Durugan Ang Kutang Bato (1986)

1986 - Durugan Ang Kutang Bato (Bukang Liwayway Films)

[Philippines release date 29th May 1986; released on German VHS as "Die Rebellen"]

Director Tony Y. Reyes Writer Jerry O. Tirazona Producer Arnie Talavera Cinematography Ricardo Herrera Music Rey Ramos Editor Pepe Marcos Sound Gabby Castellano

Cast Mohamad Faizal [as Muhammad Faisal], Philip Gamboa, Emily Loren, George Estregan, Romy Diaz

The Filipino Batmen

1965 – Alyas Batman At Robin (D’Lanor Productions)

[Release date 25th May 1965]

Director Paquito Toledo Based on the Horror Komiks serial by Romy Espiritu, Marcelo Isidro Producer Fernando Poe Jr

Cast Bob Soler (Batman), Lou Salvador Jr (Robin), Nova Villa, Marion Douglas, Oscar Keesee, Nello Nayo, Pablo Virtuoso, Joe Garcia, Mary Walter, Angel Buenaventura, Vic Uematsu, Diego Guerrero

1966 - James Batman (Sampaguita Pictures) DETAILS HERE

1967 - Batman Fights Dracula (Lea Productions/Fidelis Productions) 1967

[Release date 3rd June 1967; also listed as “Baty and Roby Against Crime”]

Director Leody M. Diaz Writer Bert R. Mendoza Music Tony Maiquez

Cast Jing Abalos (Batman/Bruce Wayne), Dante Rivero (Dracula), Vivian Lorrain (Marita Banzon), Rolan Robles (Ruben), Ramon D'Salva (Dr. Zerba), Nort Nepomuceno (Turko), Angel Confiado, Ruben Ramos, Greg Lansang, Tina Lava, Lope Policarpio, Sai Betsadya, Jeanette Gonzalez, Rudy Dominguez, Marcelo Bernardo, Eddie Castro, Buddy de Jesus, [uncredited] Johannes Christof von Heinsburg (Mevik)

1972 - Batwoman And Robin (Juver Productions)

[Release date 12th March 1972]

Director “Junar”/Jun Aristorenas Story/Screenplay Greg Macabenta Producers Jun Aristorenas, Virginia

Cast Robin Aristorenas (Robin), Virginia (Batwoman), Sofia Moran (The Catwoman), Johnny Monteiro (Zandro the Great), Prospero Luna (Fuman-Chao), Pancho Pelagio (The Mad Killer), Venchito Galvez, Romy Nario, Rey Big Boy

1972 - Batwoman And Robin Meet The Queen Of The Vampires (Juver Productions)

[Release date unknown]

Director Tony Cayado Story/Screenplay Greg Macabenta Producers Jun Aristorenas, Virginia

Cast Robin Aristorenas (Robin), Virginia (Batwoman), Angelina Ortiz, Venchito Galvez, Santiago Garcia, Francisco Cruz, Joe Roman, Ric Gaerlan, Ernie David, Joe Estrada, Aldo Cruz

1973 - Johnny Joker (Juver Productions)

[Release date 24th June 1973]

Director “Junar”/Jun Aristorenas Story Greg B. Macabenta Screenplay Bert R. Mendoza Producers Jun Aristorenas, Virginia Music Rodgar

Cast Jun Aristorenas (Johnny Joker), Robin Aristorenas (Robin), Virginia (Batwoman), Merle Fernandez (Catwoman), Freddie Webb (Spider Web), Cesar Ramirez (Hugo Musang), Johnny Monteiro (Shintori), Larry Silva (Brutus), Rey Big Boy and the Seven Dwarfs, Palito (Lastikman), Steve Alcarado, Leon Pajaron, Charlie Mendez, Greg Lansang, Ernie David, Rudy Rolloda

1973 - Fight! Batman, Fight! (Pacific Films)

[Release date 5th December 1973]

Director/Story Romeo N. Galang Cinematography Justo Paulino Music Ernani Cuenco

Cast Victor Wood, Gloria Romero, Rosemarie Gil, Eva Linda, Rosanna Marquez, Nick Romano, Romy Diaz, Ike Lozada, German Moreno, Danny Rojo, Robert Talabis, Arnold Mendoza, Lotis Key (Catwoman), Rod Navarro (Joker), Pinky (Bat Girl), Roderick Paulate (Robin), Manolo Noble, Joaquin Fajardo, Greg Lozano, "Chito"/Franco Guerrero, Royal Dahlen, Ruel Vernal, Edward Torres, Leon Pajaron, Roger Saulog, Romie Medalla, Cris Cruz, Dagul Se, Enrico Villa, Rodin Rodriguez, Tony Aragon, Mar Enriquez, Rey “Big” Boy, Tacio Tangkad, Totoy Laki, Paeng Giant, Pandak, SOS Daredevils, Mona Morena, Carmen Romasanta, Camille

1991 – Alyas Batman En Robin (Regal Films) DETAILS HERE

Sabotage 2 (1979)

1979 - Sabotage 2 (Margarita Productions)

[Philippines release date 17th March 1979; released internationally via Liliw Films International as "Sabotage", in France as "Chantage a l'Apocalypse" and in Germany as "Geheimcode Death-Force"]

Director Efren C. Piñon Story/Screenplay Efren C. Piñon, Greg Macabenta, Jerry O. Tirazona Producer [uncredited] Tony Ferrer Music Ernani Cuenco Cinematography “Juanito “Jun” Pereira Editor Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao Cameramen [1st Unit] Ricardo Herrera [2nd Unit] Amado “Botong” de Guzman [3rd Unit] Zosimo Corpuz [4th Unit] Eduardo Cabrales [5th Unit] Oscar Querijero [6th Unit] Rey Lapid

Cast Tony Ferrer (Agent Falcon, Agent X44), Azenith Briones (Cristy Mendoza), Andy Poe (Montalban), Max Alvarado (Michael), Olivia O’Hara (Marlo Andrado), Nick Romano (Manolo del Castillo), Ruby Anna (Ruby), Manny Luna (Greg Africa), Romy Diaz (Douglas), Val Iglesia (Aris Atlonxa), Conrad Poe (Jojo Martinez), Perry Baltazar (Johnny Fernandez), J. Antonio Carreon (Don Franco Madriaga), Mike Cohen (Dr Ivan Skovsky), Manolo Noble (Colonel Nemesio Camus), Protacio Dee (Takeo Kurosaka), Henry Salcedo (Atty. Gene Marquez), James Gaines [Jr] (Jonas Grey) , Rey Sagum (Dr Skovsky’s Aide), Ben Dato (Dr Skovsky’s Aide), George Webber, Richard Olney, Carol Meyerdierks, Rick Fuller, Lourie Ann Churchill, Truman Festos, Barbara Churchill, Adolf James, Elaine Blacher, Tsing Tong Tsai [rumoured to be in the cast, but may be in Last Target instead: Bill James, Kate Atkins, Cathy Young]

Todd Stadtman’s review at Teleport City:

The road that lead me to Tony Falcon, Agent X-44: Sabotage was, as is often the case with these things, a somewhat long and circuitous one. It began when I was watching the third Christopher Lee Fu Manchu movie, the Shaw Brothers co-produced The Vengeance of Fu Manchu, on TV, and found my attention drawn to the actor Tony Ferrer, who was playing the fairly substantial supporting role of Shanghai Police Inspector Ramos. Ferrer was certainly charismatic, and handled himself admirably in his action scenes. But what really struck me was that here was a Filipino actor playing a character whom the filmmakers had gone out of their way to identify as Filipino (why, after all, name a Shanghai policeman “Ramos”?). Given that this was a film in which a pasty-faced Englishman with putty on his eyelids was being sold as Chinese, made at a time when few in the movie business were losing sleep over whether their Asian casting was race or nationality appropriate, this seemed to me like an unusual consideration. Furthermore, while a character such as his would normally have had a pretty limited lifespan in a movie of this type, Ferrer survived to the end of the movie, playing a decidedly heroic role in the climax. These factors combined gave me a strong hunch that, while Tony Ferrer may have been a nobody to a large portion of The Vengeance of Fu Manchu’s international audience, somewhere he was a big, big star.

With a geek fire of white hot intensity now raging beneath me, I set to digging, and before too long found that Tony Ferrer was indeed a big, big star in the Philippines–and that he was known as “The Filipino James Bond” thanks to his recurring role as secret agent Tony Falcon, Agent X-44.

Starting out as a contract player with his older brother Espiridion Laxa’s company Tagalong Ilang Ilang Productions (the company responsible for introducing some of the biggest action stars of Filipino cinema, including Fernando Poe Jr., aka “FPJ”), Ferrer had a fairly undistinguished early career, consisting mostly of supporting roles. This changed in 1965 when his brother developed the Agent X-44 character with him in mind, casting him in the first of a hastily churned out series of films helmed by director and cult film actor Eddie Garcia. Within a year, the Tony Falcon films had become a bona fide phenomenon in the Philippines, and the series would go on to chalk up somewhere around twenty entries, spanning from the mid-sixties to the early eighties.

With this new information turning tantalizing cartwheels in my brain, I was now, of course, dying to see these movies. Unfortunately, I had to steel myself for the probability that this simply would not be possible. Film preservation was a foreign concept to the Philippines until only very recently, and the more distant a film’s vintage, the more likely it is to have long ago returned to the dust from which it came. This is a real shame, because from what I’ve gathered, the Filipino popular film industry of the sixties was very similar to its Turkish counterpart: As prolific as it was impoverished, and with a profligate disregard for copyrights, it churned out hundreds of films a year at a combined cost that would fund one decent-sized Hollywood production, those films loaded with spies and goofy costumed heroes, including undisguised versions of Batman, Robin and Superman. (Not to mention, I imagine, Jesus showing up to make someone bleed out of their eyes or something–because the three things I’ve come to count on from Filipino genre cinema are singing, violence and, wherever you’d least expect it to pop up, jarring evidence of the particularly punitive brand of Catholicism that holds much of the country in its thrall). Despite my pessimism, however, and after a few months of rooting around, the gray market came through for me, and I eventually came into possession of an example of Agent X-44’s impressively voluminous screen output.

The 1966 film Sabotage was not the first Tony Falcon film. In fact, there were at least five other entries in the series produced that same year. But it was the first to launch the series as a true phenomenon, as well as Ferrer’s career as a superstar in his home country. The film premiered at the first Manila Film Festival–a festival dedicated to showcasing the country’s homegrown movie industry–and out-grossed all of the other films on the program. Like pretty much everywhere else in the world, the Philippines was going through a major spy craze at the time, and there would be a number of other film franchises starring super secret agents of their own–Bernard Bonnin as Agent 707, Alberto Alonzo as Agent 69 and Eddie Fernandez as Lagalag among them–but, from the time of Sabotage’s release on, Tony Falcon was the undisputed box office champ above all.

Of course, I should make clear that the particular Tony Falcon film that I had come into possession of was not, as I had hoped and expected, the original 1966 Sabotage, but rather the re-titled international release of another film from the Tony Falcon series’ waning years, 1978’s Sabotage 2. Furthermore, as is often the case with these things, the currently circulating copy of Sabotage is of a quality similar to what you might expect a broadcast signal intercepted from a very distant planet to look like–given that very distant planet is very dark and perhaps underwater. So, while I was looking forward to tasting a new flavor of 1960s secret agent cool–or, at least, a woefully underfunded and technically over-matched facsimile of same–I now had to resign myself to the fact that what I was actually going to be tasting was something quite different and probably a lot less savory.

Or perhaps not. Because Sabotage is indeed a rich slab of nada-budget cinematic cheese. Ferrer was sporting a noticeable paunch by this time, a state of affairs that Tony Falcon’s trademark white suits did little to improve upon. Still the actor is commendably game, always ready to dole out some spirited faux kung fu whenever the action requires. But what’s most impressive about Sabotage is how, by way of its by-necessity minimalism and utilitarian aesthetic, it manages to strip the spy movie down to its essential elements, leaving us with what is basically a Roadrunner cartoon featuring people in suits and bikinis.

The film’s action begins with a team of hired killers–a couple guys with mustaches, a hot chick, and an afro sporting, smooth talking Jim Kelly wannabe–discussing their intention to assassinate a visiting Latin American diplomat. After that we’re immediately into the first assassination attempt, and from there to the arrival on the scene of the resplendently pompadoured Tony Falcon, who chases down the assassins in his car, doles out some faux fu and shoots at them. Another assassination attempt, in which Tony saves the diplomat from an exploding horse on a polo field, follows right on the heels of the first one, and then another, all leading to more chasing and shooting–and all, interestingly, played out with very little dialog. In fact, we don’t hear Tony utter more than two isolated lines at a time until the final twenty minutes of the picture. What dialog there is, however, is all uttered in heavily accented English, rather than Tagalog as I had expected.

Once it’s determined that they’re not going to be able to assassinate the visiting Latin American diplomat with Tony Falcon showing up to chase and shoot at them all the time, the hired killers decide that they should start trying to assassinate Tony Falcon instead. What follows is a series of set pieces in which we get to see what Tony Falcon does in his free time. While most movie secret agents seem to cool their heels by lounging in swanky cocktail lounges, what Tony appears to be doing here is attending a series of wedding receptions that are complete with buffets and awkward, seemingly obligatory ballroom dancing. Then we see him waterskiing with one of his gal pals and, later, golfing. All of these activities, of course, are interrupted by the killers showing up to shoot bullets at Tony through scope rifles, after which he chases, fu’s and shoots at them. These scenes also afford us an opportunity to marvel at some of Tony’s high-tech spy gadgetry, including some X-Ray Specs that work just as advertised, rendering everyone they gaze upon naked while having no effect upon the strategically placed furniture and foliage that hides their nasties.

Finally we are introduced to Dr. Ivan Skovsky (Mike Cohen), a super villain who sits in a control room staffed by women in bikinis and men in orange jumpsuits, considerately making calls at regular intervals to an army officer named Campos to explain his motivations for doing all of the things he’s having the hired killers do. These motivations, however, don’t seem very well thought out–or, at least, Skovsky doesn’t appear to be very committed to them. At first he want to assassinate the diplomat and extort just a bit of the Philippines’ gold reserves. Then he wants to extort all of the Philippines’ gold reserves under threat of him launching all kinds of nuclear missiles at the Philippines. When asked the very reasonable question of why he’s interested in the Filipinos’ gold in particular, he answers that he’s not so much interested in the gold itself as he is in sending a message to the world that he means business. He figures that, once he has either extorted all of the Philippines’ gold or annihilated the Philippines with all of his nuclear weapons, the rest of the world will simply lay down at his feet. This plan makes Skovsky come off more like a super-bully that a super-villain. After all, if you have to make an example of a country, why pick on one as poor and already troubled as the Philippines? It just doesn’t seem very sporting.

Eventually, by means of donning a fake beard, Tony Falcon gains entry into Skovsky’s secret compound, setting Sabotage’s spectacular climax in motion. Because Sabotage is a zero-budget action film, this will involve a lot of helicopters–or, more accurately, one helicopter playing a bunch of different helicopters–because nothing says “production value” like a helicopter. This leads to one of my favorite out of all the helicopter-related, zero-budget action film scenarios, in which someone fires a handgun at an airborne helicopter and it explodes like it was made entirely of atom bombs. After that comes the paratrooper assault, which is accomplished by having exactly two guys dressed as paratroopers filmed from various angles and in different locations to give the appearance of being many. Finally, with these items ticked off the list of things you need in a spy movie, a model of the villain’s compound is blown up and we’re free to go home.

Just a couple of years after making Sabotage, Tony Ferrer would star in his final Tony Falcon feature, a team-up with Fernando Poe Jr. titled The Eagle and The Falcon. After that he would only revisit the character by way of cameo roles in other films that served as either direct references or knowing-but-vague homages, in both cases reflecting the enduring affection with which Agent X-44 was regarded by the Filipino movie-going public. The first of these was when Ferrer played the boss of Weng Weng–that leathery, pocket-sized star of both Filipino action cinema and my most disturbing nightmares–in For Y’ur Height Only, a fact which should clue people in that Weng Weng’s Agent 00, with his blinding white suits, was as much an affectionate spoof of Tony Falcon as he was of James Bond. More recently, Ferrer reprised the Tony Falcon role in a 2007 comedic update of the character appropriately titled Agent X-44, in which he passed the torch to young star Vhong Navarro (who also starred in the Spider-Man spoof, Gagamboy). All of this is evidence that Ferrer has left a deep imprint on his country’s popular culture and, while I have no doubt that his status is well deserved, it will take far more than a viewing of Sabotage alone to fully explain it.

To be honest, I would rather not have watched Sabotage. But to its credit, it didn’t completely kill my desire to see some of the earlier entries in the Agent X-44 series. While the Tony Ferrer who’s on display in this particular example doesn’t present the most suave and sophisticated of secret agents, he is thoroughly likeable, and there’s something in his manner that suggests perhaps an echo of something more fabulous. I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that some day, if the gray market gods are willing, that murky, garbled artifact that is the nth generation bootleg of the genuine Tony Falcon, Agent X-44: Sabotage will make its way into my eager hands. Hey, nothing is beyond your reach when you dare to dream.

Sgt Clarin: Bullet For Your Head (1990)

1990 – Sgt Clarin: Bullet For Your Head (Regal Films)

[Philippines release date 8th March 1990, original title “Sgt. Clarin: Bala Para Sa Ulo Mo"]

Director Willie Dado Story/Project Coordinator “Stanly”/Stanley Orong Screenplay Leleng Ubaldo Jr Executive Producer Lily [Y.] Monteverde Line Producer Manolo Maglayo Studio Manager/Post-Production In-Charge Warlito M. Teodoro Music Demet Velasquez Cinematography Vic Anao Editor Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao Production Manager Leah Calmarin Sound Effects Bert Santos Sound Supervision Joe Climaco Publicity/Promotions Alfie Lorenzo, Devi Jimenea Production Designer Delfin Pante [Dante?] Assistant Director Leleng M. Ubaldo Jr

Cast Max Laurel (Sgt. Clarin Orestes Ojeda), Monica Herrera, Lola Rodriguez, Ruel Vernal, Charlie Davao, Romy Diaz, Max Alvarado, Ramon “Boy” Bagatsing, Tony Bernal, Rommel Valdez, Alex De Leon, Van De Leon Jr, Von Arenas, Bobby Angeles, Francis Bello, Boy Sanggol Banez, Rex Lapid, Danny Riel, Marcus Aurelio, Naty Santiago, Rudy de la Pena, Raymond Gagatsing III, Cris Aguilar, Max Buaya, "Madjid"/Majid Jadali, Maricris Garcia, Erika Avendano The Lost Command Robert Tally, Brando Navarro, Bert Vivar, Den Montero, Steve Alcarado, Lito Francisco, Eddie Montalban The Rebels Avel Morado, Nayo Morado, Bobby Orio, Eddie de Leon, Lito Artiaga, Randie Santos, Fernando Alfon, Richard Duran The Assassins Sarah Carlos, Erika, Mary-Ann, Cristin, Metia, Beth Castillo, Mary

Fred Adelman’s review from the Critical Condition website:

Another wild Filipino actioner with too many "What The Fuck?!?" moments to process in one viewing. The film opens with a bar fight (what else?), where Danny Clarin (Max Laurel; ROBOWAR - 1988) tries to stop a drunk American from fondling a female dancer on stage. This turns into a melee where Danny has to beat the crap out of three guys (at one point, Danny and a brawny fighter get into a ball-grabbing competition!). Immediately after the fight, Danny is introduced to a military man and he instantly joins the Marines! After a basic training montage (where Danny excels at every task), the film switches to a bunch of guerilla rebels holding an American soldier captive at their base camp (he has two live grenades tied around his neck by a piece of twine while live ants crawl all over his body!). The Marines lay siege to the rebels' camp, with Danny blowing the crap out of anyone and anything in his way, eventually rescuing the American soldier after cleaving the rebel commander's head in two with a sword. After being wounded in battle, Danny is promoted in rank to Sergeant and gets to lead his own platoon. When Danny's brother is killed and his mother is put in the hospital by the goons of a local crimelord, Danny asks for a leave of absence from his superiors, but is turned down because they are on "triple red alert". Seeing that his mother is a basketcase (she witnessed Danny's brother being viciously gunned down), Danny goes AWOL to get his revenge. He is framed for the assassination of the town's mayor, so Danny becomes a one-man hit squad, killing all the crimelord's goons, by crossbow, gunfire and even decapitation before he finally blasts the crimelord to kingdom come. Danny then gets married to his childhood sweetheart Mary (Monica Herrera) and talks his platoon into secretly helping him in ridding the area of the rebels who have been raiding and murdering the people of his and neighboring villages. When the rebels take Danny's entire village hostage and demand that Danny give himself up in trade (or they will kill a hostage every twenty minutes), he has no choice but to turn himself over to the rebels. After being brutally tortured, Danny is rescued by his platoon. They then steal an APC and head towards the rebel's base camp, where Danny throws the rebel leader in a water-filled cage, followed by a two-grenade chaser. The finale finds Danny and his AWOL platoon making a decision to surrender to the Marines. Danny, with the help of new wife Mary, makes a deal to surrender, but a series of miscommunications and unfortunate events leads to the death of Danny's entire platoon and Danny himself (while clutching a baby, no less!) by the Marines. Mary arrives just in time to hear Danny say, "I love you!" one more time before he croaks. Cue the angelic choir (literally).

This off-the-wall Filipino actioner is nothing more than one bloody vignette after another. Every 15 minutes or so, the film switches to a new storyline (some plot points, like the search for hidden gold, are completely dropped without ever being resolved) and a different direction, the only connecting link being Danny and his need to kill someone or blow something apart. The film is bloody as hell, as people are shot in the head, riddled with bullets, stabbed, impaled (one poor rebel is impaled on a long pole and dragged across the ground by Danny) and decapitated (there is a lot of violence to people's heads here). The English dubbing is truly atrocious, the funniest example being that the dubbers changed Danny's last name from "Clarin" to "Clark", totally ignoring the title of the film! This film also has a slight religious subtext to it, as there is a lot of talk of Heaven, Hell and having faith in God, but actor-turned-director Willie Dado (this is his only directorial effort), working with a script by Leleng Ubaldo Jr., has no problem showing scenes of bloody torture (Danny is sliced repeatedly with a knife and then thrown into a stagnant, water-filled cage), horrendous deaths or having a bad guy press a gun to a baby's head. This mindless, gory actioner is a treat for fans of Filipino action cinema and gets my highest recommendation. Grab it if you're lucky enough to locate a copy. If star Max Laurel looks familiar to Filipino movie fans, it's probably because he essayed the title role in ZUMA (1985) and it's sequel ZUMA 2: HELL SERPENT (1987). Also starring Romy Diaz, Lola Rodriguez, Orestes Ojeda, Charlie Davao, Ruel Vernal, Ramon (Boy) Bagatsing, Tony Bernal, Rommel Valdez and Alex DeLeon. Made by popular Filipino production company Regal International, Inc., who were better known for making sex comedies and film parodies with titles like BOBOCOP (1987), STARZAN: SHOUTING STAR OF THE JUNGLE (1989) and GOOSEBUSTER (1991), all directed by Tony Y. Reyes. The print I viewed was sourced from a pretty sharp fullscreen Japanese-subtitled VHS tape. This has not had a legitimate U.S. home video release in any format, but what's so unusual about that? Wake up, America! This is exactly the kind of shit we need to see! Not Rated.

Paul Cooke’s review from the Cinema Nocturna website:

‘‘Prepare the bazooka , we have to neutralise them !’’

Just when you thought it was tedious to go back into the jungle up pops another thunderous gem to pin back your ears and bring a tear of Action lovin’ joy to the eye. Finally regular support star Max Laurel has his opportunity to step up to lead man and in so doing gets to slog a home run winner. It’s guerrilla warfare from those furiously fun Filipino folk as the marines take on the jungle bandits in a gloriously colourful hybrid of the spaghetti western and a World War II flick. Max Laurel gets to play the John Wayne role but in a naturally developed muscle suit that even his pearls of sweat slide off in exasperated awe. Laurel plays the role of Danny Clark, a powerhouse of a local discovered by the marine corps during the opening sequence bar room brawl. Danny displays his brawn in a one sided charge up against some trouble makers, and soon after he signs up as a marine. Now the bad guys really have something to worry about as Danny completes his marine training course with flying colours, and is soon promoted through the ranks.

The films title refers to Sergeant Clarin when in fact there is no Sergeant Clarin as of course the titular hero is in fact Danny , who quickly acquires the rank of Sergeant Clark! A quirky miss-translation then for this Japanese VHS release. Make no mistake though, Max Laurel is most definitely not miss-cast in the lead role. The character could have been written just for him as he plays the part of protagonist perfectly, emitting an aura of tough Action star as if born to the position. Buckle up then fellow mad Max men and madams, it’s time to hit the jungle!

An American business man is held hostage by the guerrilla faction and is regaled by an unwanted pair of hand grenades for earrings. Flesh tearing ants eat away at his upper torso in the hot sun as the terrified dignitary is strung up outdoors in a bamboo cage. Like willow the wisps floating on the breeze Danny and hand chosen men get close enough , without being immediately detected by the enemy , and unload a barrel load of fiery fury. Huts explode and pump action guns spew grenades at intended targets. The guerrilla boss wields a lethal machete at his prisoner, only to be dealt a death blow at the hand of Danny and the would be political incident dies a death all its own before hitting the world news.

A tour of duty has Danny and his men surrounded by the antagonist faction and even though overwhelmed Danny strikes back fast and true. The accuracy of his gun shots to the heads of the militant group is unerring and bloody as the squibs pop like ketchup hitting a naked flame. Danny is shot himself several times before he and his men are victorious, leading to him being raced to a medical facility by helicopter. Here Danny recuperates and upon leaving hospital receives notification from upon high that he is promoted to the rank of sergeant.

The story takes on a whole new dimension and tact from here on in as Danny has to choose between his military career and that of his family’s safety, following an assault upon his home village and family. The jungle bandits prey on the local villages and use the villagers as slave labour, cultivating provisions for them in a one sided deal that leaves the poor folk in constant poverty. Danny is ordered to follow his duty as a soldier and is even refused compassionate leave when his brother is killed and his mother is left seriously unwell with grief. Sergeant Clark has no option but to go AWOL and during his time investigating the tragic events he uncovers a conspiracy that leads to the very door of the local mayor who is in allegiance with the bandits. When even the law refuse to help Danny and his people he has no other choice but to takes matters into his own hands, defiantly uttering the forthright statement, ‘‘If I have to I’ll do what has to be done to seek Justice !’’ John J. Rambo step aside as Danny Clark, man of war, is pissed and he’s about to tear open an aggressive can of retribution that involves just about everyone!

The mayor loses face and is killed so leading to Danny becoming the number one suspect. The leadership falls into the hands of tyranny and Danny becomes a hunted man. In order to bring about justice and prove his innocence sergeant Clark must bring down the new regime and show them for what they truly are. With the help of a handful of men he can trust absolutely Danny forms a band of elitist mercenaries. A group of highly trained fellow soldiers who hide out in the jungle and become soldiers of misfortune against the corrupt hand of the law, and the villainous bandits. A wrecking crew armed to the hilt and prepared to fight to the death.

Stronger than an ox and broader than a charging bull Danny cuts a swathe right through the heart of the jungle scourge and their political allies. Danny alone is responsible for deftly decapitating by machete, lethal take down by single hand held cross bow and deadly accurate with any form of gun he chooses to use in his vigilante cause.

He is spurred on even more when it becomes apparent that the mayor gave the order to murder his brother!

Falling between the crack along the path of righteousness Danny and his loyal men are ordered by their own army to be brought to justice dead or alive. As Danny and his men continue to fight against the despotic jungle guerrillas a fellow army friend fights to get a pardon for his champion of the people, but the message has to be relayed to the front line that is fast closing in on the sergeant and his men. What transpires in the fraught filled exciting battle charged climax is lump in the throat stuff of classic old school matinees. A power house of explosive Action plays out for a long duration that never lets up for a moment. The edge of the seat convergence of battling forces will delight fans of war movies and Action alike. A bloody pallet bleeds across the jungle green as a cast of extras fall by the hundred in a killing field ploughed by once farmers born to arms. This is a big bang, bad boy final payoff up there with the best of them.

Sergeant Danny Clark and his close fighting compatriots are still considered AWOL, and as they fight against the guerrillas their own fellow soldiers fight against them in a crossfire deluge of bullets and incredible firepower. The bodily carnage is fast and furious yet Danny fights to the very end , whilst all around him the battle ground becomes ever more expansive and even more explosive. An Action packed jungle warfare winner. Terrific stuff!

Magindanao (1982)

1982 - Magindanao (East West Films International)

[Philippines release date 25th December 1982]

Director/Writer Diego C. Cagahastian

Cast “Mohamad Faizal”/Muhammad Faisal, Laarni Enriquez, Rhoy Flores, Rex Lapid, Charlie Davao, Philip Gamboa, Muhamad Jallil, Dinah Dominguez, Nancy Delos Santos, Butch Sanchez, Paquito Diaz, Max Alvarado, Romy Diaz, Dick Israel, Tony “Carrion”/Carreon, Joaquin Fajardo, Willy Dado, Amay Bisaya, Felix Torralba, Vilma Vitug, Dennis Javier, Mario Flores, Jess Burgos, Nerrissa Jabonita, Jun Santos

From the Vomit Bag Video catalogue:

Extremely rare 1986 Philippine war-action flick, with lots of fighting scenes. A group of guerrillas unknowingly have a spy in their unit, tipping off the government when they plan to kill their leaders. It's someone they'd never suspect! Lots of shootings, fights, explosions, etc.

Over My Dead Body (1983)

1983 - Over My Dead Body (Sunfilms International Inc)

[Philippines release date 25th December 1983]

Director/Writer Arsenio Bautista

Cast Tony Ferrer, Efren Reyes Jr, Bembol Roco, Raoul Aragon, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Lolita Marquez, Jing Abalos, Dave Brodette, Charlie Davao, Romy Diaz, Baldo Marro, Bomber Moran, Boy Padilla, Bobby Tabalis, Vic Varrion, Zandro Zamora, Arsenio “Boots” Bautista, Nick Romano, Philip Gamboa, Larry Silva, Bing Davao, Roxanne Recto, Rey Sagum, Olivia Obregon, Susie Jane, Christopher Paloma

Review from the WTF DVDs online catalogue:

Very rare and obscure Filipino film - yep you saw it here first - about a Mafia hitman who cleans for another Mafia bigshot who wants to rid the area of any rats who may leak information to the police. Next thing you know, there’s a war between the major mafia bosses in Asia. Lots of great action including shootings, fights, police brutality, etc…

Blasting Bullets (1985)

1985 – Blasting Bullets (LL Films/David International Ltd)

[release date 6th June 1985, original Tagalog title "Hari Ng Gatilyo"]

Directors Eddie Nicart, Manuel Lapid

Cast Lito Lapid, George Estregan, Rebecca, Jean Carlos, Romy Diaz, Bomber Moran, Max Alvarado, Robert Talby

The Bionic Boy (1977)

1977 – The Bionic Boy (BAS Film Productions Inc)

[also released as "Trionic Warrior" (unconfirmed), "El Nino Bionico" (Spain), "Il Piccolo Superman" (Italy)

Director Leody M. Diaz [some sources list Bobby A. Suarez as uncredited co-director] Producer/Story Bobby A. Suarez Screenplay Romeo N. Galang Associate Producer Steve Nicholson Director of Photography Arnold Alvaro Editors Romeo N. Galang, Leody M. Diaz, Hung & Cheung Music Ruben Sabiñano [IMDB lists him as “Ruben Schimano”] Additional Arrangement Neo Ragas Assistant Director Pepito Diaz Special Effects Apolonio Abadeza [IMDB also lists Ron Rogers] Action Directors Banny Rojo & Alex "Boy" Pecate Production Manager Melencio (Jun) Montemayor Assistant Production Manager & Paymaster Cheryl Ann Flores Associate Cameraman David Hung 1st Assistant Cameraman Rey Sempio 2nd Assistant Cameraman Rolando Toralba Sound Recordist Blandino Acuin Chief Gaffer Illuminado Cruz Electrician Benny Makabale (Macabale?), Assistant Electrician Dalmacio Legaspi Generator Man Oscar Infantico Setting Director Ambrocio Diaz Still Photographer Eddie Villanueva Schedule Master Willie Henson Wardrobe Girl Elizabeth Dauz Makeup Artist Aida Ortea Lay-Out Artist Eddie Domer Catering Services Margarita Lopez

Cast Johnson Yap (Sonny Lee), Joe Sison, “Chito”/Franco Guerrero, Danny Rojo, David McCoy, Ron "Skip" Rogers, Romy Diaz, Subas Herrero, Clem Parsons [IMDB listed as “Clem Persons”], Omar Camar, David Fry, Steve Nicholson, Karim Kiram, Ruben Ramos, Boy Pecate, Lorli Villanueva (Joanne Lee), Kerry Chandler, Menita Bumanglag, Susan Baecher [IMDB listed as “Susan Beacher”], Carole King, Protacio Dee, Joe Cunanan, Vic Romero, Alfred Raymond, Ronald Baecher, Debbie Rogers [IMDB listed as “Debra Jean Rogers”], Kathleen Scherini, Cherry Grant, Carolyn Sullivan, SOS Daredevils

The Complete Weng Weng filmography: Silakbo (1975)

The Complete WENG WENG filmography (so far)

Many thanks to Simon Santos from Quezon City’s VIDEO 48 whose tireless efforts in researching Philippines cinema has unearthed all of the following Filipino ads, and in the process has confirmed the existence of FOUR forgotten Weng Weng films.

1. Silakbo (1975)

Prima Productions (first screened October 17, 1975)

Director/Writer Manuel Songco Cinematography Rudy Quijano Music Demet Velasquez

Cast Eddie Gutierrez, Lotis Key, Dante Varona, Romy Diaz, Odette Khan, Zandro Zamora, Marie Antoinette, Alberta “Peaches” Rainge, Joe Villafranca, Lita Sandoval, Misty Gallardo, Jun Santos, Veen Rosette, Evelyn Shenna, Kiti-Kiti, Henry Pineda, Vivian Betty, Sheba “Mor” Tatad, Freddie Robles, Lilian Fernando, [uncredited] Weng Weng

Miracles keep falling from the sky... Cora Caballes' agent handed me a list of Weng Weng titles while I was at the ABS/CBN film archives in January 2008, and this one (along with a completely unidentifiable one, "Dugo May Umagos") was a mystery. I remember Weng Weng's brother told me his favourite WW film was "the one with Lotis Key".

Digging through the Archives, I found cast and crew details, and we hit gold: confirmation of the earliest known Weng Weng appearance on film, this time released just after his 18th birthday.

Until we find the movie itself, this is all I can glean of the film's details. From appearances it's a standard Tagalog action film with then-popular stars Eddie Gutierrez, Dante Varona (later in Weng Weng's Agent OO), Lotis Key (girlfriend of Dolphy and star of many comedies AND kung fu films) and Romy Diaz (regular Weng Weng villain).