Once Before I Die
Encyclopedia
Once Before I Die is a 1966
war drama starring Ursula Andress
and her husband John Derek
who also directed. The film was based on a 1945 novel Quit for the Next by Lieutenant Anthony March.
In this film, a band of American soldiers and one woman get trapped behind enemy lines in the Philippines
after Pearl Harbor
attacks. In harrowing circumstances, they struggle for courage and fight to stay alive.
attack the Philippine islands. A group of polo
-playing soldiers of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (United States) and their families are surprised far off in the countryside. Major Bailey (John Derek) leads them back to Manila
, but the roads are jammed with fugitives.
On the trip, Bailey's fiancée Alex (Ursula Andress
) talks with a young shy soldier (Rod Lauren
) who tells her of his fears to die and admits that he has never been with a woman. Only once before he dies, he would like to have sex.
, a photographer and a former actor made his directing debut in this film. Derek was married to Ursula Andress
from 1957-1966 who was then at the height of her popularity after films such as Dr.No
, Four for Texas and Fun in Acapulco
.
The film was titled The 26th Cavalry in the Philippines. Jock Mahoney
makes an uncredited appearance in the film.
During the filming Rod Lauren
met Filipino actress Nida Blanca
who he later married.
1966 in film
The year 1966 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Animation legend Walter Disney, well known for his creation of Mickey Mouse, died in 15 December 1966 of acute circulatory collapse following a diagnosis of, and surgery for, lung cancer...
war drama starring Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress is a Swiss actress and a sex symbol of the 1960s. She is known for her roles as Bond girl Honey Ryder in Dr...
and her husband John Derek
John Derek
John Derek was an American actor, director and photographer.-Career:His matinee-idol good looks quickly got him supporting roles, most notably as Broderick Crawford's son in All the King's Men , but he also enjoyed leads such as "Nick Romano" in Knock on Any Door opposite Humphrey Bogart John...
who also directed. The film was based on a 1945 novel Quit for the Next by Lieutenant Anthony March.
In this film, a band of American soldiers and one woman get trapped behind enemy lines in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
after Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
attacks. In harrowing circumstances, they struggle for courage and fight to stay alive.
Summary
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, the JapaneseEmpire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
attack the Philippine islands. A group of polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
-playing soldiers of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (United States) and their families are surprised far off in the countryside. Major Bailey (John Derek) leads them back to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, but the roads are jammed with fugitives.
On the trip, Bailey's fiancée Alex (Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress is a Swiss actress and a sex symbol of the 1960s. She is known for her roles as Bond girl Honey Ryder in Dr...
) talks with a young shy soldier (Rod Lauren
Rod Lauren
Rod Lauren Strunk was an American actor and singer.As an actor, he worked mostly in television, appearing in single episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. amongst others during the 1960s...
) who tells her of his fears to die and admits that he has never been with a woman. Only once before he dies, he would like to have sex.
Production
John DerekJohn Derek
John Derek was an American actor, director and photographer.-Career:His matinee-idol good looks quickly got him supporting roles, most notably as Broderick Crawford's son in All the King's Men , but he also enjoyed leads such as "Nick Romano" in Knock on Any Door opposite Humphrey Bogart John...
, a photographer and a former actor made his directing debut in this film. Derek was married to Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress is a Swiss actress and a sex symbol of the 1960s. She is known for her roles as Bond girl Honey Ryder in Dr...
from 1957-1966 who was then at the height of her popularity after films such as Dr.No
Dr. No (film)
Dr. No is a 1962 spy film, starring Sean Connery; it is the first James Bond film. Based on the 1958 Ian Fleming novel of the same name, it was adapted by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkely Mather and was directed by Terence Young. The film was produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R...
, Four for Texas and Fun in Acapulco
Fun in Acapulco
Fun in Acapulco is a 1963 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress. While some exterior scenes were shot in Acapulco, Mexico, Elvis's scenes were shot in Hollywood. He never went to Acapulco. The movie featured the Top 10 Billboard hit "Bossa Nova Baby". The film...
.
The film was titled The 26th Cavalry in the Philippines. Jock Mahoney
Jock Mahoney
Jock Mahoney was an American actor and stuntman of Irish, French, and Cherokee ancestry. Born Jacques O'Mahoney, he was credited variously as Jock Mahoney, Jack O'Mahoney or Jock O'Mahoney. He starred in two television series, both westerns...
makes an uncredited appearance in the film.
During the filming Rod Lauren
Rod Lauren
Rod Lauren Strunk was an American actor and singer.As an actor, he worked mostly in television, appearing in single episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. amongst others during the 1960s...
met Filipino actress Nida Blanca
Nida Blanca
Dorothy Acueza Jones, popularly known by her stage name Nida Blanca, was a Filipina actress. She starred in over 163 movies and 14 television shows and received over 16 awards for movies and six awards for television during her 50-year film career...
who he later married.
Cast
- Ursula AndressUrsula AndressUrsula Andress is a Swiss actress and a sex symbol of the 1960s. She is known for her roles as Bond girl Honey Ryder in Dr...
... Alex - John DerekJohn DerekJohn Derek was an American actor, director and photographer.-Career:His matinee-idol good looks quickly got him supporting roles, most notably as Broderick Crawford's son in All the King's Men , but he also enjoyed leads such as "Nick Romano" in Knock on Any Door opposite Humphrey Bogart John...
... Bailey - Richard JaeckelRichard JaeckelRichard Hanley Jaeckel was an American actor of film and television.-Life and career:Jaeckel was born in Long Beach, New York. A short, but tough guy, he played a variety of characters during his fifty years in movies & television and became one of Hollywood's best known character actors...
... Lt. Custer - Ron Ely ... Captain
- Rod LaurenRod LaurenRod Lauren Strunk was an American actor and singer.As an actor, he worked mostly in television, appearing in single episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. amongst others during the 1960s...
... Soldier - Vance Skarstedt
- Allen Pinson
- Gregg Martin
- Renato Robles
- Fred Galang
- Andres CenteneraAndrés CenteneraAndrés Centenera is a Filipino prewar character actor. He is the grandfather of famous Filipino singer Rafael Centenera. He continued to appear in movies up to the 1980s....
- Rod Francisco
- Nello Nayo
- Mario Taquibulos
- Eva Vivar