''Once Before I Die'' (also known as ''No Toys for Christmas'') is a 1966 war drama starring Ursula Andress and directed and produced by then-husband John Derek, from whom she was officially divorced before the film was released, and who also appeared in the film. The

directorial debut This is a list of film directorial debuts in chronological order. The films and dates referred to are a director's first commercial cinematic release. Many filmmakers have directed works which were not commercially released, for example early work ...

of Derek, the film was based on a 1945 novel ''Quit for the Next'' by Lieutenant Anthony March.

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 Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...

, the Japanese attack the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. A group of

polo Polo is a stick and ball game that is played on horseback as a traditional field sport. It is one of the world's oldest known team sports, having been adopted in the Western world from the game of Chovgan (), which originated in ancient ...

-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, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

, 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

* Ursula Andress as Alex * John Derek as Bailey *

Richard Jaeckel Richard Jaeckel (born R. 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 an Academy Award nomin ...

as Lt. Custer *

Ron Ely Ronald Pierce Ely (June 21, 1938 – September 29, 2024) was an American actor and novelist, best known for portraying Tarzan in the 1966–1968 NBC series ''Tarzan (1966 TV series), Tarzan'' and playing the lead role in the film ''Doc Savage: ...

as Captain * Rod Lauren as Soldier * Vance Skarstedt * Allen Pinson *Greg Martin * Renato Robles * Fred Galang * Andres Centenera * 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 Ursula Andress 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), known professionally as Nida Blanca, was a Filipino actress. In a career spanning five decades, she is known for her dramatic and comedic roles in Cinema of the Philippines, film ...

, 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 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. ''Filmink'' wrote:

The film is full of interesting visual touches – flashy montages, freeze frames, etc. It’s interesting to watch the Derek-Andress relationship on screen – he basically treats her like a baby, and she responds in kind, wanting to go and get her puppies, and not wanting to be alone, and suggesting he get a haircut: is this how they acted together during their marriage? Richard Jaekel is excellent, and Andress was never shot more beautifully – Derek really knew how to frame her face.

References

External links