Weng Weng

Weng Weng (September 7, 1957 — August 29, 1992) was a Filipino actor and martial artist. He was born in Baclaran, in what is now Parañaque City.imdb name|0911067] Only 2 foot, 9 inches (83 cm) tall, he is listed in the Guinness World Records as the shortest adult actor in a leading role.cite news
title=Editorial
date=February 10, 2006
url=http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=editorial_feb10_2006
publisher=Manila Standard Today] He played Secret Agent 00 in " For Y’ur Height Only" cite web
url=http://www.badmovies.org/movies/yourheight/
title=Synopsis of For Y’ur Height Only
publisher=Bad Movies] , "The Impossible Kid" cite news
publisher=New York Times
author=Kehr, Dave
date=December 30, 2005
title=Hailing the DVD Distributors: The Best Vault Raiders of 2005] cite web
url=http://www.monstersatplay.com/review/dvd/f/fyho.php
publisher=Monsters at Play
title=Review of "For Y’ur Height Only"] cite web
url=http://poptique.blogspot.com/2006/04/it-came-from-rental-store-for-your.html
title=It Came From The Rental Store - For Y’ur Height Only
publisher=Poptique] and "D’Wild Wild Weng".

Weng Weng was discovered by Eddie Nicart in a circus [http://www.nanarland.com/divers/divers.php?id=25] . His first movie part is believed to be that of the baby Moses in the 1972 Filipino biblical epic "Go Tell It On The Mountain" which also starred former Philippine president Joseph Estrada as the adult Moses. Most of Weng Weng's early movie roles involved him either playing babies, children, small cuddly animals or strange alien beings in a number of low budget Filipino sci-fi features. In 1973 he appeared in filmmaker Pedro Manoy's super low budget science fiction fantasy "MoonBoy From Another Planet" in which he played a lovable three foot alien who befriends a poor Filipino boy. Manoy later claimed and unsuccessfully attempted to sue Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg for ripping off the idea for "ET"

In the late 1970's, he came to the attention of Hong Kong movie maker Raymond Jury who cast him in the role of Agent 00 in the James Bond style spoof "For Your Height Only". In the movie, the brilliant scientist Dr. Kohler is kidnapped by an evil organization headed by "Mr Giant". Secret Agent 00 is called to rescue the doctor, and 00 does so by using a combination of kicking people in the knees or the genitals, shooting with remarkable accuracy, and sliding across the floor firing his pistol as he goes. The film ends with Agent 00 locating the secret island that Mr. Giant uses for a hideout, dispensing with the red beret wearing guards, and meting out his special form of justice. The movie was a huge hit throughout the Philippines and Asia as well as countries as far apart as Iceland, Uganda, Tonga, Bolivia and Papua New Guinea.

In "The Impossible Kid", Weng Weng is now working for the Manila branch of Interpol. The Chief sends him in the pursuit of Mr X, an arch villain with a white sock on his head, who is holding the Philippines to ransom. Two businessmen, Maolo and Simeon, pay the demands but Weng Weng suspects foul play and goes deep undercover to reveal the identity of Mr X.

In "D'Wild Wild Weng", Weng Weng and sidekick Gordon (Max ZUMA Laurel) are sent to the countryside to investigate the murder of Santa Monica’s mayor. The town is now overrun by the corrupt governor Sebastian (played by Romy Diaz) and his army of banditos, all dressed up to look like Mexican revolutionaries. The ending has Weng cranking a Gatling gun - on the back of a jeep - mowing down wave after wave of sombreros, while a tribe of dwarf Indians launch a counterattack with bows and arrows.

"D’Wild Wild Weng" shares much of the cast from both "For Y’ur Height Only", and "The Impossible Kid": Yehlen Catral (Lola in "For Y’ur Height Only") plays Elsa the barmaid, Max (For "Y’ur Height Only"’s tartan-clad villain in shades and cloth cap) Alvarado takes a turn at playing a sympathetic character as the mute Lupo, and Nina Sara (later in "The Impossible Kid") is Weng’s love interest Clara.

In the Philippines, Weng Weng became a household name and he was constantly in demand for appearances on TV chat shows, shopping centre appearances and the occasional political rally. In 1990 he was awarded a special citation for services to the Filipino Film Industry from the first lady Imelda Marcos and joined her at the presentation in a special karaoke "duet" version of "My Way". An unauthorized recording of their performance was later released on bootleg cassette and sold an incredible 200,000 copies. [http://www.boingboing.net/2003/05/26/weng-weng-and-lost-p.html]

Weng Weng had an active film career in the 1970s and the 1980s, but had not had a major acting role for several years prior to his death in 1992 due to a heart attack (aged 34). [cite web
url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911067/bio
title=IMDB Weng Weng Biography
publisher=]

Weng weng is also the subject of Australian cult video store owner-turned-guerrilla filmmaker Andrew Leavold's documentary titled, "The Search for Weng Weng." [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073143/plotsummary] Leavold has confirmed that there are 11 confirmed Weng Weng films with 2 awaiting verification. Three Dolphy films (Da Best In Da West, Stairiray, The Quick Brown Fox) are in the TV archives in Manila, but the Liliw Productions titles are still owned by producer Cora Caballes, and she claims they're on betacam and stored somewhere in Manila [http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:B6rzvcTcxX0J:www.digital-retribution.com/forum/index.php%3Faction%3Dprintpage%3Btopic%3D7823.0+weng+weng+hollywood&hl=tl&ct=clnk&cd=27&gl=ph&client=firefox-a] .

Weng Weng's online recognition grew in April 2007 with the release of the Weng Weng Rap video by The Chuds and John R of R Room. This was eventually picked up by Australian music forum [http://www.fasterlouder.com.au Fasterlouder.com.au] , making Weng Weng a popular meme amongst members.

External links

*cite web
url=http://www.nanarland.com/flash/wengweng/menu_content.html
title=Mini-site dedicated to Weng Weng
publisher=Nanarland fr
*youtube|eqh5O9LbjhY. Weng Weng tribute rap by The Chuds and R Room.

Notes