine Deaths Of The Ninja (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Ninja Kids: Phantom Force (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Ninja's Force (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*The Ninja Squad/Hatulan Si…Totoy Angustia (1986) - IFD
*Ninja Ultimate Challenge/Twin Fists For The Blackmasters J(1986) - IFD
*Ninja Warriors (1985) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Ninja, Warriors From Beyond/Maestro Bandido (1986) - IFD
*No Blood No Surrender (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*No Dead Heroes (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
*No Man Is An Island (1962) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
No Place To Hide (1955) - US PRODUCTIONS 1950s
Noriega: God's Favorite (2000) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS        
*Not Another Mistake (1988) - MAHARAJ
*Obsessed (1988) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*The Omegans (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Once Before I Die (1965) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*The One-Armed Executioner (1983) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*One Man Army (1994) - CIRIO
One Percent Full (2007) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Operation: Get Victor Corpus The Rebel Soldier (1987) DAVIAN/SUNNY
Orient Escape (2005) - MATTEI
Outlaw Inferno (1981) ) - CINE SUERTE
*Over My Dead Body (1983) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*The Pacific Connection/Stick Fighter (1974) - NEPOMUCENO
*Pacific Inferno (1979) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2
Passage To Hell (1988?) - JAPAN
*The Passionate Strangers (1966) - ROMERO
Perfect Duo (unconfirmed) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
Phantom Raiders (1988) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Phantom Soldiers (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT/REGAL
Platoon (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Platoon The Warriors/Diegong Bayong (1987) - IFD
*Pleasure Island (1981) - DICK RANDALL
Portofino: The Philippines (2009) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Power Connection/Tapang Sa Tapang (1995) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*POW The Escape/Behind Enemy Lines (1986) - CANNON FILMS
Primary Target (1988) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/CORMAN/CLARK HENDERSON
*Project: Kill (1975) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2
Purple Hearts (1984) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Purple Storm (partly shot, 1999) - 90s HONG KONG
Rage Of Justice (1987) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Raging Angels (unconfirmed, 1998) - CONFIRM!! 90s HONG KONG
The Raging Anger (1987) - SUNNY
*Raging Vendetta - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Raider Platoon (1988) - DAVIAN/SUNNY
Raiders For Victory (1982) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Raiders Of Atlantis/Atlantis Interceptors (1983) - DEODATO
*Raiders Of Leyte Gulf (1962) - ROMERO
*Raiders Of The Paradise (1980) - DAVIAN/SUNNY
*Raiders Of The Sun (1992) - CIRIO
*The Ravagers (1965) - ROMERO
*Raw Force (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/EDWARD D. MURPHY
Raw Target (1995) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
The Rebel Soldier (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Red Roses For A Call Girl/Manila Tattoo/True Confessions Of Diana (1986) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*Rescue Team (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
The Resort Murders (1998) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT
Return From The River Kwai (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Return Of Bruce (1977) - KUNG FU
Return Of The Dragon (1974) - RAMON ZAMORA
*Revenge For Justice (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Revenge Of The Bushido Blade/The Last Reunion (1978) - LEO FONG
*Revenge Of The Lady Lighter (1973) - KUNG FU
*Revenge Of The Stolen Stars (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Ride The Tiger (1970) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*Robowar (1989) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Robo Warriors (1997) - CIRIO
*Rocky Tan-Go IV (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Sabotage/Sabotage 2 (1979) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL
*Saigon Commandos (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/CORMAN/CLARK HENDERSON
*Samar (1962) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*Sanda Wong (1955) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS
Sando In The Diplomat's Daughter (1988) - JAPAN
*Savage! (1973) - CORMAN/CIRIO
Savage In The Orient (1983) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Savage Justice (1988) - ROMERO JR/GINNANE
*Savage Sisters (1974) - ROMERO
*The Scavengers (1959) - ROMERO
Score (1995) - JAPAN
Sea Devils (1998) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Searchers Of The Voodoo Mountain (1984) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*Search For Vengeance (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Secret Of King Mahi's Island (1989) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT/SOLAR
*Secret Of The Incas' Empire (1987) - CINE SUERTE/ITALIANS
The Secret Of The Sacred Forest (1970) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
Secrets of Women (2005) - MATTEI
Secrets of Women 2 (2005) - MATTEI
*SFX Retaliator (1987) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Sgt Clarin: A Bullet For Your Head (1990) - 90s TAGALOG EXPORTS
Shadow Of The Dragon (1973) - RAMON ZAMORA
*Shaolin Master (1976) - REY MALONZO
Shocking Asia (1976) - WEST GERMANY
Shocking Asia II: The Last Taboos (1985) - WEST GERMANY
*A Shudder on the Skin (2005) - MATTEI
*The Siege Of Firebase Gloria (1989) - GINNANE
*Silip/Daughters Of Eve (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Silk (1986)  - 80s CIRIO
*Silk 2 (1989) - CIRIO
*Silver Dragon Ninja [uses HK film Trap, shot in the Philippines] (1986) - IFD
*The Sisterhood (1988) - CIRIO
*Slash (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
Sleeping Dragon (1975) - JIMMY PASCUAL/KUNG FU
*Sloane (1984) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
Soldier Boyz (1996) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Soldyer! (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*South Seas Massacre (1974) - TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Sparrow Unit: The Termination Squad (1987) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN
*Spyder (1988) - CIRIO
*The Steel Claw (1960) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*Story Of The Dolls/The Dolls (1984) - GERMANY
*The Story Of Woo Viet/God Of Killers (1981) - 80s HONG KONG
*Stranglehold (1994) - CIRIO
*Strike Commando (1987) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Strike Commando 2 (1988) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Stryker (1983) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ
*Sudden Death (1975) - ROMERO
*Sudden Thunder (1990) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
*Superbeast (1972) - SCHENCK/GARFIELD
*Supercock (1975) - ROSS HAGEN
*The Surabaya Conspiracy (1969) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Surrender - Hell! (1959) 50s AMERICAN PRODUCTIONS/DE LEON
The Suspect (Ringo Lam, 1998) - 90s HONG KONG
*Sweet Revenge (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Tarzan And The Brown Prince (1972) - EARLY CIRIO
*A Taste Of Hell (1973) - GARFIELD/SMITH
Tazza: The High Rollers (2006) - SOUTH KOREA
*Techno Warriors (1998) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*Techno Warriors 2: Lethal Combat/Digital Warriors (1999) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*Teppanyaki (1984) - 80s HONG KONG
*Terminal Virus (1995) - CIRIO
*Terror In Paradise (1995) - CIRIO
*Terror Is A Man/Blood Creature (1959) - ROMERO
*They Call Her Cleopatra Wong (1978) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*They Call Him Bruce Lee (1979) - KUNG FU/KINAVESA
*They Call Him Chop Suey (1975) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ
*The Third Hand/Judgment Night (1987) - GROFE JR
*The Thirsty Dead (1974) - AMERICAN MISC
The Three Lustketeers (1998) - 90s HONG KONG
*Tiger Force/Kill The Tiger (1975) - KUNG FU/KINAVESA
*Tiger Joe (1981) - MARGHERITI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Tigershark (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*A Time For Dying/Pipo (1970) - NEPOMUCENO
*TNT Jackson (1974) - CORMAN/CIRIO
*The Tomb (2006) - MATTEI
*Too Hot To Handle (1977) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2
Too Late The Hero (1970) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
*Top Mission/Diablo Force (1988) - FILMARK
*Tornado/Last Blood (1983) - MARGHERITI/GICO? FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]?
Tough Cop (1987) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop (1995) - 90s HONG KONG
*Trap/Cop Killer (1982) - 80s HONG KONG
*Treasure Of The Moon Goddess (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Trident Force (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
*Trigon Fire (1989) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Triple Impact (1992) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL
Tropical Manila (2008) - SOUTH KOREA
*Troublesome Night 4 (1998) - 90s HONG KONG
*The Twilight People (1973) - ROMERO
*Ultimate Revenge (1995) - 90s HONG KONG
*Ultimax Force (1986) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*Ultracop 2000/Magkasangga 2000 (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
*Up From The Depths (1979) - 80s CIRIO
US Commando/Jimbo (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Vampire Hookers (1978) - 70s CIRIO
*Vengeance Squad (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT
*Violent Zone (1988) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/JOHN GARWOOD
*Vulcan/Anak Ng Bulkan (1997) - CIRIO
*W/W Is War (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON
*The Walls Of Hell/Intramuros (1964) - ROMERO
*War Bus (1986) - FERNANDO DI LEO/AMERINDA/REGAL
*Warcamp/POW Deathcamp (1983) - DAVIAN
*War City 3: The Extreme Project/Deadly Brothers (1989?) - IFD
*War City 4: Kingdom Of Power/Bulldog (1989?) - IFD
*War City 5: Law Of Honor/Maynila 1970: Panganib, Araw At Gabi (1989?) - IFD
*Warkill! (1968) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR
*War Without End (1986) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Water Wars/Road Raiders (2009) - CIRIO
*Wheels Of Fire (1985) - 80s CIRIO
*When Eagles Strike (2003) - CIRIO
*White Force (1988) - ROMERO/GINNANE
*Wild Cats Attack! (1982) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR
*Wild Force (1985) - DAVIAN/SUNNY
*Wild Whirlwind (1974) - KUNG FU
The Witch (1975) - HK FANTASY/HORROR
*The Woman Hunt (1973) - ROMERO
*Women In Cages (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD
Women Of Valor (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
*Wonder Women/The Deadly And The Beautiful (1973) - ROSS HAGEN
Wounded In Action (1966) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
Xtreme Warriors/Digital Man (2001) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO
The Year Of Living Dangerously (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/AUSTRALIA
Zigzag (1963) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s
Zimitar (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS
*Zombi 3 (1987) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Zombi 4: After Death (1989) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]
*Zombies: The Beginning (2007) - MATTEI
*Zuma (1985) - CINE SUERTE
*Zuma II: Hell Serpent (1987) - CINE SUERTE

Di Ingon 'Nato article 2012

November 18, 2012, 10:10 pm

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JUST PUBLISHED: My cover article "Di Ingon 'Nato: Zombies In Our Backyard" and interview with its Cebuano director Ivan Zaldarriaga in Sinekultura Film Journal (University of San Carlos, Cebu) Issue #4, OUT NOW! If you get a chance, please check out Ivan's incredible no-budget undead epic Di Ingon 'Nato, as it could be the start of something big in Cebu...

Chiquito interview 1983

November 19, 2012, 2:19 pm

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CHIQUITO: PORTRAIT OF A COMEDIAN by Mario E. Bautista, Movie Flash, 5th May 1983, p.36 

[Many thanks to Ben Perez for the translation, and to James dela Rosa's Pelikula Atbp and Simon Santos' Video 48 blogs for the illustrations]

As Chiquito, Augusto Valdez Pangan is known to the public as the inimitable funnyman who brought to life such well-known comic strip characters as Asiong Aksaya (Wasteful), Mr. Wong, Gorio and his Jeepney, Tacio, Sariong Albularyo (Herbalist), Atorni (Attorney) Agaton, Barok (Baroque), and Mang Kepweng.

Chiquito is now in his 41st year in show business. He started in 1941 as a dancer. He was only 12 years old.

"I was rationing lunch from the lunch box (tiffin) when I discovered that I was really good at dancing," he recalled. "They used to call me, Tito Bogista. I was really good at dancing the boogie and I won and became boogie-woogie champion in the whole of the Philippines."

He showed off his dancing skills on the stages of the Inday and Clover Theatres. At the Manila Grand Opera, he became a regular chorus member. In 1952, he became dance partners with a chorus girl named Vilma. He married Vilma and their union bore five siblings: five girls and two boys.

1957 was the year Chiquito first featured in films. "I was the comedian who portrayed a Chinaman in Lutong Makaw," he recounted. "Larry Santiago was the one who gave me a break. The screen name, Chiquito, I got from a Chinese guy who owned a shop that I used to hang out back in the day."

His star rose meteorically when he got included in the legendary Lo Waist Gang which was led by Ronnie Poe. His name was on everyone's lips. From being a sidekick of Ronnie and Zaldy Zshornack he became the lead. He can't remember now how many films he's made to date. From his calculation, it's no less than two hundred movies.

"My career peaked in the latter half of the 60's. I was making twenty movies a year, which was really hectic. Sometimes, in all the three films opening at downtown theatres, I was the lead in all of them."

In over the twenty five years of being in films, he's also started his own company. His company is called many different names: Sotang Bastos Productions, AVP Productions, or even Archer Productions. He has even directed himself numerous times in his own movies. The first film he spearheaded was a spoof on the screen's best-known vampire in Dra. Kulas. The last film he made was Estong Tutong which was a spoof of the Hollywood box office hit, E.T.

"If you see directed by AVP or To-Chiqui on the credits, that was me," he says. "I like having the set-up where you're the producer, writer, actor and director. You can save on the production cost, control not only the budget but the whole film because you're the one running and managing the whole show. That's why there are a lot of producers going bankrupt, because the directors that they hire, they don't know how to contribute fully to the whole production."

One thing that Chiquito takes pride in is that he was able to raise well-behaved kids. As one observer noted, he's lucky if you compare him to another top comedian who has nothing but numerous problems with their kids. "It's because, I tell them, and they know this, that I really love them. But they should never ever bring my name to disrepute because I will be the first one that they will answer to. If they do something that brings massive shame, I said, if I saw them on the road, I will run them down. In God's mercy, no one grew up wayward. Most of them are now abroad and working overseas."

He warned his children about following in their father's footsteps. "I discouraged them because I didn't want them to get frustrated. It's good if I was sure that they would succeed in showbiz. But, they don't know the blood and sweat that I shed before I got to where I am today. I want them to finish their education. To achieve the college education that I did not have. I'm only a high school so I want them all to become professionals. One Chiquito is enough in the family. Even my son, Bukol, who I've seen has talent, I've told him that it will be twice as hard for him especially because the competition is so stiff in showbiz nowadays."

One of Chiquito's fruits of his labour that he is most proud of is, is his huge residence near Balete Drive, Quezon City. In a small pool resides his pet alligator, who he says brings him luck. Apart from this, he also has a house in Makati, where he is also a councillor.

Chiquito has no major awards as an artist. One time when they were giving out awards for top local comedians, they overlooked his name. But he never takes it to heart in spite of it. He's happy because in all the years in showbiz, his life is not tainted by controversy and scandal which is part of being an artist.

"Me, I'm very forgiving," he says. "How many times have I been shafted? The film makes money but when the royalty cheque comes, it bounces. I just take it with a grain of salt instead of taking them to court. Even when my co-star wastes my time, I try and understand their situation so there's no friction. Even as a politician, when they try and find dirt on me, I just tell myself that they're just envious of me."

With his advancing years, Chiquito is still quick and agile, although he can't hide that he's putting on weight with his growing belly. This is the reason why he's going on a diet. After all, he's known as a good athlete: A great horseman in a race.

In response to the taunts that he's only second fiddle to Dolphy, this is Chiquito's response: "I don't care even if they say I'm last place. All I know is, the public continue to watch my movies. Just look at my Mang Kepweng films, it became a series because it was a hit at the box office. At GP Films, we thought that it was over after Mang Kepweng's Final Conflict, but now, there's another instalment in Kepweng and Son. "There it is, perhaps, proof that the public still like me."

NOW OPEN! Trash Video Blog

December 5, 2012, 1:17 am

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Everyone, Trash Video Blog is the start of my on-line shop, where I'm selling off my old film and music posters, books and magazines, CDs, VHS tapes and DVDs. The days of hoarding are officially over, so let the shedding begin! 

Please have a look at the new format: http://trashvideobrisbane.blogspot.com.au/

Caxambu! (1967)

December 11, 2012, 1:51 am

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1967 - Caxambu! (W. Lee Wilder Productions) 

[American production shot in the Philippines, perhaps a TV movie for Paramount Television]

Director/Producer W. Lee Wilder Screenplay Waldon Wheeland Cinematography Herbert V. Theis Music Albert Elms Editor Ronald Pope Sound Recordist Levy Principe Assistant Director Francisco McLane Production Manager Vicente Nayve Continuity Mary Abelardo Set Operation Francisco Balangue, Constancio Garcia Property Master Eduardo Urbano Wardrobe Vicente Cabrera Makeup Lili Juaquino Hair Stylist Cecilia Abelardo

Cast John Ireland (Vince Neff), Carol Ohmart (Peggy Garrat), Keith Larsen (Emil Garrat), Gordon Blackmon (Simon), Lucien Pan (Jose), Ben Perez (Rudy), Joseph de Cordova (Missionary I), Isidoro Rueda (Missionary II), Irene Brown (Cherry Blossom), Joaquin Fajardo (Witch Doctor)

Review from the Internet Movie Database:

My summary is hardly a glowing endorsement, but you could certainly do a lot worse than watching "Caxambu!". While the story is a bit familiar and the budget apparently rather low, it worked well enough that after it was over, I was glad I'd seen it--even with its shortcomings.

John Ireland plays the leader of a gang who steal a bag of diamonds in South America. They take a diamond cutter and his wife hostage and steal a plane in order to escape. However, the plane crashes and the group is stranded in the middle of a VERY hostile wilderness. The main problem are the local natives--who pick off several in the group, one-by-one. The other problem is greed, and the thieves soon start bickering with each other.

I've seen several films and TV shows that remind me of "Caxambu!" but despite being familiar and having some difficult to believe characters (particularly Ireland and his unbelievable change of heart), it kept me engaged throughout and was a decent little film. The location shoot didn't hurt.

Vinnie Rattolle's review from the Internet Movie Database:

After their plane is hijacked, a small group of people find themselves wandering in the jungles of Caxambu, where they're stalked by the natives, subjected to local dangers, and paranoia causes them to turn on each other.

It's hardly surprising nobody else has commented on "Caxambu!" -- I can't find any evidence that it ever played theatres or drive-ins before it began airing on TV infrequently throughout the '70s and '80s. It feels like one of those bad public domain b-movies from the era that Elvira and the gang from MST3K would mock.

I don't mind a slow-moving film, but this one is paced at the speed of evolution. It takes a good 40 minutes of the movie's 75 minute running time before much of anything happens. And when stuff finally DOES begin to happen (amazonian and rubber alligator attacks, quicksand, etc.), it really isn't that interesting.

Although the actors aren't bad (for the most part), the characters' actions are questionable and the dialogue is thoroughly inane. (Sample: As the movie begins a telephone rings, and John Ireland exclaims: "That could be the phone!" Duh.) The hypnotic Carol Ohmart spent her too-brief Hollywood career playing an assortment of ballsy, larger-than-life characters, but she's totally wasted here playing what starts out seeming like an interesting part which immediately degenerates into a stock '60s woman-in-peril role. Similarly, western great Ireland has virtually nothing to do but skulk looking badly constipated. I find it baffling that either actor agreed to appear in this movie.

The one thing the film does have going for it is the location. I dunno whether or not it was actually filmed in Caxambu, but there is a great jungle locale that made for some nice visual compositions. Unfortunately, that's not enough to make up for the rest of the movie's shortcomings. Also the ending isn't bad, but it's abrupt and you can see the twist coming from a mile away.

Bottom line: It's only worth seeking out this rarity if you're a hardcore fan of the actors. And even then it's not really worth amazon/ebay reseller prices for the long out of print VHS.

The Fighting Dragon (1975)

December 18, 2012, 5:08 am

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1975 - The Fighting Dragon(Golden Films Company) 

[Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines, also released as "Challenge Me Dragon", re-released theatrically in the US in 1982 as "Fighting Dragon vs The Deadly Tiger"; also released in France as "Le Dragon Rouge Contre Les Griffes De La Mort", in Germany as Die Todesfaust der Killerkralle", in Denmark as "Dragens Blodige Hævn"]

NOTE: Sometimes confused with Call Me Dragon (dir. Ng See-Yuen, 1974), also starring Bruce Liang/Leung Siu-Lung and Yasuaki Kurata.

Director Peng Chien [sometimes listed as Pang Him] Screenplay Wu Shih [HKMDB instead lists Ng Sek] Producer Hsiao Yin-Fang [sometimes listed as C.F. Hsiao] Executive Producer Chang Hung [HKMDB lists him instead as Production Manager] Cinematography Liang Hsi-Ming [also listed as Leung Hey-Ming] Music Frankie "Chen"/Chan Fan-Kei [sometimes listed as Yung-Yu Chen] Editor Cheng Keung [sometimes listed as Kuang Cheng] Assistant Director Yue Man-Wa [sometimes listed as Wen-Hua Yue] Sound Recordist Chang Hua Costume Designer Koo Che [sometimes listed as Che Ku] Lighting Fung Man-King [sometimes listed as Wen-Ching Fung] Makeup S. S. Tang Sheung-Sam [sometimes listed as Shang-Hsin Teng]

Cast Bruce "Liang"/Leung Siu-Lung (Interpol Agent Leung Kin Sun), Yasuaki Kurata (Lung Yen Fei), Lee Ka-Ting (Red Scorpion), Bolo Yeung Sze (Red Faced Tiger), Chan Lau  (Purple Snake), Ma Chien-Tang, Chu Gam, Lam Hak-Ming (Thug), Tony Leung Siu-Hung (Taxi Driver/extra), Lee Fat-Yuen (extra), Ng Ka-Wai, Kam Ching-Yan, Yau Mei-Chi, Chow Sau-Kuen, Cheung Ang, Lau Tat-Chi, Tamagawa Isao, Mitani Noboru, Fukawa Fusayo, Yoshida Noboru        

    

SYNOPSIS: The story begins as Leung Yun Fei arrives in Hong Kong to find out the reason his master was killed. As he exits the airport, a undercover Interpol agent is intercepting a kidnapping attempt by the "Black Panther" gang. Gang leader "Red Faced Tiger" manages to kidnap a woman named Ms. Lin to be held for ransom. Now, Leung seeks to save the woman and find his master's killer. This will lead him down a dark and violent road out of Hong Kong to Japan and the Philippines, as he battles waves of formidable gang members such as "Purple Snake", "Red Dragon", and "The Blue Cat" to get some answers, and his revenge.

Review from the Hong KongMovie Database:

This flick could’ve been much better. The flick was doing good until Bolo dies. Bolo plays an unlit Marlboro chomping, Hawaiian shirt wearin’ thug named the Red Faced Tiger. What a sight! The flick reminds me of a modern day Fists of Fury. Lung Yen Fei (Yusuaki Kurata) returns from Japan in a white suit (like Bruce) to find out the cause of his Sifu’s death. Like Master Fok Yuen Gap in Fists of Fury, the death of Lung Yen Fei’s Sifu is hard to fathom as he was healthy and his gung fu was fantastic. After some snooping around, not to mention being at the right place at the right time, Lung Yen Fei finds out that that the Black Leopard criminal society is the cause behind his Sifu’s death. An Interpol agent, Leung Kin Sun (Bruce Liang) is also investigating the Black Leopard gang’s activities and at times manages to lend the Fighting Dragon a helping hand. For the most part, Bruce Liang’s appearances are temporary and do nothing to bring the flick to another level of entertainment. Forget about this flick. Watch up to Bolo’s last hurrah and then turn off your TV. Below averagefare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cry Freedom (1959)

January 6, 2013, 10:47 pm

≫ Next: FILIPINO EXPORT FILMS, INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS AND CO-PRODUCTIONS SHOT IN THE PHILIPPINES

≪ Previous: The Fighting Dragon (1975)

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1959 - Cry Freedom(Banaue Pictures)

[Philippines' release date 1st July 1959; distributed theatrically in the US in 1961 by Parallel Film Distributors Inc, released in Belgium as "Le Cri De La Liberte/De Kreet Der Vrijheid"]

Director Lamberto V. Avellana Writer Rolf Bayer Based on the novel "The Crucible" by Yay Marking Producer Edith Pérez de Tagle CinematographyMike Accion Music Restie Umali Editor Fely Crisostomo Sound Flaviano Villareal    

                 

Cast Pancho Magalona (Marking), Rosa Rosal (Yay), Johnny Reyes (Cabalhim), Jack Forster (Sid), Joseph de Cordova, Alfonso Carvajal, Pedro Faustino, Mario Roldan, Charles Kelley (Lieutenant Stoddard), Tony Santos (Juanito)

 Original Filipino ad courtesy of Simon Santos' Video 48 blog

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FILIPINO EXPORT FILMS, INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS AND CO-PRODUCTIONS SHOT IN THE PHILIPPINES

January 6, 2013, 11:28 pm

≫ Next: Eye Of The Eagle (1987)

≪ Previous: Cry Freedom (1959)

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UPDATED 07/01/13- As part of my PhD thesis on the history of genre filmmaking in the Philippines, I am proposing a list of features filmed in the Philippines, either by local or foreign companies, for international release. These include international productions such as Apocalypse Now and Platoon, Cirio Santiago's co-productions with Roger Corman and others, European and Asian films using the Philippines as a location, and local films dubbed into foreign languages for international markets.

NOTES: This list is far from complete, and is merely a work in progress. Additions, retractions and suggestions are more than welcome!

Films with an asterisk next to the title are already on DVD-R in the Bamboo Gods archives. Titles without an asterisk are desperately needed.

*Above The War/Search And Destroy (1989) - JAPAN

Action Is Not Missing (1987) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

The Adventurers (1995) - 90s HONG KONG

Aibou The Movie 2 (2010) - JAPAN

*Aladdin and the Adventure of All Time (2000) - CIRIO

*Alien From The Deep (1989) - MARGHERITI/GICO

Alfredo Sebastian (1981) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Ambush Bay (1966) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*American Commandos (1986) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*American Force 2: The Untouchable Glory (1988) - IFD

*American Force 3: High Sky Mission (1988) - IFD

*American Force 4: Soldier Exterminators (1988) - IFD

*An American Guerrilla In The Philippines (1950) - US PRODUCTIONS 1950s

*American Kickboxer 2 (1993) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*American Ninja (1985) - CANNON FILMS

Amigo (2011) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Angelfist (1993) - CIRIO

*Angel In The Dark (1991) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*Angel of Destruction (1994) - CIRIO

*Angel On Fire/Matira Ang Matibay (1995) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Apocalypse Now (1977-79) - 70s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*The Arizona Kid (1970) - EARLY CIRIO

Armour Of God II: Operation Condor (partly shot in the Philippines, 1991) - 80s HONG KONG

*Arnis The Sticks Of Death (1979) - KUNG FU

Assault Platoon (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*Atrocities Of The Orient (1948) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

*Attack And Destroy (1981) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Back Door To Hell (1964) - HELLMAN

*Back To Bataan (1945) - US PRODUCTIONS 1940s

*Bamboo Gods And Iron Men (1974) - 70s CIRIO

*Barracuda: Terror Of The Sea (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Bad Blood (1996) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT

*Battle Rats (1989) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN

Bayside At Midnight (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN

*Beach Red (1967) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Beast Of Blood (1970) - ASHLEY/ROMERO

*Beast Of The Yellow Night (1971) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD

The Beggar/Ang Pulubi (1969) - NEPOMUCENO

*Behind Enemy Lines (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Beyond Atlantis (1973) - ROMERO

*Beyond The Call Of Duty (1992) - CIRIO

*The Big Bird Cage (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD

*The Big Doll House (1971) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD

*The Bionic Boy (1977) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

Birds Of Passage (2001) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Blackbelt (1992) - CIRIO

*Blackbelt II (1993) - CIRIO

*Black Cobra 2 (1988) - MARGHERITI JR

*Black Cobra 3 (1990) - MARGHERITI JR

*The Black Dragon (1974) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*Black Dragon (Ron Van Clief, 1974) - KUNG FU

*Blackfire (1985) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Black Mama White Mama (1973) - ROMERO

*Black Mamba (1974) - ASHLEY/TAGALOG EXPORTS

Black Market Love (2008) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Black Panther Of Shaolin/Bamboo Trap (1975) - LEO FONG

Blades Of The Sun (2001) - JAPAN

Blasting Bullets (1985) - DAVIAN

*Blind Rage/The System (1976) - LEO FONG

*Blood Chase (1989) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Blood Debts (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*The Blood Drinkers (1964) - PINOY HORROR

*Bloodfist (1989) - CIRIO

*Bloodfist II (1990) - CIRIO

*Bloodfist 2050 (2005) - CIRIO

*Blood Hands (1990) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Blood Hero/The Bloody Hero (1973) - KUNG FU

Blood Hunt (1981) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

Blood Of Bataan (1953) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

*Blood Ring (1991) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

Blood Ring 2 (1995) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

Blood Run (1994) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Blood Surf (2000) - 2000s EXPORTS

*Blood Thirst (1965/71) - DUPONT

*Blood War (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Blowback 2 (1992) - JAPAN

Body Blow (David de Coteau, 2010)- RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Bodyguard (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS/VIKING FILMS

*Body Parts/Vital Parts (2001) - CIRIO

*Boni En Klayd/Los Intocables De Redford White (1981) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Born On The 4th Of July (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Born To Fight (1989) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Born To Gamble (1987) - 80s HONG KONG

The Bourne Legacy (2012) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Boy God/Stone Boy (1982) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*The Boys In Company C (1978) - 70s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Braddock: Missing In Action 3 (1988) - CANNON FILMS

*Brides Of Blood (1967) - ASHLEY/ROMERO

Brides of Sulu (1937) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

*Brothers (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/AUSTRALIA

Brokedown Palace (1999) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Brothers In War (1989) - ITALIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES OR SANTO DOMINGO?/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]

*Bruce And The Shaolin Bronzemen (1980) - KUNG FU

*Bruce's Fists of Vengeance (1980) - KUNG FU/KINAVESA

*Bruce The Super Hero (1979) - DICK RANDALL

*Bruka Queen Of Evil (1975) - JIMMY PASCUAL/ HK FANTASY/HORROR

Buddy 1 (2007) - JAPAN

*Bye Bye Vietnam (1988) - CAMILLO TETI/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]

*Caged Fury (1982) - 80s CIRIO

*Caged Heat II: Stripped Of Freedom (1994) - CIRIO

*Calibre .357 (1984) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL

Cannibals - Legend Or Reality (2008) - PAOLUCCI

*Cannibal World (2004) - MATTEI PART 2

*A Case Of Honor (1988) - ROMERO/GINNANE

Caxambu! (1967) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*The Chain (1996) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Chaku Master (1974) - REY MALONZO

*Champion Fighter/The Fighter The Winner/Grease Gun Brothers (1991?) - IFD

Chateau de Roses (2005) - JAPAN

*Checkered Flag Or Crash! (1977) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2

The Children Of An Lac (1980 TV Movie) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*China And Sex (1993) - MASSACESSI

*Chinese Kamasutra (1993) - MASSACESSI

*Circle Of Fear (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/CLARK HENDERSON

*Classified Operation (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Closer To Home (1995) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Clouds/Alapaap (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Cobrador (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Cobra Mission (1986) - DE ANGELIS/DIETRICH

*Cobra Mission 2 (1989) - ITALIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES OR SANTO DOMINGO?/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]

Code Name K-9/Kill (1980s) - JAPAN

*Codename: Wildgeese (1984) - MARGHERITI/DIETRICH

Combat Killers (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*The Commander (1987) - MARGHERITI/ASCOT [DIETRICH]

*Commander Lawin (1986) - DAVIAN/SUNNY

*Commando Invasion (1986) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Commando Leopard (1985) - MARGHERITI/DIETRICH

*Cop Game (1988) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Cosa Nostra Asia (1973) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

Counterthrust! (1959) - ROMERO

*Cover Girl Models (1975) - CORMAN/CIRIO

*Crackdown (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/JOHN GARWOOD

The Crazy Bunch/Hepe (1980) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Crime Stopper (1990) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Crossbone Territory (1985) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*Cross Mission (1988) - ALFONSO BRESCIA/AM TRADING INTERNATIONAL

*Cruel Horizon (1989) - BELGIUM

The Cruel Stone/Yûsha No Hihô (2005) - JAPAN

Cry Freedom (1959) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

*Cry Of Battle (1963) - ROMERO

*Curse/Cannibal Curse (1987) - 80s HONG KONG

*Curse Of The Vampires (1966) - PINOY HORROR

*Dance Of The Dwarfs (1983) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*A Dangerous Life (1988) - 80s AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTIONS

Dangerous Passion (1998) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

The Dark Side of a Woman (2005) - MATTEI

Dark Tide (1994) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Daughters Of Satan (1972) - SCHENCK

*Day Of The Trumpet/Cavalry Command (1957) - ROMERO

Days Of Being Wild (partly shot in the Philippines, 1990) - HONG KONG 90s

*The Day They Robbed America/The Sangley Point Robbery (1985) - DAVIAN/SUNNY

*Deadly Commando/Suicide Force (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Deadly Target (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS/VIKING FILMS

*Deadly Target /Walang Kasukat Sa Tapang (1994) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

Dead Men Can't Dance (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Death Bond (1989) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Deadringer (1985) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Deathfight/Rage (1992) - SELLERS/MAHARAJ

*Death Force/Fighting Mad (1978) - 70s CIRIO

*Deathhhead Virgin (1974) - AMERICAN MISC

Death Match (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN

*Death Raiders (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990) - CANNON FILMS

*Demon Of Paradise (1987) - CIRIO

*Demonstone (1989) - GINNANE

*Desert Warrior (1988) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

Desperate Hours (1997) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT

*The Destroyers (1985) - 80s CIRIO

*Devil's Angels/Devil's Three/Pay Or Die (1981) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*Devil Woman (1974) - JIMMY PASCUAL/ HK FANTASY/HORROR

*Dirty Games - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*DNA (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Dog Tags (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Doomsdayer (2000) - SELLERS

*Double Blast (1994) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

Double Dragon (1994) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Double Edge (1986) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Double Target (1987) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Dragons Never Die (1974) - JIMMY PASCUAL/KUNG FU

*The Dragon, The Lizard, The Boxer (1977) - RAMON ZAMORA

*Driving Force (1988) - GINNANE

*Drug Connection (shot in Japan, USA and the Philippines, 1992) - JAPAN

*Dune Warriors (1991) - CIRIO

*D'Wild Wild Weng (1982) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL

*Dynamite Johnson (1978) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

Darna (1950) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

*Eagle Of The Jungle (1987?) - SUNNY

Eastern Condors (1987) - 80s HONG KONG

*Ebony Ivory And Jade (1976) - 70s CIRIO

Emanuelle in Manila (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN

Emergency Call/Kinkyû Yobidashi (1995) - JAPAN

*Enemy/Fatal Mission (1990) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/GEORGE ROWE

*The Enforcer From Death Row (1975) - LEO FONG

*Enter The Ninja (1982) - CANNON FILMS

*Equalizer 2000 (1987) - CIRIO

*Escape From Blood Plantation/Island Of The Bloody Plantation (1983) - DIETRICH

*Escape To Mindanao (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Escape To Nowhere/Battle Geese (1990) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*Eternal Fist/Fist Of Steel (1991) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*Ethan (1964) - DUPONT/GROFE JR

*Evidence (1974) - KUNG FU

*The Expendables (1988) - CIRIO

*Eye of the Eagle (1987) - CIRIO

*Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy (1989) - CIRIO

*The Fantastic Sword (1976) - HK FANTASY/HORROR

*Fast Gun (1993) - CIRIO

*Fatal Chase (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

Fatal Desire (1998) - CONFIRM!! 90s HONG KONG

*Fatal Vacation (1989) - 80s HONG KONG

*Field Of Fire (1991) - CIRIO

*The Fighter/The Kickfighter (1987) - MAHARAJ

*Fight For Us/Orapronobis (1989) - TAGALOG EXPORTS

*The Fighting Dragon/Challenge The Dragon/Challenge Me Dragon (w/Yusuka Kurata, 1975) - KUNG FU

*Fighting Spirit (1992) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Final Mission (1984) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ

*Final Reprisal (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT/SOLAR

*Firebird Conspiracy (1983-85) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Fireback (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Firecracker/Naked Fist (1981) - 80s CIRIO

*Firehawk (1993) - CIRIO

*The Firing Line (1991) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Fist Of Glory (1992) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

Five And The Skin (1982) - FRANCE

*Flight To Fury (1964) - HELLMAN

*Fly Me (1973) - CORMAN/CIRIO

*Forbidden Women (1948) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

*Force Of Shaolin Boxer (1980) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Forever Emmanuelle/Laure (1976) - FRANCE

*Forgotten Warrior (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/RON MARCHINI

*Fortress In The Sun (1975) - TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Fortress Of The Dead (1965) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*Fortunes Of War (1994) - SELLERS

*For Y'ur Height Only (1981) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL

*From Hell To Borneo (1964) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

Full Speed Run (1988) - JAPAN

*Future Hunters (1986) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ

*The Game Of Death! (1974) - RAMON ZAMORA

*Genghis Khan (1950) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

Get My Son: Dead Or Alive (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Get The Terrorists (1987) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

Going Back (2001) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*The Golden Chaku/Bruce And The Golden Chaku (1977) - RAMON ZAMORA/REY MALONZO

*The Golden Nightmare (1998) - 90s HONG KONG

*Golden Triangle (1975) - KUNG FU

Goodbye America (1997) - SELLERS

*Green Eyes (1977 TV Movie) - 70s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Guardian Angel (1994) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Guerrillas In Pink Lace (1964) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*The Guys From Paradise (2000) - JAPAN

*Hamburger Hill (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Hard To Kill (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*The Headhunters (1973) - TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Heated Vengeance (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/EDWARD D. MURPHY

*Heatseeker (1995) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/ALBERT PYUN

*Hell Camp (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Hell Hole/Women Of Hell Island/Escape From Hell Hole/Guardian Angels (1981) - 80s CIRIO

Hell Raiders (1986) - GROFE JR

*Heroes Blood/The 13th Mission (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*Heroes For Hire (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*High Velocity (1976) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2

High Voltage (1995) - 90s HONG KONG

*Hill 171 (1987) - DAVIAN/SUNNY

*Hitman The Cobra/Kumander Sumulong: 1940-1970 (1986) - IFD

Honey I Love You (details unconfirmed) - JAPAN

Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore (1965) - SHAW BROTHERS

*Hong Kong 97 (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/ALBERT PYUN

*Horror Of The Blood Monsters (w/50s caveman footage from the Philippines, 1970) - AL ADAMSON

*Hostage Syndrome (1988) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*The Hot Box/Hell Cats (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD

*The House Of Pleasure (1993) - MASSACESSI

*Huk! (1958) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*The Hunted (1970) - NEPOMUCENO

*The Hunted (1989) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*The Hunted Hunter (1997) - 90s HONG KONG

*Hunter's Crossing (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Hunters Of The Golden Cobra (1982) - MARGHERITI/GICO/REGAL? FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]?

*The Hunt For Eagle One (2006) - CIRIO

*The Hunt For Eagle One: Crash Point (2006) - CIRIO

*Hustler Squad (1976) - 70s CIRIO

I Am Blushing (1981) - SWEDEN

I Come With The Rain (partly shot in the Philippines, 2008) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Igorota (1968) - NEPOMUCENO

*Impasse (1969) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Impetus Fire (1988) - 80s HONG KONG

*The Impossible Kid (1982) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL

*Indio (1988) - MARGHERITI

*Indio 2: The Revolt (1990) - MARGHERITI

*Intrusion Cambodia (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Invaders Of The Lost Gold/Greed/Horror Safari (1981) - DICK RANDALL

*I Racconti Della Camera Rossa (1993) - MASSACESSI

*Island of the Living Dead (2006) - MATTEI

*Jailbreak 1958 - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*The Jail: The Women's Hell (2006) - MATTEI

*Jiboa (1989)

*Johnny Rambo Tango (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Joy And Joan (1985) - FRANCE

*Jungle Raiders (1985) - MARGHERITI

*Jungle Rats (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*Jungle Wolf (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/RON MARCHINI

*Just A Damned Soldier (1988) - FERDINANDO BALDI/REGAL

Kamikaze (2006) - JAPAN

*Karate Warrior (1987) - FABRIZIO DE ANGELIS/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]

Karate Warrior 2 (1988) - FABRIZIO DE ANGELIS/FULVIA FILM [DE ANGELIS]

*The Kid And The Gunfighter/The Gunfighter (1983) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Kieu (2006) - VIETNAM

Kike Wadatsuminokoe (1994) - JAPAN

*Killer Instinct (1987) - CIRIO/GINNANE

*Killer vs Ninjas (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*The Killing Of Satan (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Kill Zone (1993) - CIRIO

Kiss The Sky (1998) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Knock Off (1998) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Kris Commando (1987) - SUNNY

*The Labyrinth Of Love (1993) - MASSACESSI

*Land Of Death (2003) - MATTEI

Land Of Scarecrows (2008) - SOUTH KOREA/FRANCE

*The Last American Soldier/The Commander (1988) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/REGAL

Last Dance Of August 15th (2005) - JAPAN

*Last Flight To Hell (1990) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/GICO

*The Last Hunter (1980) - MARGHERITI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Last Platoon/Angel Hill (1988) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/GICO

*Last Stand at Lang Mei/Eye Of The Eagle 3 (1989) - CIRIO

*Leathernecks (1988) - IGNAZIO DOLCE/GICO

*Legacy (1998) - SELLERS

*Leopard Hunting (1998) - 90s HONG KONG

*The Lethal Hunt/Partida (1985) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN

*Lethal Panther/Deadly China Dolls (1991) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Lethal Panther 2/Magkasangga Sa Batas (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Live By The Fist (1993) - CIRIO

*The Longest Hundred Miles (1967) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*The Losers (1970) - GARFIELD/SMITH

Lost Battalion (1960) - ROMERO

Lost Command (1988) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN

Love In Ambush (1997) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/AUSTRALIA

*Mad Doctor Of Blood Island (1969) - ASHLEY/ROMERO

*Mad Dog (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Mad Killer (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*The Madonna And The Dragon (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Mad Warrior/Clash Of The Warlords (1984) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Magic Curse (1977) - HK FANTASY/HORROR

*Magic Of The Universe (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Magindanao (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Maharlika (1970) - MARCOS/NEPOMUCENO

Manila (2000) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Manila, Open City (1968) - NEPOMUCENO/ROMERO

*Mannigan's Force (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

Man On The Run/The Kidnappers (1958) - ROMERO

*Mantis Boxer (1979?) - KUNG FU

Marco Polo - Oriental Sex Journey (2003/05) - MASSACESSI

*Marianna (1982) - 80s HONG KONG

*Master Samurai (1974) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*McBain (1991) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Merrill's Marauders (1962) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

Midnight Angels (1997) - CONFIRM!! 90s HONG KONG

*Missing In Action (1984) - CANNON FILMS

*Mission Batangas (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Mission Manila (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Mission Terminate/Return Of The Kickfighter (1987) - MAHARAJ

Moro Witch Doctor (1964) - ROMERO

*Movie In Action (1987) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Murder In The Orient/Manila Gold (1974) - LEO FONG

Murder On The Menu (1998) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT

*The Muthers (1976) - 70s CIRIO

Mutiny In The South Seas (1965) - WEST GERMANY

*My Lai Four (2011) - PAOLUCCI

*Naked In The Dark/Hubo Sa Dilim (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Naked Vengeance (1985) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ

*Nam Angels (1989) - CIRIO

*Narco Dollar (1988) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Night Games (1982) - ROGER VADIM

Nightmare Honeymoon (1997) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT

*Night Of The Cobra Woman (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD

*Nine Deaths Of The Ninja (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Ninja Kids: Phantom Force (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Ninja's Force (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*The Ninja Squad/Hatulan Si…Totoy Angustia (1986) - IFD

*Ninja Ultimate Challenge/Twin Fists For The Blackmasters            (1986) - IFD

*Ninja Warriors (1985) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Ninja, Warriors From Beyond/Maestro Bandido (1986) - IFD

*No Blood No Surrender (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*No Dead Heroes (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*No Man Is An Island (1962) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

No Place To Hide (1955) - US PRODUCTIONS 1950s

Noriega: God's Favorite (2000) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS          

*Not Another Mistake (1988) - MAHARAJ

*Obsessed (1988) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

An Officer And A Gentleman (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*The Omegans (1968) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Once Before I Die (1965) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*The One-Armed Executioner (1983) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*One Man Army (1994) - CIRIO

One Percent Full (2007) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Operation: Get Victor Corpus The Rebel Soldier (1987) DAVIAN/SUNNY

Orient Escape (2005) - MATTEI

Outlaw Inferno (1981) ) - CINE SUERTE

*Over My Dead Body (1983) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*The Pacific Connection/Stick Fighter (1974) - NEPOMUCENO

*Pacific Inferno (1979) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2

Passage To Hell (1988?) - JAPAN

*The Passionate Strangers (1966) - ROMERO

Perfect Duo (unconfirmed) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*Phantom Raiders (1988) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Phantom Soldiers (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT/REGAL

Platoon (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Platoon The Warriors/Diegong Bayong (1987) - IFD

*Pleasure Island (1981) - DICK RANDALL

Portofino: The Philippines (2009) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Power Connection/Tapang Sa Tapang (1995) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*POW The Escape/Behind Enemy Lines (1986) - CANNON FILMS

Primary Target (1988) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/CORMAN/CLARK HENDERSON

*Project: Kill (1975) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2

*Purple Hearts (1984) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Purple Storm (partly shot, 1999) - 90s HONG KONG

Rage Of Justice (1987) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Raging Angels (unconfirmed, 1998) - CONFIRM!! 90s HONG KONG

The Raging Anger (1987) - SUNNY

*Raging Vendetta - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Raider Platoon (1988) - DAVIAN/SUNNY

Raiders For Victory (1982) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Raiders Of Atlantis/Atlantis Interceptors (1983) - DEODATO

*Raiders Of Leyte Gulf (1962) - ROMERO

*Raiders Of The Paradise (1980) - DAVIAN/SUNNY

*Raiders Of The Sun (1992) - CIRIO

*The Ravagers (1965) - ROMERO

*Raw Force (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/EDWARD D. MURPHY

*Raw Target (1995) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

The Rebel Soldier (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Red Roses For A Call Girl/Manila Tattoo/True Confessions Of Diana (1986) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*Rescue Team (1983) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

The Resort Murders (1998) - MALAYSIA'S HVD ENTERTAINMENT

Return From The River Kwai (1989) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Return Of Bruce (1977) - KUNG FU

*Return Of The Dragon (1974) - RAMON ZAMORA

*Revenge For Justice (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Revenge Of The Bushido Blade/The Last Reunion (1978) - LEO FONG

*Revenge Of The Lady Lighter (1973) - KUNG FU

*Revenge Of The Stolen Stars (1985) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Ride The Tiger (1970) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*Robowar (1989) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Robo Warriors (1997) - CIRIO

*Rocky Tan-Go IV (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Sabotage/Sabotage 2 (1979) - LILIW INTERNATIONAL

Saigon Baby (1995) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Saigon Commandos (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/CORMAN/CLARK HENDERSON

*Samar (1962) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*Sanda Wong (1955) - EARLY FILIPINO EXPORTS

Sando In The Diplomat's Daughter (1988) - JAPAN

*Savage! (1973) - CORMAN/CIRIO

Savage In The Orient (1983) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Savage Justice (1988) - ROMERO JR/GINNANE

*Savage Sisters (1974) - ROMERO

*The Scavengers (1959) - ROMERO

*Score (1995) - JAPAN

Sea Devils (1998) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Searchers Of The Voodoo Mountain (1984) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*Search For Vengeance (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Secret Of King Mahi's Island (1989) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT/SOLAR

*Secret Of The Incas' Empire (1987) ) - CINE SUERTE/ITALIANS

The Secret Of The Sacred Forest (1970) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

Secrets of Women (2005) - MATTEI

Secrets of Women 2 (2005) - MATTEI

*SFX Retaliator (1987) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Sgt Clarin: A Bullet For Your Head (1990) - 90s TAGALOG EXPORTS

Shadow Of The Dragon (1973) - RAMON ZAMORA

*Shaolin Master (1976) - REY MALONZO

Shocking Asia (1976) - WEST GERMANY

Shocking Asia II: The Last Taboos (1985) - WEST GERMANY

*A Shudder on the Skin (2005) - MATTEI

*The Siege Of Firebase Gloria (1989) - GINNANE

*Silip/Daughters Of Eve (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Silk (1986)  - 80s CIRIO

*Silk 2 (1989) - CIRIO

*Silver Dragon Ninja [uses HK film Trap, shot in the Philippines] (1986) - IFD

*The Sisterhood (1988) - CIRIO

*Slash (1984) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

Sleeping Dragon (1975) - JIMMY PASCUAL/KUNG FU

*Sloane (1984) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Soldier Boyz (1996) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Soldyer! (1986) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*South Seas Massacre (1974) - TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Sparrow Unit: The Termination Squad (1987) - CINE SUERTE/DAVIAN

*Spitfire (partly shot in Rome, HK and the Philippines, 1995) - 90s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/ALBERT PYUN

*Spyder (1988) - CIRIO

*The Steel Claw (1960) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*Story Of The Dolls/The Dolls (1984) - GERMANY

*The Story Of Woo Viet/God Of Killers (1981) - 80s HONG KONG

*Stranglehold (1994) - CIRIO

*Strike Commando (1987) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Strike Commando 2 (1988) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Stryker (1983) - 80s CIRIO/MAHARAJ

*Sudden Death (1975) - ROMERO

*Sudden Thunder (1990) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

*Superbeast (1972) - SCHENCK/GARFIELD

*Supercock (1975) - ROSS HAGEN

*The Surabaya Conspiracy (1969) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Surrender - Hell! (1959) 50s AMERICAN PRODUCTIONS/DE LEON

*The Suspect (Ringo Lam, 1998) - 90s HONG KONG

*Sweet Revenge (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Tarzan And The Brown Prince (1972) - EARLY CIRIO

*A Taste Of Hell (1973) - GARFIELD/SMITH

Tazza: The High Rollers (2006) - SOUTH KOREA

*Techno Warriors (1998) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Techno Warriors 2: Lethal Combat/Digital Warriors (1999) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Teppanyaki (1984) - 80s HONG KONG

*Terminal Virus (1995) - CIRIO

*Terror In Paradise (1995) - CIRIO

*Terror Is A Man/Blood Creature (1959) - ROMERO

*They Call Her Cleopatra Wong (1978) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*They Call Him Bruce Lee (1979) - KUNG FU/KINAVESA

*They Call Him Chop Suey (1975) - BOBBY A. SUAREZ

*The Third Hand/Judgment Night (1987) - GROFE JR

*The Thirsty Dead (1974) - AMERICAN MISC

*Thirteen Days (2000) - RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

The Three Lustketeers (1998) - 90s HONG KONG

*Tiger Force/Kill The Tiger (1975) - KUNG FU/KINAVESA

*Tiger Joe (1981) - MARGHERITI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Tigershark (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*A Time For Dying/Pipo (1970) - NEPOMUCENO

*TNT Jackson (1974) - CORMAN/CIRIO

*The Tomb (2006) - MATTEI

*Too Hot To Handle (1977) - AMERICAN MISC PART 2

*Too Late The Hero (1970) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

*Top Mission/Diablo Force (1988) - FILMARK

*Tornado/Last Blood (1983) - MARGHERITI/GICO? FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]?

Tough Cop (1987) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop (1995) - 90s HONG KONG

*Trap/Cop Killer (1982) - 80s HONG KONG

*Treasure Of The Moon Goddess (1987) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Trident Force (1988) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*Trigon Fire (1989) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Triple Impact (1992) - DAVIAN INTERNATIONAL

Tropical Manila (2008) - SOUTH KOREA

*Troublesome Night 4 (1998) - 90s HONG KONG

*The Twilight People (1973) - ROMERO

*Ultimate Revenge (1995) - 90s HONG KONG

*Ultimax Force (1986) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*Ultracop 2000/Magkasangga 2000 (1993) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*Up From The Depths (1979) - 80s CIRIO

US Commando/Jimbo (1985) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Vampire Hookers (1978) - 70s CIRIO

*Vengeance Squad (1987) - 80s FILIPINO PRODUCTIONS FOR EXPORT

*Violent Zone (1988) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/JOHN GARWOOD

*Vulcan/Anak Ng Bulkan (1997) - CIRIO

*W/W Is War (1983) - CINEX/BOY PUZON

*The Walls Of Hell/Intramuros (1964) - ROMERO

War And Love (2004) - SOUTH KOREA

*War Bus (1986) - FERNANDO DI LEO/AMERINDA/REGAL

*Warcamp/POW Deathcamp (1983) - DAVIAN

*War City 3: The Extreme Project/Deadly Brothers (1989?) - IFD

*War City 4: Kingdom Of Power/Bulldog (1989?) - IFD

*War City 5: Law Of Honor/Maynila 1970: Panganib, Araw At Gabi (1989?) - IFD

*Warkill! (1968) - MONTGOMERY/GROFE JR

*War Without End (1986) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Water Wars/Road Raiders (2009) - CIRIO

Weekend Warriors/The Heroes (90s) - SOUTH KOREA

*Wheels Of Fire (1985) - 80s CIRIO

*When Eagles Strike (2003) - CIRIO

*White Force (1988) - ROMERO/GINNANE

*Wild Cats Attack! (1982) - KINAVESA/SILVER STAR

*Wild Force (1985) - DAVIAN/SUNNY

*Wild Whirlwind (1974) - KUNG FU

The Witch (1975) - HK FANTASY/HORROR

*The Woman Hunt (1973) - ROMERO

*Women In Cages (1972) - CORMAN/NEW WORLD

Women Of Valor (1986) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

*Wonder Women/The Deadly And The Beautiful (1973) - ROSS HAGEN

Wounded In Action (1966) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

Xtreme Warriors/Digital Man (2001) - GODFREY HO/PHILIP KO

*The Year Of Living Dangerously (1982) - 80s INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS/AUSTRALIA

Zigzag (1963) - US PRODUCTIONS 1960s

Zimitar (1982) - 80s TAGALOG EXPORTS

*Zombi 3 (1987) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Zombi 4: After Death (1989) - MATTEI/FLORA FILM [COUYOUMDJIAN]

*Zombies: The Beginning (2007) - MATTEI

*Zuma (1985) - CINE SUERTE

*Zuma II: Hell Serpent (1987) - CINE SUERTE

 

Eye Of The Eagle (1987)

January 8, 2013, 7:30 pm

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1987 - Eye Of The Eagle(Premiere Productions/Concorde Pictures)

[US/Filipino co-production released internationally by Roger Corman's Concorde Pictures; released in Germany as "Battlefield Vietnam" and "Jungle Force", in France as "Commando Rebelle", in Finland as "Kotkan Silma" and in Poland as "Oko Orla"]

Director/Producer Cirio H. Santiago Story Catherine Santiago Screenplay Joseph Zucchero, Nigel Hogge Executive Producer [uncredited] Roger Corman Cinematography Ricardo Remias Music Marita Manuel Editor Gervacio SantosSound Supervisor Rollie Ruta Sound Effects Rudy Cabrales Soundman Do Bulatano Assistant Soundman Vicente Dona 2nd Unit Directors "Joe"/Jose Mari Avellana, Bobby Santiago Assistant Director Jose Torres Production Coordinator Anne Roth Production Supervisor Emilio Guatelara Production Manager Aurelio Navarro Production Designer "Joe"/Jose Mari Avellana Art DirectorRonnie Cruz Special Effects Gapo Marbella Stunt Coordinator Fred Esplana Assistant Stunt Coordinators Ronald Asinas, Day Guerrero Makeup Teresa Mercarder Makeup Assistant Edna Veleriano Wardrobe Mistress Elvie Santos  Wardrobe Assistants Gloria Garcia, Remia Mendoza Set Dressers Boyet Camaya, Jerson Arrididon, Max Paglinawan 2nd Unit Cameraman Ben Lobo Assistant Cameramen Rene Pancheco, Ricardo Dumigpi Casting Director Enrique Reyes [IMDB lists Al Guarino, not in credits] Assistant Casting Director Henry Strzalkowski Assistant Production Manager Honorato Perez Jr Continuity Supervisor Chining Sagarbarria Production Assistant Albert Macapagal Production Nurse Vicky Banzuela Transportation Captain Geronimo Holandez Legman Caloy Luna Assistant Editor Danny Pantua Production Accountant Armando Lacsamana Purchaser Ricky Tolentino Comptroller Dulce del Pilar Auditor Octavio Mabilangan Production Secretary Rachel Bernardo Stills Nilo Odiaman 

Cast Brett [Baxter] Clark (Sgt. Rich Stratton), Robert Patrick (Johnny Ransom), Ed Crick (Sgt. Bo Rattner), William Steis (Capt. Carter), Cec Verrell (Chris Chandler), Rey Malonzo (Cpl. Willy Leung), Mike Monty (Col. Stark), Vic Diaz (Colonel Trang), Henry Strzalkowski (Cpl. Weasel Watkins), Willie Williams (Gimme Five), Nick Nicholson (Pfc. Crazy Dog), David Light (Sgt. Maddox), Mel Davidson (Cpl. Beller), Jim Moss (Sgt. Warden), Tony Beso (Lol Pot), Jerry Hart (Doctor), "Dave"/David Anderson (Special Forces Officer), [uncredited] Steve Rogers

Mini-review by Andrew Leavold:

Oliver Stone's Platoon marked a change in the film market's prevailing wind from rampaging Vietnam War vets and missing POWs to actual combat, and Cirio Santiago, like the proverbial bamboo reed, bent with it. EYE OF THE EAGLE (1987) is the first in a substantial barrage of Vietnam War films from Cirio and company, a breathtaking, rapid-fire montage of explosions and head-shots which, luckily, leaves little breathing space for character development and pointless exposition. Brett Clark, a bulky blow-waved Corman and Andy Sidaris regular, plays Rich Stratton, leader of the crack three-man Eagle Team alongside sixgun-toting Johnny Ransom (T2's Robert Patrick, in one of four Cirio appearances) and Willy Leung (the Pinoy Bruce Lee and Search For Vengeance star/director Rey Malonzo). Firey war reporter Chris Chandler (Silk's Cec Verrell) brings news of a Lost Command of renegade American soldiers looting and killing US troops behind enemy lines to Eagle Team's commanding officer Colonel Stark (Mike Monty), but is told by intelligence officer Captain Carter (William Steis) to dismiss it as dangerous rumour. Carter, meanwhile, is knee-deep in dirty dealings with the Lost Command's leader Bo Rattner (Ed Crick, one of the rapists from Naked Vengeance), and once the ragtag group kill Leung during a payroll hijack and take Johnny Boy prisoner, Stratton flies into a solo rage and firebombs their hideout - actually the World War 2 ruins of Corregidor - in a typically incendiary Cirio finale. 

His regulation Pigs In Space crew are well represented in Rattner's band of losers: Nick Nicholson, his hyena laugh pitch-perfect, is Crazy Dog, Henry Strzalkowski's character is appropriately named Weasel, and Willie Williams is "Gimme Five". Portly Vic Diaz briefly appears as a Vietnamese Colonel before he's shot in the skull, and David Light and Jim Moss, Cirio's dependable White Goons, make up Eagle's rival Condor Team. If it looks and sounds familiar by now, it's not surprising, as the screenplay by Cirio stalwarts Joseph Zucchero and Nigel Hogge plays its tripartite power struggle - Americans, the NVA and Rattner's Lost Command - like its iconic post-apocalypse counterparts. Montagnards with bows and arrows look suspiciously like Wheels Of Fire et al's mountain tribe, Robert Patrick's rebel hat is identical to the one he wore in Equalizer 2000, and even the Philippines' stand-in wastelands for Vietnam makes Eye Of The Eagle, more than Cirio's other 'Namsploitationers, feel like a precursor to the inevitable Apocalypse. Click here for the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZE4hByfrho

Nick Nicholson on Eye Of The Eagle (from his blog):

This was one of my favorite films. I got to work with a lot of my friends and made some new friends here. This was a good start for Robert Patrick’s career. We shot this at Valenzuela, Bulacan, which is where most of Cirio’s family lived. The mother’s side owns a tannery there as well. But we had set up a base camp near the church on the same street where his cousins lived. It was cool and we had a place to relax at Ricky Tolentino’s house. They let us use a small hut in their backyard to relax in. The other time, we spent time at Corregidor Tanay and Mt. Makiling, Los Banos where we found a giant poop at the base of a Banyan tree that quickly became the set controversy for many days and I still vividly remember to this day.

I remember that Henry and I went to find a smoking site away from the set and we went to this Banyan tree and as we moved to the side not visible to the set, Henry said, “Holy Shit Pare, look at that!” and he was pointing at a fresh pile a poop that was fucking huge! I would guess that the diameter was at least 3″ and it must have been no less than 3 feet long kind of coiled up. You wouldn’t think it was possible for a human to take a dump like that, but there it was complete with a couple of pieces of tissue that were used to wipe this super humans butt! It was times like this that I kick myself for not bringing a camera with me to capture this oddity. Throughout the day various people went over to that tree to look at that magnificent piece of shit and speculation ran wild with, “Who did it!?!” A lot of people pegged Gloria from wardrobe as the culprit, others claimed it could only have come from her brother Lino who was gay, and made our coffee. Nobody ever claimed it, but, it was talked about for years! It ell you, it was fucking scary!!!

Anyway, as I said earlier this is kind of where Robert Patrick’s career took off! Brett Clark was supposed to be the lead but he ended up wimping out. There was a minor stunt where he was supposed to jump from the roof of a 3 storey building into some boxes below. He chickened out and we told Robert to tell Cirio that he could do it. Well he did, and he got the stunt and the film suddenly focused on him. We were quite happy about that! Robert was a good guy and real fun to work with. He was thus inducted into the “Pigs in Space”!

Los Banos was always a cool place to shoot due to the fact that we would always stop at the Dairy outlet for UP Los Banos and we would load up on chocolate milk and Keso Puti which was a kind of fresh mozzarella cheese. Also we would purchase Buco pie which was a pie made with young tender coconuts.

Nick Nicholson and Henry Strzalkowski

On this particular film, it was much like any other Cirio movie in the sense that a lot of running was involved, not to mention explosions and gunfire. We did all of this and in between we smoked weed and did some exploring. We weren’t too far from the boiling mud spring as Mt Makiling is a volcano. Hence, Los Banos means “the baths” there is a lot of geothermal activity in the area and I still believe that this sucker will pop its cork one of these days.

Above is a picture of Me, Ed Crick and Robert Patrick in makeup on Mt. Makiling Below is Steve Rogers and myself doing some of the “running and shooting”.

Nothing really interesting happened here. We shot some fun stuff at the Valenzuela set. I don’t have any pics from there. The real stuff happened at Tanay and Correigidor.

We went to Mariveles Bataan which is now a Sweatshop for footwear manufacture and BASECO which is the Bataan Shipyard. We stayed at the Hilltop Hotel which was a pleasant place to stay. Food in the restaurant was edible. Me, Henry and Steve cracked up one night while we were there. Brett demanded that food served to him by our caterer should be steamed. No fried foods at all as he was on a strict diet. Holy Jebus! One night we walk into the restaurant and who do we see? Brett! And.. what was he eating? A whole fried chicken with a huge plate of French Fries! What a fucking joke!

Anyway, in the morning we would get on a jeepney which would take us to the pier at BASECO and from there we would ride a boat going to Corregidor.

Above is me, Mike Soques and Steve Rogers on the boat. It was a nice ride over to the island. Once on the island we would get situated, find the coffee, and adjust our attitudes. The rest of the day was filled with more running, gunfire and explosions. Cirio loved explosions. The bigger the fireball the better. We all had survived numerous encounters with these blasts. Henry has a photo of us going up the stairs of one of the batteries on Corregidor where he and Ed Crick are engulfed by a fireball. The thing is, before doing a scene, if we see a red flag, we check it out. We look to see how big is the powder charge, then how much gasoline is being used, then we guide ourselves accordingly. Unfortunately for Ed Crick, he didn’t do his homework before the scene. He lost his eyebrows and got 2nd degree burns on his face. Steve and I were in front of Henry and Ed and we hauled ass going up the stairs and our heads looking away from the blast. Henry did the same thing, but Ed was just looking forward. he learned fast and it didn’t happen to him again.

Nick Nicholson and Steve Rogers

I think it was our first day there at Corregidor that we were met by our buddy Bill Steis. He and the other Hollywooders had already been shooting a couple of days. Henry, Bill and I quickly started to explore the area. We crawled in between the magazine walls, up and down the gun batteries. We were all over the place! No matter where you went there were spent bullet casings all over the place. We took a piss at the entry of one of the gun batteries and uncovered a pile of .30 cal machinegun casings. I Can only imagine what it was like when the US Army retook Corregidor from the Japanese. There were bomb craters within bomb craters. The US Army Air Corps pounded the shit out of the island before dropping paratroops. There wasn't a living tree or bush left on the island. later the island was seeded with Ipil Ipil seeds. After that it was Ipil Ipil Trees, Birds and cobras. It is said that the waters around the island are shark infested. We never went swimming there to find out.

Fred Adelman's review from his Critical Condition Online website:

EYE OF THE EAGLE (1987) - This film, the first of Filipino director Cirio H. Santiago's full-on 80's Vietnam War action flicks, finds Sgt. Rick Stratton (Brett Clark; ALIEN WARRIOR - 1985), Cpl. Johnny Ransom (Robert Patrick, wearing the same rebel cap he did in Santiago's EQUALIZER 2000 - 1986) and Cpl. Willy Leung (Rey Malonzo; SEARCH FOR VENGEANCE - 1984) saving a squad of American soldiers who are pinned-down by the enemy in the jungle. Sgt. Stratton fires his pistol in one hand and an AK-47 in the other, Cpl. Leung keeps the enemy at bay with his automatic rifle and Cpl. Ransom shoots his Winchester rifle from the hip. All three of them are crack shots, kill all the VC and lead the American soldiers to a waiting helicopter. We then witness a group of traitorous American soldiers, led by Sgt. B.O. Rattner (Ed Crick), invade the headquarters of Company C, laying waste to all the buildings and killing all the American soldiers stationed there. Col. Stark (Mike Monty) and Capt. Carter (William Steis) assign Stratton, Ransom and Leung on a mission to kill enemy Col. Trang (Vic Diaz) as he is traveling by train through the mountains. The trio sneak on-board the train, kill Trang and are forced to steal some enemy motorcycles and drive to safety when, for some reason, Capt. Carter never picks them up by helicopter. When the trio get back to headquarters, they make sure to voice their displeasure to Carter and then get into a bar fight with Sgt. Maddox (David Light) and his men (who were supposed to back them up on the last mission) when someone calls Leung a "gook". Meanwhile, journalist Chris Chandler (Cec Verrell; SILK - 1986) has discovered the secret location of the "Lost Command", a squad of rogue soldiers that are officially listed as AWOL or MIA, commanded by, you guessed it, Sgt. B.O. Rattner. When Chandler is discovered taking photos of the secret location, Rattner orders his men to kill her and get the film. That's not going to be easy, because Chandler's assistant, Lol Pot (Tony Beso), is also the leader of a local tribe of spear and bow-carrying freedom fighters. When Chandler makes it back to her base camp, she manages to get one radio message out before Rattner and his men appear to destroy the camp. Chandler is saved, but loses her camera and the film. When Stratton finds out that Rattner is involved, he has Chandler lead him, Ransom and Leung to the location of the Lost Command. You see, it turns out that Rattner murdered Stratton's brother years earlier and it's payback time. It looks like it's going to be a hot time in the old jungle tonight, especially after it's revealed that Capt. Carter is in cahoots with Rattner. When Rattner kidnaps and tortures Ransom, Stratton and Chandler race to the Lost Command headquarters to save him. Will they get there in time?  

I'm not going to pretend that this film is nothing but a low-budget PLATOON (1986) rip-off, but it's still damn entertaining. Director/producer Cirio H. Santiago, working with a script by frequent Santiago collaborators Joseph Zucchero and Nigel Hogge, has fashioned a fast-paced, mindless actioner that's basically a non-stop series of action set-pieces connected by the barest of plots. Brett Clark is stiff as a piece of one inch-thick plywood and Robert Patrick, who would appear as the same character in Santiago's next Nam film, BEHIND ENEMY LINES (1987), only this time as the lead, mugs for the camera and screams out his lines. Luckily, we don't watch these films for the acting talent and Santiago doesn't disappoint when it comes to the carnage. People are shot in the head (our trio's preferred method of disposing of the enemy), blown-up or riddled with automatic gunfire and Santiago also includes a shot of a man on fire, a recurring gag in nearly all his films. I'm still trying to figure out why Ransom dresses like a Southern rebel from the Civil War and why he was allowed to bring a Winchester rifle and a Colt pistol to Vietnam, but I suppose it's best not to dwell on such matters. Unfortunately, Cec Verrell keeps her clothes on throughout, but there's a brief shot of a topless prostitute during the bar fight. If you like war action films, EYE OF THE EAGLE is a good way to spend 82 minutes. Two unrelated sequels followed, EYE OF THE EAGLE II: INSIDE THE ENEMY  (1988; directed by Carl Franklin and produced by Santiago) and EYE OF THE EAGLE 3 (1990; with Santiago returning to the director's chair). Other Santiago Nam epics include THE EXPENDABLES (1988), NAM ANGELS (1988), FIELD OF FIRE (1990), BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY (1992), KILL ZONE (1992) and FIREHAWK (1992). Also starring Nick Nicholson, Henry Strzalkowski, Willie Williams, Mel Davidson, Jim Moss and Jerry Hart. Originally issued on VHS by MGM/UA Home Video and later released on DVD by Roger Corman's New Horizons Home Video as part of their AMERICAN VALOR series.

Timothy Young's review from the Mondo Esoterica website:

At the height of the Vietnam War a brutal attack on an American base kills dozens of soldiers. In charge of an elite team known as 'Eagle', Sergeant Rich Stratton leads his men on a commando attack on a train carrying a Viet Cong officer - they kill their target but are abandoned by their pick-up and forced to trek back to base. Meanwhile a journalist Chris Chandler manages to get close to an abandoned military base where she discovers a 'lost command' of American soldiers who have absconded from their units and hidden in the jungle, carrying out covert attacks on American troops and bases for loot. Stratton and his Eagle team are sent to investigate...

The Vietnam war affected a whole generation of young Americans and divided a nation over what many saw as a needless war. As a result the conflict has been treated with earnest sincerity by most American film makers, examining its brutality and suffering in films from the viewpoint of the men on the ground in Platoon (1986) to the suffering of the neglected veterans in Born on the Fourth of July (1989). However in the Phillipines during the 1980s there was a boom in exploitation film making and a number of enterprising producers saw the potential for using the country as a double for Vietnam leading to a slew of action packed war movies throughout the decade. Attracted by the incredibly cheap production costs of these films, American exploitation producer Roger Corman provided funding and several American actors for the first of what would become a trilogy of films.

Scripted by Joseph Zucchero (who had previously written director Cirio H. Santiago's Rambo rip-off The Devastator (1985)), Eye of the Eagle starts off with a bang, literally - the opening frame of the film shows a soldier being shot in the head - and it never seems to let up on the action with well over two-thirds of the film's runtime being dedicated to explosive gunfighting and action scenes with the plot coming a distant second place. The storyline that there is, is incredibly simple (with its absconding officer theme it does seem to be a homeopathically distilled take on Apocalypse Now (1979)), serving to get our characters into innumerable fights with minimal exposition. Of course this does leave all sorts of important questions unanswered, like the actual motives of the 'lost command' (they are making money from their looting, but what they can do with this in the middle of a jungle is never stated), however none of this seems to matter particularly as the storyline speeds on to the next explosion - even what might have been a token romantic sub-plot is bypassed (although this does deny us the chance for a gratuitous sex scene). Obviously the pacing never gets time to slacken and the film builds to an inevitable but suitably dramatic climax.

Although hardly likely to be authentic the production looks as good as you could expect - the screen is continually filled with explosive effects and enough gun wielding extras to give the combat scenes a large scale feel, there is a good selection of American military hardware on show (including the requesite UH-1 helicopters and M113 troop carriers) and the Phillipine jungles do make a suitably convincing Vietnam (certainly much more so than the American rural locations used in many US produced low budget 'namsploitation films). The commando unit conform to all of the usual genre clichés with completely inplausible uniforms (including a noticable lack of any supply packs, even when dropped far behind enemy lines) and a habit of successfully wielding several guns at once. Probably the most inadvertantly humourous scene is the attack on a train which is built up as a major operation with commandos boarding at both ends, but turns out to be a tiny narrow gauge steam train with four coaches bouncing along the tracks.

Director Cirio H. Santiago is never more than workmanlike behind the camera, but adds enough variation to the combat scenes to keep the film from feeling repetitive - only one of the battle scenes, an attack on a village, becomes rather confusing with it being hard to tell just who is fighting whom. Despite the endless gunshots and explosions, gory effects are surprisingly understated - a few bloody head-shots are the most vivid effects on display, while some bikini-clad dancers in a nightclub are the closest the film comes to female skin, probably a reflection of the film's intended American release market. The soundtrack is a very mixed bag - sometimes fitting, often rather less so - one combat scene plays out to soft jazz and not in an deliberately ironic way.

Bulky American actor Brett Baxter Clark plays Stratton and does seem to be perfectly suited for this sort of film, he is joined by a very young Robert Patrick (best known as the T-1000 in Terminator II (1991)) in one of three films he made for Santiago in the Phillipines in 1986. Filipino exploitation film veteran Vic Diaz (The Big Bird Cage (1972)) has a very brief part as the Viet Cong commander targetted in the train assault.

For an audience wanting a serious, worthy Vietnam war film, this will doubtless prove disappointing (if not completely insulting), however to an audience looking for an all-out low-budget action-fest and prepared to accept the limitations of the genre, Eye of the Eagle does not disappoint - an almost non-stop parade of over-the-top gunplay and explosions with just enough storyline to keep things moving, plus the amusing sight of a pre-fame Robert Patrick - only the lack of gratutious nudity stops this from being the ultimate exploitation action film.

Eric Reifschneider's review from the Blood Brothers website:

Antonio Margheriti may be the king of likable cheesy 80's Italian actionploitation but halfway around the world in the Philippines, a Filipino director by the name of Cirio H. Santiago was also making a name for himself in the cheesy low budget world of actionploitation. The one difference is his films tend not to be nearly as likable or enjoyable as his Italian counterparts. Eye of the Eagle is no exception.

Though Santiago flirted with a Vietnam War film in his First Blood rip-off Final Mission, Eye of the Eagle would mark his first full fledged Vietnam War film which desperately tries to copy the macho hero successes of Rambo: First Blood Part II and Missing in Action. Here we get a lame Rambo type hero in the form of Brett Baxter Clark who seems a rather oddball with his blond highlighted 80's hairdo despite the film taking place in 1970. He is in charge of a military assassination group called "Eagle" (catchy code name isn't it?). After a botched mission our group comes in contact with a reporter who has proof of an existence of a rebel American military group made up of MIAs. This rebel group just happens to be headed by the same asshole that killed Brett's brother in cold blood! Brett and his trusty sidekick (Robert Patrick, pre T-1000 role!) set out to shoot lots, and lots of bullets.

When it comes to no brain action, Eye of the Eagle could be the dictionary definition. No thought goes into this plot what-so-ever and it seems machine guns are fired through most of it's 90 minute run time. Everything cliché in an war action film is here, including a typical bar fights and double crosses. All aspects of this film are just downright poor, from its writing, to its editing, to its acting. Hell even the sets are so damn cheap that they almost fall down when Robert Patrick slams a door! You also got to love that ultra lame model helicopter explosion at the end.

The absolute worst part however is the jarring editing during the action sequences. Whenever an explosion goes off, the film has a very jarring edit before people go flying. The film is filled with these awful edits! This is the cheap filmmakers way around action sequences as he cuts at an "opportune" times to switch people out with stunt men. I have never seen this an action film utilize this technique so much and so badly.

I enjoy no-brain 80's action as much as the next guy but Santiago's action outings tend to be not only no-brain but also brain killing. It has some amusing unintentional laughs but this comes nowhere near the enjoyment factor of other cheesy Vietnam flicks produced in Italy and America. The Last Hunter... now that's a likable B-grade Vietnam war flick. My advice is to check out the work of Margheriti instead. If for some God forsaken reason you were floored by the awesomeness of Eye of the Eagle... don't worry, it was followed by two sequels!

Henry Strzalkowski's on-set photos:

 

 

 

 

For Your Height Only on German DVD - with my extras!

February 5, 2013, 3:00 pm

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WENG WENG FANS REJOICE! The new German DVD of For Your Height Only (titled "Agent 003 1/2") just arrived in the post yesterday from its Film Art label, and the bonus features I supplied are all there! I'm extremely happy and proud to announce it's the most definitive DVD release of FYHO anywhere in the world thus far:

- Small hardbox with leather improvement - like a small leather-bound book! - limited and numbered to 1000 copies

- Picture format: 4:3 (fullscreen), with an alternative version of the main film (1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen)

- Sound: German & English language

- Featurette: "The Weng Weng Story" (with German subtitles) is actually three episodes of my Schlock Treatment program on Weng Weng, half an hour in total!

- On-Disc-Booklet by Andrew Leavold (also as an audio book, spoken by Charles Rettinghaus, the German dubbing actor of Jean-Claude van Damme), both in German

- Extensive picture Gallery with rare movie posters and stills

- Original English language trailers for "For Your Height Only" and "The Impossible Kid"

Discs may be purchased from www.diabolikdvd.com and Film Art's main distributor www.mediatarget.de

Please help us spread the word - SEARCH FOR WENG WENG Kickstarter Campaign begins March 8!

February 19, 2013, 5:28 pm

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THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG - seven years in the making, the film which morphed into MACHETE MAIDENS UNLEASHED is about to morph back again!

KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN BEGINS FRIDAY 8th MARCH, AUSTRALIAN KICKSTARTER LAUNCH SCREENINGS MARCH 8-15

      

SEE the work-in-progress documentary of Andrew Leavold digging through decades of forgotten Manila pulp history to find the truth behind the midget James Bond of the Philippines... HEAR tales of dwarf restaurants and riding in Imelda Marcos' bullet-proof bus... TASTE the incredible midget western D'WILD WILD WENG in its entirety...

GUYS, PLEASE: share this link, invite your friends, alert your newspapers, shout it from the rooftops…Let everyone you know that WENG WENG IS COMING!

SYDNEYFriday 8th March, venue to be confirmed (any suggestions would be greatly welcomed)

MELBOURNE Saturday 9th March at The LuWOW Tiki Lounge, 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy. 6pm start, donation on entry

BRISBANEFriday 15th March at State Library Queensland, South Bank. 1st Floor auditorium 6.30pm start, donation on entry

PLEASE EMAIL ME andrewleavold@gmail.com FOR ANY FURTHER INFO OR PLEDGES OF SUPPORT...THANKS!

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FROM WRITER/DIRECTOR ANDREW LEAVOLD: Back in the early Nineties, watching a two foot nine Filipino improbably named Weng Weng as a miniature James Bond punching someone in the nuts and then running between their legs was, for me, one of those life-changing moments. Weng Weng and For Your Height Only hinted at a parallel universe filled with strange and exotic films just waiting to be uncovered. I was immediately hooked, but wanted to know more. Who was Weng Weng? Where did he come from, and what happened to him. Were there other Weng Weng films, and - was he still alive? Not even the internet could shed light on what appeared to be a forgotten life.

The obsession grew until 2006, when I was invited to a film festival in Manila. I went with a video camera in one hand, determined to uncover once and for all the mystery of Weng Weng. Eventually I found the complete story, but not before the adventure of a lifetime - and it's all caught on film! Refereeing a dwarf boxing match…boots-deep on the set of a Bruno Mattei zombie film…guest of honour at Imelda Marcos' birthday party …and finding myself face-to-face with the only person in the world who could piece the puzzle togethe.

Weng Weng's story, it turns out, is even more extraordinary than I could have ever imagined: real life secret agent, international superstar beating George Lucas at the box office, and the rest - heartbreaking, bizarre, exhilarating. It's part personal quest, gonzo travelogue, detective story, and Philippine B film history. It's the story of obsession, of following one's passions, and the transformative power of dreams. Above all, it's the story of a little guy overcoming the most debilitating of circumstances to become something phenomenal.

For The Search For Weng Weng, we have 100 hours of footage scripted into a 90 minute documentary feature. We have a distributor (Monster Pictures) already lined up for Australia and the United Kingdom, and already interest from Europe and North America. We have a viral campaign planned of greater-than-Weng proportions, and a ready-made audience since we first announced the idea in 2007. The Kickstarter campaign will provide much-needed post-production funds for fine editing, sound, music and legals.

I hope to see you on our East Coast blitz as we near the end of our epic adventure!

Article 24

May 4, 2012, 9:07 pm

≫ Next: SEARCH FOR WENG WENG: Week #2 update!

≪ Previous: Please help us spread the word - SEARCH FOR WENG WENG Kickstarter Campaign begins March 8!

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Howdy Bamboo Gods!

It's that time of the year when I head back to Manila for a series of talks and screenings. This time I may be heading to Mindanao and the Visayas in late June/early July, so any Philippines readers, please drop me a line at my new email address: andrewleavold@gmail.com

If you're on Facebook, please join our discussion group FILIPINO B FILM FANS: "A meeting place for anyone interested in genre filmmaking in the Philippines - those who made the films, or those of us who simply love watching them". Click here, and we'll hopefully see you online.

I've also started recounting previous adventures in the Philippines on the Mondo Macabro blog. Click here for the first extract from The Tanduay Rum Diaries (thank you Hunter S!).

Finally, there's now proof that the third and rarest of Weng Weng films dubbed into English, D'Wild Wild Weng (1982), did indeed get a legitimate release somewhere in the world...on UK VHS!

Cheers and salamat, Andrew

SEARCH FOR WENG WENG: Week #2 update!

March 26, 2013, 5:41 pm

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Dear friends and colleagues,

As you may have heard, I'm currently running a crowdfunding campaign to finish my THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG documentary - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210613803/the-search-for-weng-weng-1

The film has been a labour of love since I started filming in 2006. In short (no pun intended, I swear), it's a guerrilla-shot chronicle of my obsessive quest to find the two-foot-nine James Bond of the Philippines. Funnily enough, THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG is shaping into a film as much about obsession and following one's passions to extremes as it is about its two-foot-nine subject.

With over 100 hours in the can, it's finally time to deliver a 90 minute documentary feature. The $30,000 we're asking for from Kickstarter pledges is to pay for its post-production and, down the track, touring the film internationally. The idea is to fund its completion in the same way it was filmed - guerrilla style - to retain as much control as possible over the project. The finished film will subsequently be released in this country theatrically and on DVD by Monster Pictures in Melbourne (http://monsterpictures.com.au/features/the-wild-wild-weng-weng/).

At two weeks into the eight-week campaign, we are currently more than a third of the way towards our goal, and that's a very encouraging beginning.

However, there's a long way to go, and for that reason I'm asking for a personal favour from each of you.

Could you please visit the link, watch the video, and then forward the link and this blurb to anyone who might be interested. This would include:

- would-be investors, both small and large (and with a huge list of incentives on offer, even a $10 pledge to Kickstarter receives a VIP ticket to its Australian premiere);

- media outlets (newspapers, TV and radio stations, bloggers, social media);

- family and friends;

- and overseas distributors, exhibitors, film festivals etc.

I apologize for imposing on your valuable time, but I really believe you will recognize in this venture the tenacious spirit of independent filmmaking alive and kicking. Needless to say there is a lot riding on this for me, both professionally and personally, and I hope I can inspire you into coming along with me on my adventure of a lifetime.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to continuing this conversation here, by private message, or via email at andrewleavold@gmail.com.

Warmest regards,

Andrew Leavold (Writer/Director, THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG)