Ursula Andress and John Derek traverse war-torn Philippines in this sultry WWII survival drama.
ONCE BEFORE I DIE
When the heat of the jungle and the hell of war cross paths
Stranded behind enemy lines when the Japanese attack the Philippines in late 1941, Lt. Bailey must lead a group of soldiers and their families (including Bailey's curvaceous fiancée Alex) to safety and the streets of Manila. During the perilous trek Alex befriends a virginal young soldier whose only desire is to have sex once before he dies.
When your director is also your co-star and husband, jungle fever takes on new meaning.
If you're looking for a war movie with more heat than heroics, Once Before I Die delivers: Ursula Andress slinks through the jungle as Alex, while real-life director John Derek steps in as her on-screen fiancé. Add a subplot about a soldier's desperate wish and you've got a sweaty, offbeat trek through WWII's shadowy fringes.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Once Before I Die is a 1966 American drama and war film directed by John Derek about a group stranded behind enemy lines in the Philippines during WWII, led by Lt. Bailey as they try to reach safety while facing peril and human desires.
- Director
- John Derek
- Writers
- Vance Skarstedt, Anthony March
- Release
- 1966
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Country
- United States of America, Philippines
- Language
- English
- Also Known As
- Ακομη μια φορα πριν πεθανω, Junglekrigens helvede, Rakasta ja kuole, The 26th Cavalry, Einmal noch - bevor ich sterbe
Why Cult
Watch Ursula Andress trade Bond bikinis for jungle fatigues as she navigates both danger and desire behind enemy lines.
The film throws in a frank, unusual twist—a virginal soldier's dying wish for intimacy—amid the chaos of war.
John Derek directs and stars alongside then-wife Ursula Andress, adding extra chemistry to the perilous journey.
Trailer
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Questions from the Vault
What is Once Before I Die about? +
Once Before I Die follows Lt. Bailey as he leads soldiers and their families through the Philippine jungle after the Japanese attack in 1941, with personal desires complicating their perilous escape.
Who directed Once Before I Die? +
Once Before I Die was directed by John Derek.
How long is Once Before I Die? +
Once Before I Die has a runtime of 97 minutes.
What genre is Once Before I Die? +
Once Before I Die is a drama and war film.
When was Once Before I Die released? +
Once Before I Die was released in 1966.
