''Once Before I Die'' is a 1966 war drama starring

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...

and directed by then-husband John Derek, from whom she was officially divorced before the film was released, and who also appeared in the film. It was based on a 1945 novel ''Quit for the Next'' by Lieutenant Anthony March. This was Derek's first film as director. It was also known as ''No Toys for Christmas''.

Plot

Shortly after the

Attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ...

, the

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

attack the

Philippine islands The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. A group of polo-playing soldiers of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (United States) and their families are surprised while playing a polo game. Major Bailey orders his Swiss fiancée Alex to leave the country, promising to meet her in San Francisco. Bailey leads his men back to

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

, but the roads are jammed with fugitives – including Alex who delayed her return home to get her pet dog. During the ensuing journey, Bailey's men kill a Japanese pilot who has jumped out of his plane. It becomes clear that Lt Custer is sadistic and enjoying the war. Bailey leads his men to a house where there is an enemy attack. Bailey sends Alex away – but before she leaves she witnesses him being accidentally killed by an exploding hand grenade. Alex forms a bond with a virginal soldier and he pleads with her to have sex with him for his first and only time as he thinks that otherwise he shall probably die without ever having sex (hence the title of the film). At first Alex refuses but she takes pity on him and agrees to his wish. Later on he is killed fighting the Japanese. Lieutenant Custer leads a pointless raid on an enemy stronghold, resulting in a massacre in which all of the Americans are killed except him. Alex and Lt Custer wander down to a beach where Custer is shot dead by a lone Japanese Soldier. Alex is forced to kill the young Japanese soldier in self-defence and is left alone on the beach.

Cast

as Alex * John Derek as Bailey *

Richard Jaeckel Richard Hanley Jaeckel (October 10, 1926 – June 14, 1997) was an American actor of film and television. Jaeckel became a well-known character actor in his career, which spanned six decades. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominatio ...

as Lt. Custer *

Ron Ely Ronald Pierce Ely (born June 21, 1938) is an American actor and novelist born in Hereford, Texas, and raised in Amarillo. Ely is best known for having portrayed Tarzan in the 1966–1968 NBC series ''Tarzan'' and for playing the lead role in ...

as Captain * Rod Lauren as Soldier * Vance Skarstedt *

Allen Pinson Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to: Buildings * Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee * Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas * Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Unive ...

*Greg Martin * Renato Robles * Fred Galang *

Andres Centenera Andrés Centenera (born 1914, date of death unknown) was a Filipino character actor. He was the grandfather of Filipino singer Rafael Centenera. He appeared in films from 1937 to 1979. Andres Centenera, born in Goa, Camarines Sur. He was the so ...

* Rod Francisco * Nello Nayo * Mario Taquibulos * Eva Vivar

Production

Anthony March was a lieutenant in the US Cavalry who served in China and Burman in World War II. He wrote his debut novel ''Quit for the March'' at the encouragement of

Maxwell Perkins William Maxwell Evarts "Max" Perkins (September 20, 1884 – June 17, 1947) was an American book editor, best remembered for discovering authors Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Thomas Wolfe. Early life and ...

. It was published by Scribner's in 1945. March's obituary said it had "slight initial success but was rediscovered two decades later." ''Once Before I Die'' was the debut directorial effort from John Derek, a photographer and a former actor who finalized his divorce from the film's lead actress

eight months before its release. Filming began on location in the Philippines in 1964. Filming was difficult, and the cast and crew were not fully paid. However Jaeckel later said the film was one of his favorites.. During the filming Rod Lauren met Filipino actress

Nida Blanca Dorothy Guinto Jones (January 6, 1936 – November 7, 2001), popularly known by her stage name Nida Blanca, was a Filipina actress. After a successful acting career in films during the 1950s, many of which are with actor Nestor de Villa, ...

, whom he later married. In 2001 Lauren fled the Philippines, charged with Blanca's murder. He killed himself in 2007. The film was known as ''No Toys for Christmas'' and ''The 26th Cavalry''.

Jock Mahoney Jacques Joseph O'Mahoney (February 7, 1919 – December 14, 1989), known professionally as Jock Mahoney, was an American actor and stuntman. He starred in two Action/Adventure television series, ''The Range Rider'' and ''Yancy Derringer''. He ...

makes an uncredited appearance in the film. The film includes Andress appearing in a nude scene. Stills from this were later sold to ''Playboy'' magazine. "If we were ashamed of them we wouldn't have published then", said Andress. "It's always a matter of taste, intention and attitude. Striptease can be vulgar or artistic. The same thing applies to nudity."

Reception

The film was not released properly until 1967, when it came out through Warner Bros-Seven Arts, who distributed the Andress vehicle '' She'' (1965). The movie was not a financial success.

References

External links