Ghana Posters of Filipino Films

DESTINATION GHANA: The Incredible Hand-Painted Local Video Posters for Filipino Film Exports

Here's just a small selection of the Filipino films which made it - some legally, most not - to video stores in Ghana from the 1980s to 2000s. As with the posters for local and Nigerian films, these adverts were hand-painted in lurid colours, usually on the back of rice sacks, and hung outside video stores and market stalls. Sadly the collapse of the DVD market has seen this once-ubiquitous artform all but disappear, except for the efforts of folk like the Deadly Prey Gallery in the US to commission new work and thus keep the art (and the artists!) alive. Of course if you find any more examples we'd love to see them!

American Commandos (Danish co-production, aka Hitman; Bobby A. Suarez, 1986 Action)

American Ninja (US production; Cannon Films/Michael Dudikoff, 1985 Martial Arts)

American Streetfighter (US co-production with Silver Star shot in the US; Gary Daniels, 1992 Martial Arts) 

Behind Enemy Lines (US production; 1997 War) 

Blood Surf (US co-production, 2000 Horror) 

Cleopatra Wong (Filipino export, aka They Call Her Cleopatra Wong; Bobby A. Suarez/Marrie Lee, 1978 Kung Fu) 

Cobra Mission (Swiss production; Erwin C. Dietrich, 1986 Action)

Doomsdayer (US co-production; Michael Sellers, 2000 Science Fiction) 

Double Target (Italian production; Bruno Mattei, 1987 Action) 

Eastern Condors (Hong Kong production; Sammo Hung, 1987 Action) 

Escape To Nowhere (Hong Kong co-production, aka Battle Geese; Davian International, 1990)

Firehawk (US co-production; Cirio H. Santiago, 1993 War) 

Heroes For Hire (Filipino export; Silver Star, 1984 Action) 

Hunters Of The Golden Cobra (Italian production; Antonio Margheriti, 1982 Action) 

Jungle Wolf (US production; Ron Marchini, 1986 Action) 

Killer Instinct (Australian co-production; Cirio H. Santiago, 1987 War)

Maharlika (US co-production, aka Guerrilla Strike Force; Luis Nepomuceno, 1970 War)

Manda vs Kung Fu (Hong Kong co-production, aka Devil Woman; Jimmy L. Pascual, 1974 Kung Fu Horror)  

Naked Weapon (Hong Kong co-production, 2002 Action) 

Ninja Kids: Phantom Force (Filipino export, aka Ninja Kids And The Samurai Sword; 1986 Martial Arts) 

No Dead Heroes (Filipino export, 1987 Action) 

Not Another Mistake (US co-production; Anthony Maharaj, 1988 War) 

Phantom Soldiers (Filipino export; 1987 War) 

P.O.W. The Escape (US production, aka Behind Enemy Lines; Cannon Films, 1986 War) 

Raiders Of The Sun (US co-production; Cirio H. Santiago, 1992 Post-Apocalypse) 

Rescue Team (Filipino export; Silver Star, 1983 Action) 

Robowar (Italian production; Bruno Mattei, 1988 Science Fiction Action) 

Searchers Of The Voodoo Mountain (Danish co-production, aka Warriors Of The Apocalypse; Bobby A Suarez, 1985 Post-Apocalypse) 

Stone Boy (Filipino export, aka Boy God; Nino Muhlach, 1982 Fantasy Horror Comedy)

Strike Commando (Italian production; Bruno Mattei, 1987 Action) 

Tigershark (US production; 1987 Action) 

American Force 2: The Untouchable Glory (Hong Kong production; IFD cut-and-paste, 1988 Action)

Vengeance Squad (Filipino export; 1987 Action) 

Wheels Of Fire (US co-production; Cirio H. Santiago, 1985 Post-Apocalypse) 

When Eagles Strike (US co-production; Cirio H. Santiago, 2003 Action) 

Zuma II: Hell Serpent (Filipino export; Max Laurel, 1987 Horror) 

The Hong Kong Connection

 

The HONG KONG CONNECTION!

An exhaustive list of Chinese films and filmmakers in the Philippines, and Filipino filmmakers and films in Hong Kong (under construction, and will be for a while! Films market with an * are already in digital form in the Bamboo Gods Collection)

1950 - Sunset Over Corregidor (1949), He Promised To Return (1948) and Fort Santiago (1946) Filipino films dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong - all three were purchased by US distributor Lloyd Friedgen in 1949

1951 - Filipino films dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong: Zamboanga (1937)*, 10th Battalion Sa 38th Parallel, Korea (1951) 

1952? - Darna At Ang Babaeng Lawin/“Darna And The Hawk Woman” (Filipino film dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong)

Hong Kong newspaper ad for Darna (1950)

1954 - Filipino films dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong: Darna (1951)*, Ang Sawa Sa Lumang Simboryo/“Python At The Old Dome" (1952)*, Dyesebel (1954)*

*1955 - Sanda Wong (Hong Kong/Filipino co-production filmed in Hong Kong; released in Hong Kong in 1956)

1955 - Filipino films dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong: Korea (1952), Carlos Trece (1953), Kapitan Berong (1953)

Hong Kong newspaper ad for Kahariang Bato/Tagani (1956) 

1956 - Filipino films dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong: Exzur (English title "Man From Outer Space", 1952), Agilang Itim (1953), Dumagit (1954), Lupang Kayumanggi (1955), Ang Ibong Adarna (1955), Dakilang Hudas (1955), Anak Dalita/“Child Of Sorrow” (1956)*, Kahiriang Bato (1956), Kahariang Bato/Tagani (1956)

1956 - The Treasure Of Gen. Yamashita (Hong Kong/Filipino co-production filmed in the Philippines; released in Hong Kong as "Treasure Of Yamashita")

*1957 – Hongkong Holiday (Filipino/Hong Kong co-production filmed in Hong Kong)

*1957 - Genghis Khan (1950 Filipino film dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong)

1958 – Lutong Makaw (a co-production between the Philippines' Larry Santiago Productions and Asia Film Co, filmed in Hong Kong)

1958 – Pagoda (A Filipino-Hong Kong co-production between the Philippines' Sampaguita Pictures and Hong Kong's Golden City Film Co/Shun Yee Film Co and filmed in Tagalog, Mandarin and Cantonese; also known variously in Hong Kong as “Golden City Pagoda”, "Snake Girl", "The Serpent Girl's Worldly Fancies", “Shenu Sifan”, “Fanjian Hao” and “The Great Secular World”)

1958 - Ramir (1958 Filipino film dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong, English title “Hercules And His Kingdom”)

1958 – Obra Maestra (Five segments filmed in five Asian countries, including the Gerry de Leon-directed story in Hong Kong; produced by Cirio H. Santiago)

*1959 – The Scavengers (A US/Filipino co-production filmed in Hong Kong and Manila, directed by Eddie Romero) 

1959 - Black Gold (Shaw Brothers production filmed in Malaya and directed by Rolf Bayer)

*1960 - Kambal Sa Sinukuan (Filipino fantasy adventure film dubbed into Cantonese and released in Hong Kong)

1960 – Hongkong Honeymoon (partly filmed in Hong Kong by director Ramon A. Estella) 

1960 - Counterthrust! (TV series co-produced and partly directed by Eddie Romero - shot all over Asia including Hong Kong)

1963 - Blood Of Bataan (1953), a Filipino war film screened in Hong Kong, most probably as the English-dubbed version from Joseph Brenner Associates; also Tictaban (aka The 13th Sultan/Forbidden Women, 1948), a Filipino film re-edited and released internationally by US exploitation guru Lloyd Friedgen

1964 - Outrages Of The Orient (1949), a second Lloyd Friedgen re-edit released to Hong Kong theatres

1965 - Mga Batang Turista (Sampaguita teen musical filmed in Hong Kong)

*1965 - Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore (Shaw Brothers musical partly filmed in the Philippines, and stars Filipino actors Maggie de la Riva and Alfonso Carvajal) 

c.1965 - Filipino spy film Misyong Mapanganib (1965) is released in Hong Kong

1965 - Hongkong 999 (Eddie Fernandez spy action filmed in Hong Kong)

1965 - Assignment: Hongkong (Charlie Davao spy action filmed in Hong Kong)

1966 – 7 Gabi Sa Hongkong/“7 Nights In Hong Kong” (filmed in Hong Kong)

1966 - Tatlong Mabilis Sa Hong Kong (Bentot spy spoof filmed in Hong Kong)

1966 - The Golden Buddha (Filipino spy movie filmed in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand)

1966 - Tabla Manalo (1961 Eddie Rodriguez action film) released in Hong Kong theatres

Late 60s - Hong Kong action films imported by Bobby A. Suarez and Conrado "Boy" Puzon, and screened without subtitles in Binondo's Chinatown area 

1967 - Honey, Honeymoon (Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez’s actual wedding filmed in Hong Kong)

1969 - Badlis Sa Kinabuhi/“The Line Of Life” (Visayan film dubbed into English and released in Hong Kong as “Destiny”)

1970 - Target Hongkong (final in the Mike Narra spy series, partly filmed in Hong Kong)

*1970 - Ride The Tiger (US production filmed in Manila, Zamboanga, Hong Kong and Bangkok)

1970 - Nora Aunor and Manny de Leon shot scenes for two teenybopper musicals in Hong Kong and Japan for Tower Productions - Around Asia With Nora and The Golden Voice. The majority of scenes for the two features were filmed onboard the liner Ms President. 

*1972 - The Evil Within (Filipino production partly financed by 20th Century Fox and filmed in 1970 in India, Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines)

1972 – Just Married, Do Not Disturb (Sampaguita teen musical partly filmed in Hong Kong)

1972-1974 - Bobby A. Suarez sold several Hong Kong and Taiwanese kung fu films globally via his Intercontinental Films - King Boxer (1972)*, Kung Fu – The Punch Of Death/The Prodigal Boxer/The Punch Of Death (1972)*, That Man From Singapore (1973)*, and Fists Of Vengeance (1974)*

1972 - Hong Kong kung fu films make a serious impact at local cinemas, starting in May with Bobby A. Suarez's The King Boxer* starring Meng Fei. Local distributors include Kinavesa Films (Kim Y. Lim), Regal Films (Lily Y. Monteverde), Asia Films (Tommy Pascual), Jowell Films, Mirick (Jesse Chua). Most of these companies move into producing their own kung fu films as local or Hong Kong co-productions.

1972 - in February, Filipino-born producer Jimmy L. Pascual establishes Empire Cinema Center and later Emperor Film International in Hong Kong, and sells many of his kung fu films globally - Bloody Fists (1972)*, Tough Guy (1972), and many more to be listed...

*1973 – Bamboo Gods And Iron Men (US/Filipino co-production partially shot in Hong Kong)

*1973 - Fly Me (US/Philippines co-production filmed in the Philippines, plus extra location scenes in Hong Kong)

*1973 - Blood Hero/The Bloody Hero (Meng Fei; Hong Kong co-production)

1973 - Trovador Ramos, billed as "the only fighter to defeat Bruce Lee", stars in a series of Hong Kong productions: A Tooth For A Tooth, Opium Trail, Gambling For Head

*1974 - The Black Dragon (Bobby A. Suarez production filmed in Hong Kong)

*1974 - The Black Dragon (Hong Kong co-production with Joseph Estrada's JE Productions)  

*1974 - Cosa Nostra Asia (Bobby A. Suarez production filmed in Taiwan, and released internationally via his Hong Kong distribution company Intercontinental Films [HK])

*1974 - Bamboo Gods And Iron Men (US/Filipino co-production; some exteriors filmed in Hong Kong)

*1974 - Devil Woman (Jimmy L. Pascual)

*1974 - Dragons Never Die (Jimmy L. Pascual)

*1974 - T.N.T. Jackson (partly shot in Hong Kong)

*1974 - Kill...R.P. Nine-O (Filipino production partly filmed in Hong Kong)

*1973 - Beba The Mermaid (Jimmy L. Pascual)

*1974 - Evidence (Hong Kong action filmed in the Philippines)

*1974 - Wild Whirlwind (Meng Fei, Vilma Santos)

*1974 - Master Samurai (Bobby A. Suarez production for Intercontinental Films, filmed entirely in the Philippines)

*1975 - They Call Him Chop Suey (Bobby A. Suarez production for Intercontinental Films, filmed entirely in the Philippines)

*1975 - Tiger Force/Kill The Tiger (Hong Kong co-production with Kinavesa)

*1975 - Bruka Queen Of Evil (Jimmy L. Pascual)

*1975 - The Kill (Rolf Bayer-directed action thriller filmed in Hong Kong and Macau)

*1975 - The Golden Triangle (Jowell)

*1975 - The Fighting Dragon/Challenge The Dragon/Challenge Me Dragon (Yusuka Kurata)

*1975 - Tigers At Top/Tigers At The Top/Tiger At Top (Taiwanese-shot kung fu film featuring Rey Sagum as guest villain)

1975 - The Witch 

*1976 - The Fantastic Sword (co-production between Hong Kong, South Korea, and Kim Y. Lim's Kinavesa) 

*1976 - Tiger Man

*1977 - The Dragon, The Lizard. The Boxer (Ramon Zamora)

*1977 - Magic Curse (Hong Kong/South Korean co-production)

*1977 - Return Of Bruce (Bruce Le)

*1977 - They Call Her Cleopatra Wong (produced and directed by Bobby A. Suarez, and filmed in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines) 

*1977 - The Golden Chaku/Bruce And The Golden Chaku (Rey Malonzo, Ramon Zamora)

*1979 - Bruce The Super Hero (Hong Kong production fronted by Dick Randall)

*1980 - Bruce And The Bronze Shaolinmen (Bruce Le)

1980 - Treasure Of Bruce Lee/King Boxer Part II (TO BE CONFIRMED)

1980 - The Mortal Storm (TO BE CONFIRMED)

*1981 - Ordinance 17 (Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines) 

*1981 - The Story Of Woo Viet/God Of Killers (Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines, starring a young Chow Yun Fat)

*The Furious (directed by Joseph Kong/Velasco, partly filmed in the Philippines)

1982 - Concord Of Bruce (reuses Return Of Bruce footage)

*1982 - Marianna (Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines)

*1982 - Trap/Cop Killer (Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines)

*1984 - Teppanyaki (Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines)

*1986 - Fatal Command (Filmark cut-and-paste) 

*1986 - Fire Operation (Filmark cut-and-paste) 

*1986???? - Hitman The Cobra (IFD cut and paste of Kumander Sumulong: 1940-1970 [1986])

*1986???? - The Ninja Squad (IFD cut and paste of Hatulan Si…Totoy Angustia [1986?])

*1986???? - Ninja Ultimate Challenge (IFD cut and paste of Twin Fists For The Blackmasters [1980?]) 

*1986???? - Ninja, Warriors From Beyond (IFD cut and paste of Maestro Bandido [1980?])  

*1986 - Silver Dragon Ninja (IFD cut and paste uses HK film Trap (1982), shot in the Philippines) 

*1987???? - Platoon The Warriors (IFD cut and paste of Diegong Bayong [1980?])  

*1987 - Eastern Condors (Sammo Hung)

*1987 - Curse/Cannibal Curse (Hong Kong production filmed in the Philippines, starring Maria Isabel Lopez)

*1987 - Born To Gamble (Hong Kong production filmed in the Philippines, starring Maria Isabel Lopez)

*1988??? - Champion Fighter/The Fighter The Winner (IFD cute-and-paste using parts of Grease Gun Brothers, 1988)  

*1988???? - Top Mission (IFD cut and paste of  Diablo Force [1980?])  

*1988 - American Force 2: The Untouchable Glory, American Force 3: High Sky Mission and American Force 4: Soldier Exterminators (all three IFD releases used Filipino footage)

*1989 - War City 3: The Extreme Project/Deadly Brothers (1989?), War City 4: Kingdom Of Power/Bulldog (1989?), War City 5: Law Of Honor/Maynila 1970: Panganib, Araw At Gabi (1989?)  

1989-1995 - David Hung's Davian International films its own fully-fledged productions in the Philippines. All are technically Hong Kong co-productions

*1990 - Days Of Being Wild (Wong Kar-Wai)

*1990 - Fatal Vacation

*1990 - Fatal Termination (Hong Kong production with one brief shot of the Philippines)

1990 - Island On Fire (partly filmed in the Philippines)

*1991 - Armour Of God II: Operation Condor (Jackie Chan sequel partly shot in the Philippines) 

*1991 - Lethal Panther/Deadly China Dolls (Godfrey Ho, Philip Ko)

*1992 - Fatal Chase (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster) Released in a Tagalog version called Kakambal Ko Sa Tapang (1993), also featuring footage later edited into Guardian Angel (1996).

*1992 - Kickboxer Robocop/Rings Untouchable (IFD cute-and-paste using parts of Puga [1980])

*1992 - Hard To Kill (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1993 - Lethal Panther 2/Magkasangga Sa Batas (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1993 - Ultracop 2000/Magkasangga 2000 (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1994 - Deadly Target/Fatal Target/Walang Kasukat Sa Tapang (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1994 - Asian Cop: High Voltage/High Voltage

*1994 - The Deadly Island

*1995 - The Adventurers (Ringo Lam)

*1995 - Power Connection/Tapang Sa Tapang (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1995 - Angel On Fire/Matira Ang Matibay (Cynthia Khan)

*1995 - Spitfire (Albert Pyun; filmed in Hong Kong and the Philippines)

*1995 - Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop/Mabangis Na Lungsod (Cynthia Khan, Monsour del Rosario)

*1995 - Ultimate Revenge

1995 - A Sudden Love (TO BE CONFIRMED)

*1996 - Guardian Angel (Godfrey Ho, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster - uses footage from the Tagalog version of Fatal Chase)

*1997 - Techno Warriors/Computer Hero (Phillip Ko) 

*1997 - The Hunted Hunter/Tapusin Natin Ang Laban 

*1997 - Hong Kong '97 (Albert Pyun; filmed in Hong Kong and the Philippines)

*1998 - The Golden Nightmare (Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1998 - Troublesome Night 4

1998 - The Three Lustketeers

1998 - Leopard Hunting 

*1998 - The Suspect (Ringo Lam)

*1998 - Fatal Desire 

1998 - Raging Angels (TO BE CONFIRMED)

*1999 - Purple Storm

*1999 - Techno Warriors 2: Lethal Combat/Digital Warriors (Phillip Ko, Yukari Oshima/Cynthia Luster)

*1999 - A Sympathetic Killer (Hong Kong production filmed around Luzon, starring Phillip Ko and Teddy Chiu)

*2001 - Dark War (Hong Kong)

*2001 - Killing Skill (Hong Kong production filmed around Cebu; directed by Phillip Ko)

*2002 - Naked Weapon

2002 - Final Edge (made back-to-back in the Philippines with Killing Skill; rumoured to be the final film directed by Phillip Ko)

*2007 - Knock-Off (Tsui Hark directs Jean-Claude Van Damme, 2nd Unit scenes shot in the Philippines)

Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz IV

Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz IV: A Tribute by Andrew Leavold

The Philippines has lost another Titan of Cinema; for me, Amable Tikoy Aguiluz VI was the guy who first brought me to the Philippines. We met at the Brisbane International Film Festival in 2006 where I was screening They Call Her Cleopatra Wong with its star Marrie Lee. He saw my "I Heart Weng Weng" shirt and said, "I love Weng Weng too!" I had no idea he was Filipino until he invited me to do my Bamboo Gods mash-up at his own film festival in Manila that November. "Find the airfare and I'll put you up for a few days..." 

BIFF 2006: Tikoy, festival director Anne Demy-Geroe, Marrie Lee and Andrew Leavold

Cinemanila International Film Festival was my introduction to the Philippines, and it became so addictive that I was back in February 2007 on what would become the most important shoot for The Search for Weng Weng; Tikoy picked me up from the airport and for the entire two weeks was my line producer, taking me on the cab ride to TayTay to interview Eddie Nicart, even lending me the $25 exit fee when I'd run out of my meager budget. Even though we stopped talking for a while after he ditched me at the last minute for Tarantino at his 2007 Cinemanila, Brendan Young and I still interviewed him in 2008; that footage finally ended up in the finished film, which Tikoy screened at the 2013 Cinemanila. 

The Four Lions of Cinemanila 2007: Quentin Tarantino, Eddie Romero, Cirio H. Santiago and Tikoy

He was also a highly accomplished director, and his undisputed masterpiece The Boatman (1984) gets a good mention in my next documentary on Filipino cinema; shame I never got around to a second interview. And although we'd stopped communicating after that last Cinemanila screening, I'll be forever grateful to the man who, perhaps more than anyone else (with the possible exception of BIFF head Anne Demy-Geroe!), was responsible for the start of my Philippines adventures - and changed my little world forever. Rest easy, Uncle Tikoy....

Ramon A. Estella

From the Facebook group Memories Of Old Manila by Michelle C. Cidro: Ramon A. Estella (1911–May 4,1991), son of Filipino composer Jose Estella, was a pre-war Philippines movie director and actor. At the age of 27 years old, he started directing his first film, Bayan At Pagibig, in 1938 and in 1941, he was proclaimed Director of the Year by Philippine Cinema and Radio because of the success of his assigned project, Buenavista. During the 1950s, Estella started his career as a neo-realist painter which later in 1959, had his first solo exhibition at the Philippine Art Gallery. He spent his entire life in Florida with his Japanese wife and his last recorded visit to the country was during the Manila International Film Festival in 1981.

As filmmaker, Ramon Estella was acclaimed. In the late ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, he directed such important films as Buenavista, Huling Habilin, Voice of Freedom, Sundalong Talahib, Desperado and Buhay at Pag-ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

Buenavista merited Estella the Director of the Year (1941) award from the Philippine Cinema and Radio. Rosa del Rosario was named Actress of the Year for the same film.

Desperado was FAMAS Best Picture, Editor and Director for 1956.

Buhay At Pag-ibig Ni Dr. Jose Rizal is a three-hour epic which depicted major events in the life of the National Hero, shown in 1956.

But as a painter, little is written about Estella, although his exhibits were acclaimed here and abroad, including the United States. Estella was described as purveyor of modern art, culture and antiquities.
In the late ’50s, Estella left for New York to study film and television courses under top directors. He also worked for the United Nations and directed documentaries, TV shows and newsreels. His UN job brought him to Latin America and some parts of Asia, among them Singapore and Malaya.
Estella died of cancer of the liver on May 4, 1991.

Filmography
1933 – Ang Punyal na Ginto (actor)
1938 – Bayan at Pag-ibig [Excelsior] (dir)
1939 – Ruisenor [Parlatone]
1940 – Buenavista  ? (dir)
1942 – Huling Habilin  ?
1941 – Kundiman [Excelsior]
1941 – Singsing na Pangkasal [Acuna-Zaldariaga]
1941 – Paraiso [Excelsior] (dir)
1941 – Ilang-Ilang [Lvn] (dir)
1946 – Angelus [Lvn] (dir)
1947 – Caprichosa [Premiere] (dir)
1948 – Ang Anghel sa Lupa [Premiere] (dir)
1948 – Perfidia [Premiere] (dir)
1948 – Labi ng Bataan [Premiere] (dir)
1948 – Hiram na Pangalan [Premiere] (dir)
1949 – Lihim na Bayani [Premiere] (dir)
1949 – Kay Ganda ng Umaga [Premiere] (dir)
1949 – Dugo ng Katipunan [Premiere] (dir)
1950 – Sundalong Talahib [Filipinas] (dir)
1950 – Kenkoy [Premiere] (dir)
1950 – Punglo at Pag-ibig [Premiere] (dir)
1950 – Bandido [Premiere] (dir)
1950 – Prinsipe Don Juan [Premiere] (dir)
1956 – Desperado [People's] (dir)
1956 – Buhay at Pag-ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal [Balatbat & Bagumbayan] (dir)
1957 – Kim [C.Santiago Film Org] (dir)
1958 – Sta. Rita de Casia [Premiere] (dir)
1958 – Ramir [Everlasting] (dir)

Filmography in Singapore / Malaya
1. 1957 / Kembali Saorang / One Came Back / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
2. 1958 / Anak Pontianak / Son of Pontianak / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
3. 1958 / Matahari/ The Rape of Malaya / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
4. 1959 / Saudagar Minyak Urat / Love Crazy / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
5. 1959 / Samseng / Gangster / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
6. 1963 / Raja Bersiong / King of Dracula / Ramon Estella / Cathay-Keris
7. 1963 / Darah-Ku / My Blood / Ramon Estella / Maria Menado Productions, Cathay-Keris
8. 1963 / Bunga Tanjong / Cape of Flowers / Ramon Estella/ Maria Menado Productions, Cathay-Keris
9. 1964 / Pontianak Kembali / The Pontianak Returns / Ramon Estella / Maria Menado Productions, Cathay-Keris
10. 1964 / Melanchong ka-Tokyo / Holiday in Tokyo / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
11. 1964 / Dupa Chendana / The Enchanted Island / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions
12. 1965 / Pusaka Pontianak / The Accursed Heritage / Ramon Estella / Malay Film Productions

The Malaysian/Singapore Connection

The Garrick Theatre in Singapore, home of Filipino films in the early 50s

The Singapore/Malaysian Connection (slowly being constructed)

A list of Filipino films and filmmakers associated with Singapore and Malaya/Malaysia. Films marked with an * are already in digital form in the Bamboo Gods Collection

1948 - Sword Of The Avenger screens in Malaya

1952 - Filipino films begin screening in Malaya, mostly distributed by Lim Eng Kwan's South-East Asia Film Company, who also distributed Hindi and Egyptian films throughout the Malay Federation. Their years-long string of releases - what the newspapers dubbed "The Filipino 'Invasion'" screening mostly at the Garrick Theatre on Geylang Rd in Singapore - started with a English-subtitled Og (22nd June) and Lebran's English-language version of Nothing But Women (19th July). All subsequent releases are dubbed into Malay: Prinsipe Amante (September), Los Tres Muskiteros (released as "The Three Musketeers", 3rd October), and Sultan Palasig (7th December). Shaw Brothers responded with a release of Waling-Waling (7th September). 

1953 - South-East Asia Film Co releases Darna (3rd January), Aladin (15th February), Tungku Amante (8th March), Malaya (26th March), Principeng Hindi Tumatawa (14th June), as well as an April re-release of Og dubbed into Malay.

1954 - South East Asia Film Co distributes Darna At Ang Babaeng Lawin (2th January), Juan Tamad (20th March), Florante At Laura (21st July), Nuno Sa Punso (released as "Kapitan Hikmat", 1st November) and Servan Petani (December). 

1955 - South-East Asia Film Co releases Ukala (January) and a proper release of the "First Filipino-Malay Film Production", Perfidia (22nd September). 

1955 - Elephant Girl/Gadis Liar (dir. Eddie Infante) Produced by the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions, premiered 28th August

1956 - South-East Asia Film Co releases Dyesebel (March)

1956 - Filipino films screen at the Majestic Theatre in Penang

*1957 - Kembali Sa-Orang/"One Came Back" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions)

*1957 - Badjao (Singapore/Filipino co-production filmed in the Philippines; dir. Lamberto V. Avellana)

*1957 - Taufan/“Typhoon” (dir. Teodorico C. Santos; released 31st December)

1957 - South-East Asia Film Co releases a subtitled Guerrero at the Garrick on 25th December.

*1958 - Anak Pontianak/"Child Of Pontianak" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions; released 10th February) 

*1958 - Azimat: The Seal Of Solomon/"Talisman"/Tatak Ni Solomon: Seal Of Solomon (dir. Rolf Bayer for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions) Filmed in Singapore late 1957; premiered 31st May 1958.

*1958 - Sergeant Hussain (dir. Lamberto V. Avellana for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions; a charity gala premiere was held in Kuala Lumpur on 20th August, with a regular season from 31st August) 

*1958 - Mata Hari/"The Rape Of Malaya" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions; released 30th November)

*1959 - Saudagar Minyak Urat/"Love Crazy" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions; released 1st March)

*1959 - Samseng/"Gangster" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions; released 7th May)

1959 - Black Gold (dir. Rolf Bayer; produced by Shaw Brothers for the Chinese market, filmed in Singapore and Malaya in May/June 1958)

1959 - In December, actress-producer Maria Menado announces a lavish new film Siti Zubaidah, to be directed by Ramon A. Estella and filmed in Singapore, Malaya, Indonesia and India; sadly the project is never realized.

1963 - Raja Bersiong/"King Of Dracula" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for Cathay-Keris and Maria Menado Productions; released 30th March)

*1963 - Darah-Ku/"My Blood" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for Cathay-Keris and Maria Menado Productions; released 24th August)

*1963 - Bunga Tanjong/"Cape Of Flowers" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for Cathay-Keris and Maria Menado Productions; released 4th December)

1964 - Pontianak Kembali/"The Pontianak Returns" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for Cathay-Keris and Maria Menado Productions, released 3rd January)

1964 - Melanchong Ka-Tokyo/"Holiday In Tokyo" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions, released 23rd May)

*1964 - Dupa Chendana/"The Enchanted Island" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions, released 30th August)

*1965 - Pusaka Pontianak/"The Accursed Heritage" (dir. Ramon A. Estella for the Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions, released 30th April)

*1965 - Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore (Shaw Brothers musical comedy partially shot in Singapore and the Philippines)

1975 - Interpol Malaysia Five (Jun Aristorenas and Sarimah) Filmed entirely in Malaysia in early 1974.

*1977 - The Bionic Boy (produced by Bobby A. Suarez)

*1978 - They Call Her Cleopatra Wong (dir. Bobby A. Suarez)

*1978 - Dynamite Johnson (dir. Bobby A. Suarez) 

1978 - Code-Name: The Destroyers and Queen Cobra, two of Bobby A. Suarez's unfinished projects, partly filmed in Malaysia with Marrie Lee 

Sunny Lee's association with Davian International

c.1996 - Phillip Ko's co-productions with Malaysia's HVD Entertainment: Bad Blood (1996), Desperate Hours (1997), Nightmare Honeymoon (1998), The Resort Murders (1998), and Murder On The Menu (1998)

Malaysia's mysterious HVD Entertainment TV films

 

Phillip Ko (left)

 

NOTES by Andrew Leavold: Some of the most mysterious films involving the Philippines in the Nineties is a series of made-for-TV movies funded by Malaysian consortium HVD Entertainment - a comprehensive overview of the company can be found HERE - and overseen by Hong Kong actor/director Phillip Ko, with much of the writing credited to Mike Cassey, a UK expat living in the Philippines at the time. 

To date I haven't found any trace of the films other than brief cast and crew credits on the IMDB. If anyone can please help out with more information or, even better, copies of the movies, I'd be immensely grateful!

Mike shared with me his scant memories of doing (he estimated) nine films back-to-back in Malaysia around 1996 - his comments are below. 

1996 - Bad Blood (HVD Entertainment)

Director Phillip Ko Writer Mike Cassey Executive Producer Choo Leomg Meng Cinematography Eduardo "Baby" Cabrales Assistant Director Mike Cassey 

Cast Rando Almanzor (Danny), Mike Cassey (Photographer)

THRILLER

1997 - Desperate Hours (HVD Entertainment)

Director Phillip Ko Writer Mike Cassey Executive Producer Choo Leomg Meng Cinematography Eduardo "Baby" Cabrales Assistant Director Mike Cassey 

Cast Heather Van Vleet (Girl Waiting), Zoren Legaspi (Max)

THRILLER

1997 - Nightmare Honeymoon (HVD Entertainment)

Director Phillip Ko Writer Mike Cassey Executive Producer Choo Leomg Meng Assistant Director Mike Cassey

Cast Rando Almanzor (Eddie)

THRILLER

1998 - The Resort Murders (HVD Entertainment)

Director Teddy Chiu Writer Mike Cassey Cinematography Eduardo "Baby" Cabrales Production Manager Max Paglinawan Assistant Director Mike Cassey

Cast Zoren Legaspi   

THRILLER     

1998 - Murder On The Menu (HVD Entertainment)

Director Teddy Chiu Cinematography Eduardo "Baby" Cabrales Production Manager Max Paglinawan Assistant Director Mike Cassey

Cast Mike Cassey (Resort Manager), Dan Fernandez (Danny)

THRILLER/COMEDY

Mike Cassey on the HVD films (interview with Andrew Leavold, 2009 - the full interview can be found HERE)

Andrew: I'm fascinated in the series of video features you scripted in the late 90s directed by Teddy Chiu and Philip Ko for what looks like a Malay company? The Resort Murders, for instance.

Mike Cassey: That was all through Philip Ko, who was wheeling and dealing to get movies projects from all over Asia. Because of Philip's "unique" style of directing (he would often change actors and locations in the middle of the shoot!) I scripted most of those "on the fly" rewriting the stories, scenes and characters on a yellow pad on the set during the shooting. No time to type them up!

These are between '96 and '98 - where are the markets he's selling to at the time?

We often had a mixture of Chinese actors, Korean actors, Malaysian actors, Western actors...all speaking their own languages! Pure bedlam! But a great way to improve my writing skills. No writer's block on those movies! Philip was trying to cover and sell to all the Asian markets. Some were shown theatrically in some countries, some only on TV and some direct-to-video. I think most of them made money...for someone!

Not to the West, at this stage?

Philip's style meant that he could never really break into the mainstream and so his market was always "B". that also meant low-budgets, short shooting schedules...and lots of confusion. I was never in on the marketing schemes to most of these productions, so don't know much about their back-end deals. I'm sure some of them wound up on in Western video stores. Most of the post-production was done in the countries that financed them, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia...we just provided the raw footage. So I never saw the final cut of these movies...or even knew their release titles!

Do you remember the name of the company? I've found "HVD Entertainment" listed.

Yes...I think that was a Malaysian company. We never met the producers at all, just the actors. Philip released several of them under his "One Take" company in Hong Kong.

So you don't remember much about the individual films...

Sorry I can't be much more help. We shot around nine movies back-to-back and I was writing, acting and Assistant Directing (with Teddy) on all them so it's all pretty much of a blur! And I usually had to baby-sit the actors that didn't speak Cantonese...you know, take them to restaurants, sight-seeing, etc. Whew!