Maharlika (1971), produced by Paul Mason and directed by Gerry Hopper, depicted the legendary exploits of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos during World War II. The lead stars are Paul Burke (in the role of the young Marcos), Farley Granger and starlet Dovie Beams who played the role of Isabella, a Fil-American mestiza. The movie was said to be a part of CIA-funded propaganda to portray Marcos as a war hero who fought the Japanese during WW II. It became a sizzling issue and controversy ensued when the press made an expose and divulged the existence of a tape recordings incriminating the President and allegedly confirming the rumors that Ms. Beams was the President’s mistress.
Beams held a press conference before leaving the country, and delighted the press and public by playing the controversial erotic tape recordings of her with Ferdinand Marcos. She managed to hide a tape recorder under the bed to record while making love with the former President. According to her, she was forced to come into the open since there were threats to her life.
Although the film was yanked out of exhibition, it enjoyed a brief run at several theaters after the EDSA revolution in 1986.
"Maharlika" (1987)
Solar/Roadshow Films Presentation
Release Date April 9, 1987
Direction Jerry Hooper
Cast Paul Burke, Dovie Beams, Farley Granger, Broderick Crawford, Vic Diaz, Vic Silayan, Rosa Mia, Dindo Fernando, Romeo Rivera, Ernesto La Guardia, Vero Perfecto, Ed Murphy, Linda Martin, Ding Tello, Ching Tello, Ken Metcalfe, Claude Wilson, Bert Laforteza, Ed Murphy, Barbara Brown, Linda Martin, Leslie James
