The Black Cobra 2 (1988)

1988 – Cobra Nero 2 (L’Immagine S.r.l.)

[export title “The Black Cobra 2”]

Director “Dan Edwards”/Edoardo Margheriti Producer Luciano Appignani Music Aldo Salvi Song “Stay Baby Stay” Piero Montanari Cinematography Guglielmo Mancori Film Laboratory Luciano Vittorio? Editor Alessandro Lucidi Production Design Joey Luna Art Direction Jojo Magno Costume Design James Price Makeup Artist Gloria Diesta Production Managers Roberto Portoghesi, Sammy Interno First Assistant Director Paul Costello Second Assistant Director Arturo “Boy” Soquerata Property Master Waldo Masconi Sound Assistant Boy Cuenco Sound Engineer Fred Gajudo Boom Man Danny Reyes Special Effects Guy Nealgas Stunt Coordinator “Brando”/Blandino Navarro Camera Operator Adriano Mancori First Assistant Camera Pio Interno Second Assistant Camera Ernie Dela Paz Third Camera Assistant Celso Morante Clapper Loader Edgar Soquerata Production Secretary Angie E. Galang Talent Coordinator Nanding Salcedo Key Grip Luciano Giuseppone Grips Jessie Manalo, Armando Interno Electricians Richard Yap, Ross Davan Location Manager Limbo Lagdameo

Cast Fred Williamson (Lt. Robert 'Bob' Malone), Nicholas Hammond (Lt. Kevin McCall), Emma Hoagland (Peggy Mallory), “Majib”/Majid Jadali (Asad Cabuli), Ned Hourani (Mustapha), Edward Santana (Captain Marton), Kristine Erlandson (Mary McCall), Oscar Daniels (Eddie Mallory), Jonathan Sorenson, Rey Solo, Chantal Manz (Newscaster), Mike Monty (Brennan), Leopoldo Salcedo (Inspector), “Phil”/Philip Gordon (Detective)

Review/Edoardo comment from the Antonio Margheriti website:

Edoardo Margheriti direct his first film with this action movie made exclusively for the foreign market and home Video. It's a sort of a sequel of a different genre of film directed by Stelvio Massi: "The Black Cobra", but in reality "The Black Cobra 2" has in common with his prequel only the title and the leading actor: Fred Williamson, ex Football star who won a Superbowl with the San Francisco 49rs and famous actor - director. Williamson was also a leading, together with Jim Brown, of the film "Take a Hard Ride" (1975) directed by Antonio Margheriti.

The film was produced by Luciano Appignani with l'Immagine Cinematografica, which in 1985 produced also a film by Antonio: "Jungle Raiders". During that film, Luciano was able to appreciate the quality and ability of Edoardo which was the Assistant Director and the Special Effects Supervisor, but also direct a big Second Unit for some action sequences. After that film, Edoardo was hired by Appignani as Line Producer for the thriller: "Fashion Crimes" (La Morte è di Moda - 1987) by Bruno Gaburro.

The following year Luciano Appignani offer to Edoardo the chance to direct his first film: "The Black Cobra 2" which was suppose to be shoot in Sydney, Australia. In fact they start the preproduction in Sydney for over a month, where they also found the other leading actor: Nicholas Hammond, famous to be one of the child in: "Sound of Music" and the leading in two film on the Marvel Superhero:"Spiderman".

Unfortunately, when they were almost ready to start shooting the film, the Australian Unions give them some problems and the Italian Producer decided to suspend the film and recall them back to Italy. Edoardo was forced to prepare all again in the Philippines, where he had a big experience, in few days and to make the film with a shorter budget. The movie, even if shows a good technical direction and fair action sequences, was affected by the shortness of money which can be noticed in the entire production.

Edoardo Margheriti: Like my father with his movies, I do not like this film. Honestly I've made it at my best, doing any kind of sacrifice to make it better, but I've had to face with an unfair budget and a lousy script. The results never satisfied me, even if I've recently receive some compliments from some viewers.

Anyway the movie was very much liked by the foreign sellers and was sold very well all over the world. Especially I remember that Japan and South Korea were enthusiastic, as much that they ask immediately for a sequel, "The Black Cobra 3" also known as "Manila Connection".

The sequel was written and organized so fast that I had no time even to finish editing "Black Cobra 2", travelling to the Philippines immediately after the first cut. Unfortunately, "The Black Cobra 3" was made even worst that the first one, with less money and a story which was even worse. But I was young and I want to work and love to work. With today experience probably I would refuse the job, like I did with other similar project after, or I've simply make it better.