The Raiders of Leyte Gulf

The Raiders of Leyte Gulf
Directed by Eddie Romero
Produced by Eddie Romero
Irwin Pizor
Kane W. Lynn[1]
Written by Eddie Romero
Carl Kuntze
Starring Leopoldo Salcedo
Michael Parsons
Liza Moreno
Music by Tito Arevalo
Edited by Eddie Romero
Production
company
Independent-International Pictures
Cirio H. Santiago Film Organization
Eddie Romero Production
Lynro
Manhattan Productions
Distributed by Hemisphere Pictures
Release date
 1963[2]
Running time
 80 minutes
Country Philippines
United States
Language English

The Raiders of Leyte Gulf is a 1963[3] Philippine-American film directed by Eddie Romero. It was the first film produced by the newly-formed Hemisphere Pictures, a three-way partnership involving Filipino director Eddie Romero, American producer Kane W. Lynn and producer Irwin Pizor. It was written by Eddie Romero and Carl Kuntze[4]

Synopsis

The film is set against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. An American spy, Emmett Wilson, is captured by the Japanese while making a reconnaissance of Leyte Gulf in preparation for an American invasion. When torture fails to loosen his tongue, his Japanese captors begin executing one Filipino citizen each day, until Wilson talks. Lieut. Robert Grimm parachutes into the forest held by the local Filipino freedom fighters and persuades the guerrillas to attack the Japanese camp and rescue Wilson. But the rescue attempt fails, and as more innocent prisoners continue to die, Wilson decides to tell the vile Captain Akira what he wants to know. A Filipino citizen manages to shoot Wilson, suspecting him of collaborating with the enemy. Before Akira can regroup his forces, the guerrillas pull off a second rescue attempt, this one successful. As Wilson dies, he kills Akira with a bayonet, and the Japanese forces are smashed by the Filipinos, paving the way for General Douglas MacArthur's invasion forces.

Cast

  • Leopoldo Salcedo
  • Michael Parsons[5]
  • Liza Moreno
  • Jennings Sturgeon
  • Eddie Mesa
  • Efren Reyes
  • Oscar Keesee[6]

Promotion

The film did well overseas but did not make much money at all in the United States. Kane Lynn arranged a daring publicity stunt at a Texas drive-in theater in which a man would jump out of a plane and parachute down into the drive-in lot. A large crowd of people showed up to watch the stunt, but left the lot as soon as it was over without staying to see the film.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Ray, Fred Olen (1991). "The New Poverty Row". McFarland and Co. Inc. ISBN 0-89950-628-3. Page 65
  2. ↑ Ray, Fred Olen (1991). "The New Poverty Row". McFarland and Co. Inc. ISBN 0-89950-628-3. Page 81
  3. ↑ Ray, Fred Olen (1991). "The New Poverty Row". McFarland and Co. Inc. ISBN 0-89950-628-3. Page 81
  4. ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/87595/The-Raiders-of-Leyte-Gulf/full-credits.html.
  5. ↑ Ray, Fred Olen (1991). "The New Poverty Row". McFarland and Co. Inc. ISBN 0-89950-628-3. Page 64
  6. ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/87595/The-Raiders-of-Leyte-Gulf/full-credits.html
  7. ↑ Ray, Fred Olen (1991). "The New Poverty Row". McFarland and Co. Inc. ISBN 0-89950-628-3. Page 65
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.