Musmos Na Mandirigma (1969)

1969 – Musmos Na Mandirigma/"Child Warriors" (Jo-An Productions)  

[Release date 21st October 1969]  

Director/Story Tommy G. Citco Jr Screenplay Johnny C. Pangilinan Producers Peter M. Caballes, Cora Ridon Caballes Music Joseph Mendoza  

Cast Dante Varona, Sofia Moran, Roderick [Paulate], Cora Varona (Kumander Delgado), Martin Marfil, Bruno Punzalan, Miniong Alvarez, Fernando Marin, Chito Reyes, Jack Moreno, Leo Longalong, Abelardo Dacer, Benny Mallari, Buddy de Jesus, Felix Marfil, Lilia Castillo, Val Dalton, Eddie Mac, Dolly Fuentes, Luis Florentino, Norma Blancaflor, Angel Confiado, Rudy dela Pena, Dindoy, Joyce Padilla, Peter M. Caballes [as Pete Caballes]  

WAR  

NOTE by Andrew Leavold: Future producers of Weng Weng's films, Cora and Peter Caballes, released MUSMOS NA MANDIRIGMA ["Child Warriors"] to Manila theaters on 21st October 1969. A former department head at the Mariwasa tile company, Peter harboured a not-so-secret obsession to be part of the film industry. In 1968 he convinced Cora and both sets of parents to invest in a film production company named Jo-An Productions, after one of the Caballes' daughters. Their September 1969 debut was a racy science fiction-themed pulp flick ZOOM-ZOOM APOLLO starring sex siren Divina Valencia, Pampangan action specialist Bernard Belleza, and stuntman-turned-action-hero on the rise Dante Varona. The following month saw Jo-An's second feature MUSMOS... with ZOOM-ZOOM's child star Roderick Paulate in a prominent role alongside Dante Varona and Sofia Moran. Along with much of the Philippines' pre-80s cinema, both Jo-An productions have long disappeared, with only their black and white newspaper ads surviving. Not surprisingly, producer and frustrated actor Pete Caballes is listed in MUSMOS' acting credits.

Batwoman, Robin and Johnny Joker (1972-3)

A trio of DC-inspired superhero films produced by and starring the First Family of Filipino Action Cinema - Virginia as Batwoman, her son Robin Aristorenas as Robin, and husband Jun Aristorenas as director and Johnny Joker. Sadly all three films appear to be lost, and all that remains of their celluloid insanity, not be mention their sheer brazen chicanery, are these b&w ads (all courtesy of Simon Santos and his Video 48 blog) and articles (from James de la Rosa's Pelikula atbp blog), salamat!

Movietime Magazine, 15th April 1972, pp.62-3

1972 - Batwoman And Robin (Juver Productions)  

[Release date 12th March 1972]  

Director Jun Aristorenas [as “Junar"] Story/Screenplay Greg Macabenta Producers Jun Aristorenas, Virginia Gaerlan

Cast Robin Aristorenas (Robin), Virginia [Gaerlan] (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  

COSTUMED SUPERHERO/ACTION   

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

[Release date 18th May 1972]  

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

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

COSTUMED SUPERHERO/ACTION/HORROR  

1973 - Johnny Joker (Juver Productions)  

[Release date 17th June 1973]  

Director Jun Aristorenas [as "Junar"] Story Greg B. Macabenta Screenplay Bert R. Mendoza Producers Jun Aristorenas, Virginia Gaerlan Music Rodgar Layout Artist “Tiger”

Cast Jun Aristorenas (Johnny Joker), Robin Aristorenas (Robin), Virginia [Gaerlan] (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   

COSTUMED SUPERHERO/ACTION  

The Smugglers (1972)

Image courtesy of the Video 48 blog

1972 - The Smugglers (Liberty Pictures) 

[Release date 1st April 1972]  

Director Leody M. Diaz Story Napoleon Labrador Screenplay Henry Cuino Music Demet Velasquez

Cast Tony Ferrer (Tony Falcon, Agent X-44), Sofia Moran, Lynn Roselle, Liza Vergara, Romy Diaz, Rolan Montes, Omar Camar [as Boy Camar], Larry Esguerra, Romy Luartes, Alex Flores, Jun Santos, Che de Guzman, Ben Perez, Ven Medina, Renato del Prado, Sim Jorge, Jing Caparas, Edwin Perry, Arsenio Cudia, SOS Daredevils, Thunder Boys Stuntmen, Tom Calma, Tony Poblete  

SPY/ACTION  

NOTE: This is number 29 or 30 - most probably 29 - in a long-running series of Agent X-44 films starring Tony Ferrer. For a full filmography and detailed article on the X-44 series, click HERE. 

  

Secret Witness (1972)

1972 - Secret Witness (Liberty Pictures)   

[Release date unknown]  

Director/Writer Romeo N. Galang  

Cast Tony Ferrer (Tony Falcon, Agent X-44), Sofia Moran, Max Alvarado, Joy Hilton, Eva Brandeis 

SPY/ACTION 

NOTE: This is number 29 or 30 - most probably 30 - in a long-running series of Agent X-44 films starring Tony Ferrer. For a full filmography and detailed article on the X-44 series, click HERE. 

Seven Deadly Roses (1969)

Image courtesy of the Video 48 blog

1969 - Seven Deadly Roses (Elk’s Productions)  

[Release date 11th April 1969; also listed as “Tony Falcon And The Seven Deadly Roses”]  

Director A. Gregorio Writer Greg Macabenta Cinematography Mike Accion Music Tony Maiquez  

Cast Tony Ferrer (Tony Falcon, Agent X-44), Marlene Dauden, Lourdes Medel, Imelda Ilanan, Sofia Moran, Verna Gaston, Joy Dee, Perla Bautista, Victor Bravo, Manolo Noble, Rocco Montalban, Nort Nepomuceno, Larry Silva, Joaquin Fajardo, Ruben Ramos, Joe Sison, Joe Cunanan, Leon Pajaron, Romy Nario, Larry Esguerra, Sancho Tesalona, Art Veloso, Benny Mallari, Joe Canlas, Romy Blanco, Joe Andrade, Gaston Garcia, Ruben Disamparo, Pons de Guzman, Hosping Pregonero, Rudy de Vera, Tony Garcia, Lito Montoya, Jing Caparas, Amado Gasmin, PMP Commandos, SOS Daredevils, Arthur Villegas, Jack Davis   

SPY/ACTION  

NOTE: This is number 21 in a long-running series of Agent X-44 films starring Tony Ferrer. For a full filmography and detailed article on the X-44 series, click HERE. 

THEATRICAL

PHILIPPINES - released 11th April 1969

GUAM - screened at the Johnston in Agana from 23rd to 29th July 1969, and at the Marina Drive-In from 13th to 19th August 1969  

HAWAII - screened at the Zamboanga in Honolulu from 18th to 24th January 1972, and on 10th November 1972 and 25th May 1973 at the Waipahu Theatre

USA - screened at the Grand in San Francisco from 28th June to 5th July 1971, and at the Campus theatre in Hollywood on 22nd February 1975