The Secret Of The Sacred Forest (1970)

1970 - The Secret Of The Sacred Forest (William Copeland Productions/[uncredited] Sark-Marok Productions/Shermart Distribution/AFTRS)  

[US production filmed in the Philippines around October 1967, eventually released in Biloxi on 26th June 1970. Also known as “Sacred Forest”]  

Director Michael DuPont Writer/Producer William Copeland Cinematography Vincente Sempio Music Herschel Burke Gilbert Orchestration/Arranger Ernest Hughes Songs "Has Any One Seen Chris" by William Copeland & Herschel Burke Gilbert, "Filipina Filipina" by William Copeland & Angel Pena Singer Maurice Santa Lucia Editor Tony DiMarco [as Anthony DiMarco] Sound Demetrio Carrianga  

Cast Gary Merrill (Mike Parks), Jon Provost (Jimmy Carpenter), Vic Silayan (Commander Ramos), Leo Martinez (Bayani de la Cruz), Henry Duval (Garcia), Michael J. Parsons [as Mike Parsons] (Chris Carpenter), Laurie Agudo (Annie), Dave Harvey (Brownie), Rolf Bayer (Captain Kram), Mona Morena (Mother), Lola Boy (Grandmother), Luis Florentino (Sergeant), Joseph de Cordova (Police Chief), Carol Varga (Rosa), Bruno Punzalan (Colonel Romero), Poch Apostol (Priest), Fred Viray (Dispatcher), Don Smith (2nd Mate), Zenaida Amador (Nun), Gami Virray (Pirate), Vicente Sempio (Hotel Manager), Cristina Ponce Enrile [as Christina Ponce-Enrile] (Fely)

ADVENTURE  

COMING SOON!

Gary Merrill (Mike Parks)

Jon Provost (Jimmy Carpenter)

Vic Silayan (Commander Ramos)

Leo Martinez (Bayani de la Cruz)

Henry Duval (Garcia)

Michael J. Parsons [as Mike Parsons] (Chris Carpenter)

Laurie Agudo (Annie)

Dave Harvey (Brownie)

Rolf Bayer (Captain Kram)

Mona Morena (Mother)

Lola Boy (Grandmother)

Luis Florentino (Sergeant)

Joseph de Cordova (right - Police Chief)

Carol Varga (Rosa)

Bruno Punzalan (Colonel Romero)

Poch Apostol (Priest)

Fred Viray (Dispatcher)

Don Smith (2nd Mate)

Zenaida Amador (Nun)

Vicente Sempio (Hotel Manager)

Cristina Ponce Enrile [as Christina Ponce-Enrile] (Fely)

THEATRICAL

USA - screened around the US from its premiere screening in Biloxi on 26th June 1970 to 1975

AUSTRALIA - a 16mm print was submitted for a G rating in February 1975 but there is no evidence so far of a commercial release

VIDEO

UK - released on VHS in 1987 via the Network Channel as "The Sacred Forest" 

- UK VHS, mp4 file

Black Gold (1959)

1959 - Black Gold (Shaw Brothers)

[Hong Kong production filmed in Malaya and Singapore with a Filipino director. Mandarin title Xing Dao Fang Zong/星島芳蹤. Hong Kong release date 29th April 1959]

Director Rolf Bayer Screenwriter Ralph P. Modder Producer Runde Shaw

Cast Sek Ying*, Paul Chang Chung, Hung Bo [Po Hung**], Liu Liang-Hua [Liang Hua Liu], Lee Wan-Chung [Yunzhong Li], Bai Ge, Yang Wen-Kai, Liu Kei, Erh Chun, Lau Yan-Kit, Mali'anni  

*English spelling of Mandarin names from the Hong Kong Movie Database

**Spelling from the Internet Movie Database

SYNOPSIS A young woman, Ling Huei, is used by a trafficker, Huang De, but she ends up in join instead of him. Upon her release six years later, she meets a doctor, Du Sen, who asks her to move to Singapore with him. But Huang De tracks her down and asks her to start trafficking again. [Raphael Millet, Singapore Cinema, Singapore, Editions Didier Millet, 2006]

NOTES by Andrew Leavold: A Shaw Brothers drug-themed crime thriller filmed in Malaya, currently considered lost - though its classy and evocative theme song is available on Youtube. Directed by Rolf Bayer, who had previously written the screenplay for Shaw Brothers' Filipino co-production Badjao (1957) and directed Azimat/"Talisman"/Tatak Ni Solomon: Seal Of Solomon (1958) for their Singapore company Malay Films. The screenplay was written by Singapore-based journalist Ralph P. Modder. 

THEATRICAL

HONG KONG - released on 29th April 1959

SINGAPORE/MALAYA - released to theatres throughout Malaya and Southeast Asia via the Shaw Brothers' network of company-owned cinemas

Babae, Babae At Babae Pa! (1951)

1951 - Babae, Babae, At Babae Pa!/"Women, Women And Women!" (Lebran Productions)

[Release date 17th April 1951. An English version, "Nothing But Women", was released in the US by Picture Associates Inc]

Director Lorenzo P. Tuells

Cast Carmen Rosales, Robert Neil, Ricardo Montes, Rolf Bayer, Oscar Obligacion, Patsy [as Patsy Pachochay], Sonia Reyes, Belle Gonzales

MUSICAL/ROMANTIC COMEDY

SYNOPSIS: A romantic musical that imagines what might happen when American sailors land in the Philippines.

THEATRICAL

PHILIPPINES - released 17th April 1951

USA - English language version "Nothing But Women" released in the US in 1954 by Picture Associates Inc, mostly as a supporting feature

HAWAII - the Tagalog version "Babae, Babae At Babae Pa!" was picked up by Consolidated Amusement Co in 1955 and received a very healthy run around the islands for several decades (the following are the only newspaper listings for what would have been hundreds of screenings):

30/05/55 - Palama Theatre, Honolulu 

03/06/55 - Toyo Theatre, Honolulu

18/06/55 - Palace Theatre, Hilo

17/06/57 - Palama Theatre, Honolulu [in a double bill with "Si Og Sa Army"]

19/06/57 - Waipahu Theatre [in a double bill with "Si Og Sa Army"]

21/06/57 - Toyo Theatre, Honolulu [in a double bill with "Si Og Sa Army"]

06/07/57 - Palace Theatre, Hilo [in a double bill with "Si Og Sa Army"]

30/07/57 - Haleiwa Theatre [in a double bill with "Si Og Sa Army"]

25/01/61 - Palama Theatre, Honolulu

20/10/69 - Waipahu Theatre

21/11/73 - Waipahu Theatre