Only the Brave Know Hell

Only the Brave Know Hell (released in the United States as The Ravagers) is a 1965 Filipino-American war drama film directed by Eddie Romero and co-written by Romero and Cesar Amigo, starring John Saxon, Fernando Poe Jr. and Vic Diaz. 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 (lit. 'Until There Are Enemies') and the English-dubbed version was entitled Only the Brave Know Hell,[3][4][5][6] both of which were released in February 1965, while in the United States, it was released as The Ravagers in December 1965.

Only the Brave Know Hell
United States theatrical release poster
Directed byEddie Romero
Produced by
Written by
Starring
Music byTito Arevalo
CinematographyMars Rasca
Edited byJoven Calub
Production
company
Distributed by
  • Hemisphere Pictures
  • Independent-International Pictures Corp.
  • New Gold Entertainment
Release date
  • February 7, 1965 (1965-02-07) (Philippines)
  • November 24, 1965 (1965-11-24) (Boston)[1]
  • December 1965 (1965-December) (United States)[2]
Running time
88 minutes
Country
Language

The film is 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.[7] The film was advertised as "the biggest war film ever filmed in the Philippines". Lead actress Bronwyn FitzSimons was the daughter of actress Maureen O'Hara.[8]

It was one of several war movies Saxon made outside Hollywood.[9]

Plot

In the year 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

References
  1. "The Ravagers". TCM. Turner Classic Movies, Inc. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  2. International Television Almanac. Quigley Publishing Company. 1982. p. 372. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  3. Leavold, Andrew (2006). "Strong Coffee with a National Treasure:An Interview with Eddie Romero". Cashiers du Cinemart.
  4. SERVER, LEE; EDDIE ROMERO (1999). "EDDIE ROMERO: Our Man in Manila". Film Comment. 35 (2): 44–51. JSTOR 43455360.
  5. Ching, Mark Angelo (October 17, 2019). "Fernando Poe Jr: Da King of Philippine movies". PEP. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  6. Benoza, Paulea. "FPJ in retrospect: A guide to Da King's most memorable films". Star Studio. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  7. Only the Brave Know Hell at Rotten Tomatoes
  8. Dolor, Danny (November 14, 2015). "FPJ-Saxon starrer: Tagalog, English versions showing simultaneously". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  9. Vagg, Stephen (July 29, 2020). "The Top Twelve Stages of Saxon". Filmink.


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