THE SIXTIES # 457: FERNANDO POE, JR., JOSE ROMULO, BOB SOLER, BERTING LABRA, CARLOS PADILLA, JR., LOU SALVADOR, JR. AND ALL ALL-STAR CAST IN "SIGAW NG DIGMAAN" (1963)

A handful of soldiers (led by FPJ) holed up in a hilltop to repel the horde of advancing Japanese troops, sacrificing their lives for their beloved country. FPJ, the last man standing, was killed here, with bayonets, one of the rare times where he died on screen (and fans don't like it). 

FPJ Productions' "Sigaw ng Digmaan" won four FAMAS awards--- Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Lito Anzures); Best Cinematography (Sergio Lobo) and Best Editing  (Atilano Salvador).

"Sigaw ng Digmaan" (1963)

FPJ Productions, Inc.

Release Date December 30, 1963/ Boulevard

Music Tony Maiquez

Direction Efren Reyes

Cast Fernando Poe, Jr., Jose Romulo, Bob Soler, Berting Labra, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Lou Salvador, Jr., Lauro Delgado, Tony Ferrer, Max Alvarado, Paquito Diaz, Jess Lapid, Martin Marfil, Lito Anzures, Bert Olivar, Dencio Padilla, Manolo Robles, Victor Bravo, Avel Morado/ Also Starring Liza Moreno, Rebecca, Vic Diaz and Jose Padilla, Jr./ And a cast of thousands

Fernando Poe, Jr. , the star and producer of the movie, confers with Director Efren Reyes as production staff look on. Oscar Obligacion, Lito Anzures, Dencio Padilla and Ramon D' Salva can be seen at the back.

FPJ with Bob Soler during a break

Over a stretch of jagged hills in Montalban, Rizal, two helicopters hovered low, each with a movie camera unit aboard shooting a noisy, smoky activity on the cogon-clad ground below. A third camera unit was on a hillside taking in the scene from a closer angle. On a slope nearby, a group of popular male players crouched behind sandbags, spraying rifle and machinegun fire at a horde of extras playing Japanese soldiers, advancing hundred yards away. All over the place, explosions burst from the ground, supposed to be artillery bombardment. Every bullet though was blank and the simulated artillery blast was practically harmless. Yet this was a very realistic battle scene, said to be the biggest so far ever staged locally. The one-day filming of the battle scene cost FPJ Productions a reported P8,000.  The war movie, Sigaw ng Digmaan, starring Fernando Poe, Jr. and a host of other big stars, written and directed by Efren Reyes, is reported to be big in production aspect. 

(source: Song-Movie Magazine/ 1963)