The Ravagers (film)

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The Ravagers (aka Only the Brave Know Hell)
The Ravagers (film).jpg
Directed by Eddie Romero
Produced by
Written by
Starring
Music by Tito Arevalo
CinematographyMars Rasca
Edited byJoven Calub
Production
company
Distributed by
  • Hemisphere Pictures
  • Independent-International Pictures Corp.
  • New Gold Entertainment
Release date
  • 7 February 1965 (1965-02-07)(Philippines)
Running time
88 minutes
Country
Language

The Ravagers is a 1965 war drama film directed by Eddie Romero and co-written by Cesar Amigo, starring John Saxon, Fernando Poe Jr. and Vic Diaz. [1] It was produced by Hemisphere Pictures, which consisted of Eddie Romero, Kane W. Lynn and Irwin Pizor. In the Philippines, the Filipino-language version was entitled Hanggang May Kalaban and the English-dubbed version was known internationally as Only the Brave Know Hell. It was only shown in the U.S. as The Ravagers. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The film was set in the Philippines during World War II. It is about a band of brave Filipino guerrillas who battle with the last remaining Japanese occupation forces. [6] The film was advertised as "the biggest war film ever filmed in the Philippines". Both the English-dubbed and the Filipino-language version opened in different theaters in downtown Manila in February 1965. Lead actress Bronwyn FitzSimons was the daughter of actress Maureen O'Hara. [7]

Synopsis

The Philippines, 1945. The commandant of the Japanese forces occupying the Philippines is ordered to transport a shipment of gold bullion back to Japan. The Japanese soldiers take over a convent where the gold shipment is situated, and take a number of nuns and young girls prisoner in the process. Unbeknownst to the Japanese, one of the captive women is actually a female American agent named Sheila (Bronwyn FitzSimons), whom the Japanese have been looking to capture.

Kermit Dowling (John Saxon), an American army officer, together with an ex-convict named Gaudiel (Fernando Poe Jr.), leads a group of Filipino freedom fighters in an attack on the convent. Gaudiel finds himself attracted to Sheila. The guerillas beat the Japanese troops in a fierce battle and liberate the convent, saving the gold shipment.

Cast

See also

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References

  1. The Ravagers on IMDb
  2. Leavold, Andrew (2006). "Strong Coffee with a National Treasure:An Interview with Eddie Romero". Cashiers du Cinemart.
  3. SERVER, LEE; EDDIE ROMERO (1999). "EDDIE ROMERO: Our Man in Manila". Film Comment. 35 (2): 44–51. JSTOR   43455360.
  4. Ching, Mark Angelo (17 October 2019). "Fernando Poe Jr: Da King of Philippine movies". PEP . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  5. Benoza, Paulea. "FPJ in retrospect: A guide to Da King's most memorable films". Star Studio . Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  6. The Ravagers at Rotten Tomatoes
  7. Dolor, Danny (14 November 2015). "FPJ-Saxon starrer: Tagalog, English versions showing simultaneously". The Philippine Star . Retrieved 28 December 2019.