A LONG LOST WENG WENG FILM DISCOVERED!

[Andrew Leavold]

www.video48.blogspot.com/2007/10/1982-metro-manila-filmfest-entries.html

The Cute…The Sexy n’ The Tiny

A LONG LOST WENG WENG FILM - Liliw Films International's entry for the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival! The film may have vanished, even from the memories of those who worked on it, but the poster exists on the incredible Video 48 blog from Quezon City (click on the above link).

Director Eddie Nicart Producers Pete Caballes, Cora Caballes Screenplay Pablo S. Gomez Music Pablo Vergara

Cast Berting Labra, Pia Moran, Weng Weng, Dencio Padilla, Beth Sandoval, Bonnie “Mong” De Jesus, Tony Jay Consunji, Liza De Vera

BEHIND THE CAMERA:

Eddie Nicart (director): Former Philippines stunt wizard through SOS Daredevils, and director of Weng Weng’s other three films as leading (ahem) man - For Y’ur Height Only (1981), D’Wild Wild Weng (1982) and The Impossible Kid (1982). There’s rumoured to be a fifth Weng Weng feature directed by Eddie Nicart, Agent OO, which predates For Y’ur Height Only by a few months. Supposedly co-starring Dante Varona and Ramon Zamora, even Eddie can’t remember what it’s about!

Pete & Cora Caballes (producers): the husband and wife team who discovered Weng Weng, formed Liliw Films International and sold Agent Double O to the world. When Cora decided to go into politics, both Liliw’s output and Weng Weng’s career came to a grinding halt.

Pablo S. Gomez (screenplay): Unbelievably prolific komiks writer with over 200 “nobelas” to his name. As with most komik creators (Mars “Darna” Ravelo, Carlos J. “Panday” Caparas), he also dabbled in screenplays.

Pablo Vergara (composer): The Henry Mancini of the Philippines, who did the exhilarating proto-Bond scores for all three Agent OO films and Dolphy’s Angels (1980)

IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA:

Berting Labra: Former member of the “Lo’ Waist Gang” alongside Fernando Poe Jr, an iconic group of Young Turks defined by their hugely successful string of action-comedies in the late 50s. The late FPJ became the most famous actor ever in the Philippines; Berting was more of a versatile supporting actor with roles in comedies, goon actioners, drama, you name it.

Pia Moran: Flash-in-the-pan Filipino starlet with a handful of roles to her name before fading into obscurity.

Weng Weng!

Dencio Padilla: Another prolific actor, primarily in comedies, who starred alongside Weng Weng in D’Wild Wild Weng.

Beth Sandoval: “Irma” in For Y’ur Height Only and in Eddie Nicart’s western Zigomar (1984) and Calibre .357 (1985), she has since passed away.

Bonnie “Mong” De Jesus: Six foot nine pro-basketball player who starred in Carlo J. Caparas’ 1979 basketball comedy Mong. Playing the ying to Weng Weng’s yang, the awkward giant passed away in the early 80s.

....AND JUST IN FROM THE PHILIPPINES....

Chopsuey Met Big Time Papa

Liliw Productions, released February 1978 [a full THREE YEARS before For Y'ur Height Only!]

Director Dante "Boy" Pangilinan Screenplay Coran Ridon Caballes Music Anthony Castillano Producer "Twinkle" [also listed as producer of The Impossible Kid]

Stars Ramon Zamora as "Chopsuey", reprising his character from the 1975 Bobby A. Suarez production They Call Him Chopsuey...

...and a twenty year old Weng Weng playing "Big Time Papa" in what could be his very first film!

The poster even lists his vital statistics: "Weight 30 pounds, redbelt master, blood pressure 120/80"!!!

As soon as I can work out how to upload the poster i will, you have to see it to believe it...

So that's now seven confirmed films, three rumoured titles and still more to uncover. THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG CONTINUES.

[Ian Miller]

The poster is beyond cool!

[Frank Estrada]

Oh my!

[Alyss N.]

Wouldn't everything in life be happier with a little more Weng Weng?

[Kristian R]

That poster is a thing of beauty.

[Paul Casey]

He looks like a Keith Moon caricature.

[Frank Estrada]

Weng Weng kills it on the drums as well. At least in my fantasies he does!

[Paul Casey]

Originally Posted by Frank Estrada

Weng Weng kills it on the drums as well. At least in my fantasies he does!

He could easily stand in for Animal from the Muppets. It would give one of the puppeteers a rest, actually.

[Zack Armstrong]

Originally Posted by Frank Estrada

Weng Weng kills it on the drums as well. At least in my fantasies he does!

I like to think of him thumpin' it on his (giant) bass guitar.

[Frank Estrada]

And the drums are about the right size.

[Ian Jane]

Holy shit.

[Frank Estrada]

What's a Pookie Face? Is it like a Poopie Face but cuter?

[Alyss N.]

Pookie faces can shoot lasers from their eyes and rad stuff like that.

[J Dewey Wallis]

I've always thought of him musically more like Zamfir.

This is pretty cool. Would love to know what the film like. Would really love a print be discovered in the attic/basement of some old theater.

[Bob Lindstrom]

"London After Midnight" just dropped to second place.