Fortress In The Sun (1975)

1975 - Fortress In The Sun (Mirick Films International/Jowell Film Productions)

[Release date 24th April 1975]

Director/Story George Rowe Screenplay Humilde "Meek" Roxas Executive Producer Jesse G. Chua Cinematography Armando Dulag Music Emy Munji Theme Song Jun Polistico Editor Josepino Marcos 

Cast Nancy Kwan (Maria de Leon), Tony Ferrer (Tony), Fred Galang (Emilio), Eddie Garcia (Don Eduardo de Leon), Chanda Romero (Teresa), Logan Clarke (Rico), Ruel Vernal (Allan Lee), Mel Francisco (Torrente), Dave Raymundo, Johnny Vicar, Conrad Poe (Mario de Leon), Van Munoz, Roldan Rodrigo, Paquito Salcedo, Romy Nario

Mini-review by Andrew Leavold

Heiress Maria (a beautifully matured Nancy Kwan) returns from overseas to her family's hacienda at Tierra del Fuego, where their sugar plantation's workers have been forced to choose between two evils: the sadistic treatment of her father Don Eduardo (Eddie Garcia at his sneering, domineering best), or the bandit Torrente (Mel Francisco) and his scorched earth policy against the sugar baron. Into the hacienda come two strangers, the undercover cop Tony (former "James Bond of the Philippines" and karatista Tony Ferrer) who in the line of duty falls in love with the kind-hearted reformer Maria, and the mysterious kung fu expert Alan Lee (Ruel Vernal), worming his way as personal bodyguard into Don Eduardo's confidence. An action-drama with a social conscience, this competent Mirick Films export title directed by George Rowe - Ferrer's director on a number of 60s Agent X44 films - is punctuated with fistfights, kung fu brawls, and explosive combat scenes as the hacienda becomes a battlefield pitting boss against workers and sex-crazed bandidos, and a fantastic supporting cast - Fred Galang and Chanda Romero playing sibling worker activists, American actor Logan Clarke as Don Eduardo's equally sadistic henchman Rico, and Conrad (half-brother of FPJ) Poe as one of Don Eduardo's sons.

[Press booklet courtesy of Simon Santos at Video 48]

 

 

 

Shadow Of The Dragon (1973)

1973 - Shadow Of The Dragon (Topaz Film Productions)

[Release date 1st December 1973; released in France as "Il Etait Une Fois Bruce Lee"/"Once Upon A Time Bruce Lee"]

Director Jun Gallardo Story/Screenplay Ka Ikong Producer Jun Dominguez Cinematography Jojo Sangco Music Tito Sotto 

Cast Ramon Zamora, Jeanne Young, Elfe Brandeis, Eddie Garcia, Panchito Alba, Max Alvarado, Michael Murray, Ike Fernando, Rayvann

Dirty Games (1981)

1981 – Dirty Games (Movieworld International)

[Philippines release date 23rd July 1981; export version distributed by Cinex Films and F. Puzon Film Enterprises]

Director Leonardo Velasco Uy Story Leonardo Velasco Uy, Jose Mari Avellana Screenplay Jose Mari Avellana Producer Leticia Nocom Executive Producer Johnny H. Chan Cinematography "Temmie"/Artemio Ongleo Music Ernani Cuenco Editor Joe Mendoza Sound Rolly Ruta Underwater Cameraman Pruseso Lazaro Helicopter Pilots Captain Henry F. Ciron, Captain Valentino Prudencio, 1st Lt Joe Masferre, 1st Lt Teddy Termano

Cast Eddie Rodriguez, Christopher de Leon, Ace Vergel, Amalia Fuentes, Lorna Tolentino, Eddie Garcia, Dranreb [Belleza], Angelo Buenaventura, Tino de Lara, Orly Onza, Tirso Mediavillo, Jesse Sapitan

The Golden Triangle (1975)

1975 - The Golden Triangle (Jowell Films)

[Hong Kong production filmed in the Philippines, original company unknown; Filipino version released by Jowell Films, release date 7th March 1975. Also known as “The Burma Connection”, and released in West Germany as “Die Falle Des Gelben Drachen”]

HONG KONG CREDITS Director/Screenplay Law Kei Cinematography K. N. Wong Kwok-Nam Music Eddie H. Wang Chi-Ren Action Director Gam Ming Presenter Wong Lai-Ying

Cast Yasuaki Kurata, Han Ying-Chieh, Nick Cheung Lik, Ko Keung, Gai Yuen, Lee Fat-Yuen, Chan Muk-Chuen, Ting Hon

PHILIPPINES CREDITS Directors Romeo N. Galang, Lo Ke Producer Felicitas D. Uy

Cast “Shoji Karada”/Yasuaki Kurata, Evangeline Pascual, Chang Lee, Eddie Garcia, Jojo, Nympha Bonifacio, Joe Sison, Omar Kamar, Rey Sagum, Roberto Talabis, Greg Lozano, Hon Ying Kit, Samson Kai, Ko Keung, Val Iglesia

Many thanks to Simon Santos at Video 48 for bringing this to my attention!

Get My Son Dead Or Alive (1982)

1982 – Get My Son: Dead Or Alive (Bukang Liwayway Films)

[Philippines release date 27th May 1982]

Director Jose “Pepe” Marcos Story Felix E. Dalay Screenplay Jerry Tirazona Producer Precy Mendiola Talavera Executive Producer Jerry Paz Talavera Cinematography Rey de Leon Music Gabby Castellano Editor Gervacio Santos Art Director Rolly Sto. Domingo Production Manager Celso Paz Talavera Assistant Director Dante Javier Sound Effects Editor Rodel Capule Sound Engineer Robert Tejada Color Consultant Rafael Uy Publicity and Promotions Mar F. Cornes, Rod Samson

Cast Rudy Fernandez, Eddie Garcia, Vic Vargas, Perla Bautista, Marilou Bendigo, Phillip Gamboa, Nick Aladdin, Jing Caparas, Joseph de Cordova, Renato Del Prado, Paquito Diaz, Ernie Forte, Baldo Marro, Jose Romulo, Jun Santos, Larry Silva, Vilma Vitug (Vilma) [Greek VHS cover also lists “Rechard Folk” and Joan Beck]

Pinoy James Bonds: Cobra

1966 – Cobra (Virgo Films)

[Release date 9th August 1966]

Director Nilo Saez Story/Screenplay Luis Enriquez Based on the radio serial by Eddie Naval Music Carlos Rodriguez

Cast Eddie Rodriguez (Cobra), Willie Sotelo, Renato Robles, Martin Marfil, Eddie Torrente, Roberto Gonzalez, Vince Juarez, Vera Vargas, Bernardo Belleza, Cecilia Lopez, Jose Vergara, Ramon Yulo, Joe Sison

1967 – Cobra Challenges The Jokers (Virgo Films)

[Release date 17th January 1967]

Director Nilo Saez Story/Screenplay Luis Enriquez Based on the radio serial by Eddie Naval Music Carlos Rodriguez

Cast Eddie Rodriguez (Cobra), Willie Sotelo, Renato Robles, Ramon Yulo, Marilou Ver, Vince Juarez, Rene Roque, Abelardo Dacer, Darmo Orbase, Mario Barry Jr, Roland Gonzalez, Vic Salayan, Vic Andaya, Ruben Ramos, Sancho Tesalona, Jess Espiritu, Ben Gallarpes, Akido Boys, Joe Sison

1967 - The Kingpin (Virgo Film Productions)

[Release date 18th June 1967]

Director Nilo Saez Story/Screenplay Luis Enriquez Based on the radio serial by Eddie Naval Music Carlos Enriquez

Cast Eddie Rodriguez (Cobra), Imelda Ilanan, Renato Robles, Manolo Robles, Nort Nepomuceno, Suzanne Machelle, Ramon Yulo, Abelardo Dacer, Darmo Orbase, Mandy Bustamante, Jose Vergara, Ric Bustamante, Jun Esguerra, Sancho Tesalona, Romy Nario, Romy Villa, Art Veloso, Jess Espiritu, Tom Pacheco, Juanito de Guzman, Johnny Revilla, Joe Modronio, Gorgonio “Dagul” Se, Ben Peralta, The Jokers, Paul Edwards (The Kingpin), Willie Sotelo

1969 – Kamandag Sa Leeg! (Virgo Films)

[Release date unknown]

Director Nilo Saez Story Luis Enriquez Screenplay Ding M. de Jesus Based on the radio serial by Eddie Naval Music Tony Maiquez

Cast Eddie Rodriguez (Cobra), Daisy Romualdez, Renato Robles, Carlos Padilla Jr, Vivian Lorraine, Rocco Montalban, Protacio Dee, Fao Ying, Jun Santos, Jun Esguerra, Romy Nario, Joe Sison (El Cubano), Lauro Delgado, SOS Daredevils

1969 – Baron Gustavo (Lea Productions)

[Release date 14th December 1969]

Director/Story Nilo Saez Screenplay Nilo Saez, Jose F. Sibal Based on the radio serial by Eddie Naval Music Demet Velasquez Cinematography Conrado Baltazar

Cast Eddie Rodriguez (Cobra), Liza Lorena, Eddie Garcia (Baron Gustavo), Marissa Delgado, Rodolfo “Boy” Garcia, Eva Marie, Nello Nayo, Larry Silva, Jose Garcia, Prospero Luna, Joy del Sol, Fred Param, Evelyn Bonifacio, Maya Fuentes, Lt Ernesto Rivera, Luis Benedicto, Sancho Tesalona, Jun Esguerra, Romy Nario, Jing Abalos, SOS Daredevils

The Fantastic Sword (1976)

1976 – The Fantastic Sword (Hua Shan Films)

[Hong Kong/Philippines co-production, possibly with South Korean involvement. Philippines release date 12th November 1976, original title “Mahiwagang Kris”]

Director/Producer Hua Shan Presented by Lim Kam Youn Assistant Director Lim Jin Wai

Cast Ernie Garcia, Eddie Garcia, Gina Alajar, Vic Silayan, Bang Hi Joung

PetCor80’s review from the Cinehound Forum:

This obscurity (English dub and Chinese subs) has only recently surfaced and there is little info out there yet, so I thought I add my two cents with a small review. It's clearly a Filipino movie with some Hong Kong influence (direction, special effects) and according to some of the scarce sources there was also South-Korean involvement in the production.

NB In the following synopsis the names of the characters might be spelled wrong as I am writing them just the way I heard them.

This fantasy story that has lot's in common with similar Indonesian and Thai productions I've seen, takes place in a land called Berengkeng where a sultan rules a small community of farmers and fishermen. There is a local hero, the fisherman Merkieting who falls for the Sultans daughter princess Mary. But then there is also an evil wizard named Antingkan who wants her to be his. When the sultan is getting old he sees need for giving his daughter away to someone worthy of his throne and Antingkan is already scheming to win her hand. But then a mermaid caught in the nets of Merkieting and then kindly set free wants to help the poor fisherman. She gives him a gift with which he is sure to come in favour of the sultan. A box that allows travel to a place called 'civilisation' (a big modern day city, Manila maybe?).

Merkieting clearly has the best gift to present to the sultan, but Antingkan isn't called evil for nothing and enchants the sultan to pronounce him the winner. After this, Merkieting and princess Mary flee into civilisation. They learn that this modern world is full of people who say they want to help them but end up betraying them. First they learn about money, then they have to work. The princess turns out to be a good singer, but Merkieting is an even better fighter and he becomes a top boxer until he is forced to loose a fight by his manager. When he refuses it finally becomes really life threatening and the pair has to flee again, back to Berengkeng. There is now a small rebellion against Antingkan who has the sultan captured, but they are too weak and soon also captured. The mermaid keeps helping Merkieting however, and when all seems lost he is send on a quest for the Holy Sword that will help him defeat the wizard. When he succeeds in this quest the next one promptly presents itself as the princess is turned ugly by Antingkan and only a Holy fruit can save her. With the sword Merkieting is now able to fly, cleave mountains, fire lightning bolts and part water like Mozes, so he quickly goes out on this new challenge without fear. He faces a witch (with flying head!) and a very strong dragon guarding the tree with the fruit, but you can guess the way this one ends. The princess and the sultan are freed and the wizard is cornered until he escapes into civilisation where he will meet the same dangers the fleeing couple had before, but without a chance of ever turning back. The young lovers marry and they live happily ever after! The end.

From Ebay: “Ultra-rare asian action fantasy gem with ancient kingdoms, mermaids, living skeletons, crystal cages, dragons, giant monsters, strange creatures, magical caves, fantastic swords!”