The Bristol Bad Film Club to Show First International Movie

The Bristol Bad Film Club was founded by Timon Singh and Tim Popple in order to create a place where movie fans can come and behold some of the most awful films ever put to celluloid.

Instead of ignoring these films and condemning them, the Bristol Bad Film Club is dedicated to showing them in all their terrible glory, and basking in their awfulness. 

Until now, the Bristol Bad Film Club’s screenings have all featured cult ‘Western’ films, but now they are putting on their first ‘world cinema’ night with For Y’ur Height Only – a James Bond rip-off from The Philippines staring Weng Weng, a 3ft tall martial artist.

The success of the James Bond franchise naturally spawned a series of parodies and imitators, but none of them hit upon the idea of casting a dwarf in the lead role. A genre in its own right, For Y’ur Height Only completely corners the spy-martial arts-dwarfsploitation market that the world was crying out for in 1981.

Weng Weng, who was born Ernesto de la Cruz, always dreamed of becoming a martial artist superstar and trained hard all of his life, but it was Hong Kong producer Raymond Jury that hit upon the idea of casting him as ‘Agent 00’ in his unique take on the famous spy series.

The film made Weng Weng the most famous actor in The Philippines at the time, and he was actually made an honorary agent by future President General Ramos.

It’s easy to why fans flocked to see ‘the world’s smallest martial artist’. The film is essentially an excuse to show Weng Weng dispatching dozens of foes by punching them in the crotch. Strangely, this never gets old.  

Like James Bond, Weng Weng’s Agent 00 also has an arsenal of cool gadgets (including a flying hat) and is very popular with the ladies

"I'm a big fan of James Bond, but nothing prepared me for the genius of miniature spy,” said club founder Tim Popple. “Bond may have a Walther PPK and a Licence to Kill, but he doesn't get to kick people in the balls. Nor does he have genius dubbing. This has to be seen - and heard - to be believed."

Ah yes, the dubbing. Despite the cast all being Filipino, the film’s ‘English track’ is populated with a menagerie of accents. Mexican, English, American ‘redneck’ – they’ll all here and you won’t believe your ears. 

“You’ll never watch a Bond film in the same way again,” said founder Timon Singh. “Whenever I watch Goldfinger again, all I’m going to think is that this film needs a scene of Bond dancing awkwardly in a Philippine disco… before punching bad guys right in the happy sack.”

The event will be held at The Cuban on the 20th March. All proceeds from the screening will be going towards The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

For more information, visit www.bristolbadfilmclub.co.uk or the club’s Twitter (@TheOtherBBFC) and Facebook page.