In the mid ’40s and early ’50s, after World War II, ‘Bataan’ movies were produced, shot not in the Philippines, but in Hollywood studios’ backlots.
One of them is the John Wayne starrer Back to Bataan (RKO Radio Pictures, 1945). The movie co-starred Anthony Quinn as a Filipino resistance fighter named Andres Bonifacio and Beulah Bondi as an American teacher who cites the heroism of Jose Rizal to her pupils.
Wayne portrayed Col. Joseph Madden, who led American and Filipino troops who fought Japanese forces and rescued Bataan prisoners of war while waiting for the return of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Another one is simply titled Bataan (MGM), starring Robert Taylor.
Two others were Manila Calling (Monogram) topbilled by Lloyd Nolan and I Was an American Spy in Manila (Allied Artists) with Ann Dvorak in the title role. The theme song of the American Spy was Because of You.
While all those ‘Bataan’ movies were entirely shot in Hollywood, they cast Filipino actors residing in the US.
A notable exception was the 1951 movie An American Guerilla in the Philippines, which starred Tyrone Power and shot on location in Subic, Zambales. Filipino stars were cast in the movie, among them, Rosa del Rosario, Erlinda Cortez, Eddie Infante, Oscar Obligacion, Berting Labra and Cris de Vera as a Japanese soldier, the biggest role among the local actors.
Bataan Day or Araw ng Kagitingan is celebrated every April 9. — RKC