Zamboanga (film)

Zamboanga centers around a sea-faring tribe ruled by Datu Tanbuong, which relied on pearl farming. Danao (Fernando Poe) is betrothed to the datu's granddaughter, Minda (Rosa del Rosario). Hadji Razul, a leader of pirate Moro tribe, kidnaps Minda which led to a tribal war between the groups of Tanbuong and Razul. The conflict ends with Danao rescuing Minda and the demise of Razul. Danao and Minda marry and sail into the sunset. ==Production==

Zamboanga was produced by Filippine Films by American duo George Harris and Eddie Tait. The two hired Filipino-American Eduardo de Castro to direct the film, with William H. Jansen serving as the cameraman. Jansen's skills utilized underwater videography for the film. Principal photography began in 1936, taking place in Jolo Island in Sulu for nine months. Shot in 35mm, negatives of the film were sent to Hollywood in April 1937 for post-production. Louis R. Morse was responsible for Zamboanga's sound recording, Ralph Dixon for the editing, and Edward Kilenyi Sr. did the musical score. ==Release==

Zamboanga was produced for the United States market, where films with "exotic" setting were in demand at the time. It premiered in San Diego, California on 10 December 1937 It was also screened in the Philippines at the Lyric Theater in Escolta, Manila after its premier in the United States. Zamboanga runs for at least 65 minutes It was refilmed in English, and was subtitled for Non-English speaking audiences. ==Lost, retrieval, and preservation==

The film was believed to be a "lost film" in the Philippines, until Nick Deocampo found an original copy in the United States Library of Congress. The copy itself, which in turn came from Finland, ==Reception==

In the 1930s, Zamboanga was described by Hollywood director Frank Capra as "the most exciting and beautiful picture of native life" he have ever seen. He also noted the authentic use of kulintang in the film but was critical of the incorporation of soft Javanese music with kulintang accompanying the scene depicting entertainment at Hadji's court. Buenconsejo also pointed out the usage of "Hawaiian" sound to establish the film's tropical setting. For the filming technique he praised the underwater shooting which he finds more advanced than Zamboanga's contemporaries Bird of Paradise and Tabu. ==References==