" THE KING'S SPEECH" TOPS 83rd OSCAR AWARDS

Los Angeles (CNN) -- The story of a king overcoming a speech impediment to lead his people through World War II took top honors at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.

"The King's Speech" won the best picture, best actor, best director and best original screenplay Oscars at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre Sunday night.
The saga of how a college student created Facebook, which is now credited with helping citizens overthrow their leader in the Mideast, lost out on the big awards, but "The Social Network" did win Oscars for best musical score, film editing and best adapted screenplay.

Natalie Portman, who played a ballet dancer in "Black Swan," was given the best actress Academy Award. Portman also won Golden Globe and SAG best actress trophies in recent weeks. Portman, who is pregnant, was asked backstage if she might now consider "Oscar" as a name for her child. I think that's probably definitely out of the question," she said.

When "King's Speech" director Tom Hooper accepted the best director Oscar, he noted that it was his mother who found the script for him. "The moral of this story is listen to your mother," Hooper said.

"King's Speech" writer David Seidler pointed out that at 73, he was the oldest person to ever win best original screenplay. "My father always said to me I would be a late bloomer," Seidler said, "I hope that record is broken quickly and often."

Colin Firth, who portrayed the stuttering King George VI in "The King's Speech," completed his sweep of best actor honors with the Oscar win."I have a feeling my career has just peaked," said Firth, who also won a Golden Globe and the SAG award.
Firth was asked backstage what he would now do since the hectic film award season has ended. "I think I'm going to cook a lot," Firth said. Cooking is "a very good way to decompress," he said. He does not support the decision to re-release the movie with the F-word edited out to allow a younger PG-13 rating at U.S. theaters. King George VI was taught by his speech therapist to use the obscenity as a tool to smooth out his stuttering.
"The context of this film, it could not be more edifying, more appropriate," he said. "It's not vicious."

Christian Bale repeated his Golden Globe and SAG award wins by taking the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "The Fighter."

Melissa Leo, who played the mother and manager of two boxers in "The Fighter," completed her trifecta of major awards when 94-year-old Kirk Douglas handed her the best supporting actress Oscar. Leo also won Golden Globe and SAG best actress trophies.
Douglas, who walked with a cane and spoke slowly with slurred speech, managed to upstage Leo with his humor, jokingly delaying reading what was in the envelope. His stand-up routine was rewarded with big laughs. Leo, whose acceptance speech included a censored expletive, used Douglas's cane to walk off stage.

"Inception," a film that explores the human mind and dreams, won four Academy Awards, including for cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and visual effects. The film was also a best picture contender, although most of its eight nominations are in the technical categories.

Two awards went to "Toy Story 3" for animated feature film and best original song.
"The Lost Thing" won for short animated film.

"True Grit," based on the same book as the 1969 John Wayne film, failed to win in any of the 10 categories for which it was nominated.

"Alice in Wonderland," which was not among the 10 best picture nominees, was rewarded Sunday night with two Oscars, for costume design and art direction.

"Inside Job," a film about the 2008 financial system meltdown, won the best feature documentary Oscar. Producer Charles Ferguson used his acceptance speech to say that "not a single financial executive has gone to jail and that's wrong."

The short documentary Oscar went to "Strangers No More," a film about an Israeli school that includes students from 48 countries.

The romantic comedy "God of Love" won the live action short film Oscar.

A Danish movie, "In a Better World," won the best foreign language film Academy Award.

The Oscar for best makeup was given to "The Wolfman."

Source: CNN

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 31: AMPARO KARAGDAG, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, TESSIE SANTOS, LINA ALVA IN "CARIÑOSA" (1940)

"Cariñosa" (1940)

Sanggumay Pictures
Release Date: October 7- 14, 1940/ Fox Theater

Music Constancio de Guzman
Director Carlos Padilla

Cast Amparo Karagdag, Leopoldo Salcedo, Tessie Santos, Lina Alva, Manuel Barbeyto, Amelita Sol, Roman Reyes, Rafael Padilla
(From the collection of Dharyl Jim Jalos/ GMA Cavite)

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARLOS PADILLA, ROSITA RIVERA, WITH BABY JANE, PUGO & TOGO IN "HULING PAGLUHA" (1940)

"Huling Pagluha" (1940)

Minerva Pictures
Release Date: May 3- 8, 1940/ Grand Theater

Music Prof. Juan Silos, Jr.
Orchestrations Carlos Valdes

Director Arthur Gottlein
Cast Carlos Padilla, Rosita Rivera, Baby Jane, Pugo & Togo, Angelita 'Rhumba' Rey

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO AND ARSENIA FRANCISCO IN "SAKAY" (1939): LAMBERTO AVELLANA'S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

Lamberto Avellana’s career in film started with an offer of then General Carlos P. Romulo to direct a film on the revolutionary hero Macario Sakay for the big screen. Although his wife, Daisy (Hontiveros-Avellana) apparently chided him for not knowing the first thing about movies, Avellana was not dissuaded and Daisy ended up writing the screenplay.

Sakay jump-started what came to be Avellana innovative introduction of a point of view replacing the traditional eye level camera angle in film storytelling. With the assistance of William “Pop” Jansen, a man he acknowledges as mentor in his starting years, Avellana learned the nitty gritty of film-making and at age 23 was dubbed “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies.”

Sakay was adjudged best film of 1939, cheered for its technical aspects and especially for realism then uncommon in Philippine cinema. The fly in the ointment was their portrayal of Sakay as bandit instead of revolutionary, which belatedly Avellana realized had been based on American propaganda materials of the time. His son Mari Avellana, who was later to follow in his directorial footsteps, tells us today that his dad was so disturbed by the mistaken portrayal that he had always planned a remake to right the wrong but died before this was realized. (Source: Filipino Directors Up Close by Bibsy M. Carballo/ 2010)

"Sakay" (1939)

Filippine Films

Director Lamberto Avellana
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Arsenia Francisco and Salvador Zaragoza in the title role

Salvador Zaragoza as Sakay, fifth from left

The film is about Macario Sakay, a controversial real-life figure in the fight against American colonial domination. For the American authorities, he was last remaining “rebel” who refused to swear allegiance to the U.S. government. But to Filipino natives, Sakay was a hero. Played by Salvador Zaragosa, Sakay was a barber from Tondo who tried to revive the Katipunan, an outlawed organization agitating independence. Charged with sedition, he was later released fro prison after being giving amnesty. Joining the guerilla outside of Manila with the help of Montalan (Leopoldo Salcedo), he waged a clandestine war that turned him into a folk hero (but with a price on his head). The Americans organized the Philippine Constabulary to chase after him. Sakay sought refuge in a church but later met his end when a whole village was burnt.

For a debut film, Avellana was entrusted by the producers to make a “super production.” He had a mock-up village constructed only to be burnt at film’s end, something unheard of during the early years of Philippine cinema. He likewise made two set miniatures for close-ups. Finding his way into film from a promising stage career, the young film director remarked, “It was hell of a way to launch a career. But it did mine very well, I must admit.” (Source: Lost Films of Asia by Nick Deocampo)

From left- Ben Perez, Leopoldo Salcedo and Joseph de Cordova

Leopoldo Salcedo (photo credit: Pelikula atbp)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ELY RAMOS, FERNANDO POE, MILA DEL SOL IN "GILIW KO" (1939): LVN PICTURES' DEBUT MOVIE

LVN Pictures was established in 1939 by three friends--- Doña Narcisa "Sisang" Buencamino de Leon, Carmen Villongco and Eleuterio Navoa, whose initials spelled the name of the company. Their first movie, Giliw Ko, a musical starring Ely Ramos, Fernando Poe, Sr., Mila del Sol and Fleur de Lis (later renamed Mona Lisa) was a sensational box-office hit. However, its succeeding films did not fare well at the tills and in order to save the company, Doña Sisang had to buy out the other stockholders.

Giliw Ko, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, is one of the five existing pre-war movies available.

"Giliw Ko" (1939)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: July 29, 1939/ Metropolitan Theater
and August 1-10, 1939/ Grand Theater

Director Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Ely Ramos, Fernando Poe, Mila del Sol, Fleur de Lis, Ben Rubio, Precioso Palma, Cecilio Joaquin

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 30: "DAHONG LAGAS" (1938)

"Dahong Lagas" (1938)

Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date: December 30, 1938- January 6, 1939/ Grand Theater

Music Miguel Velarde, Jr.
Story and Director Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Yolanda Marquez, Ely Ramos, Andres Cetenera, Naty Rubi, Miguel Anzures, Soledad Aquino, Precioso Palma, Billy Vizcarra, Lita Zabala
(From the collection of Dharyl Jim Jalos/ GMA Cavite)

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ELSA ORIA IN "BITUING MARIKIT" (1937)--- SAMPAGUITA PICTURES' DEBUT MOVIE

Sampaguita Pictures was established in 1937 by Pedro Vera. Their first movie, Bituing Marikit, a commercial hit in 1937, starred the biggest star at that time, Elsa Oria, the Philippines' singing nightingale. The movie, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, also starred Rogelio dela Rosa and Ely Ramos.

"Bituing Marikit" (1937)

Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date: December 12-20, 1937/ Savoy Theater

Director Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Elsa Oria, Rogelio dela Rosa, Ely Ramos, Silvia Rosales, Teddy Benavides, Nati Rubi, Billy Vizcarra

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ELSA ORIA IN "NASAAN KA IROG" (1937)

It is a pity that no movies or even short clips of pre-war star Elsa Oria ever existed where we can watch her act, dance and sing. Ms. Oria, dubbed as the singing sweetheart of the Philippines, was a box-office queen during her time and most of her movies were sensational hits. She was also known as the "Jeanette McDonald" of Philippine movies and best remembered in musical hit movies like Nasaan Ka Irog, Bituing Marikit and Madaling Araw.

"Nasaan Ka Irog" (1937)

Parlatone Hispano-Filipino Inc.
Release Date: March 11, 1937/ Fox Theater

Music the late Nicanor Abelardo, Miguel Velarde, Jr., Leon Ignacio, Juan Silos, Jr., and Benito Trapaga
Director Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Elsa Oria, Angel Esmeralda, Tito Arevalo, Prima Vera and the SSS Trio, Bimbo, Moonlight Troubadours, Parlatone Symphony Orchestra, etc.


Elsa Oria

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: "PUNYAL NA GINTO" (1933): FIRST TAGALOG ALL-TALKIE FILM

Punyal na Ginto, released and shown in 1933, was the first Tagalog sound movie or completely “all talking” photoplay. Produced by Felix Paterno and Francisco Santamaria, under Malayan Pictures Corporation, the movie starred Alma Bella, Tina del Rosario and Carlos Padilla under Jose Nepomuceno direction. Exhibited at the Lyric Theater on the Escolta, this production was made possible with the importation of American technicians and sound camera equipment by two American businessmen and promoters, George F. Harris and Stewart “Eddie” Tait of the Tait Shows carnival fame.

(Source: A Movie Album Quizbook/ Jessie B. Garcia)

"Punyal na Ginto" (1933)
Malayan Pictures Corporation
Release Date: March 9, 1933/ Lyric Theater
Director Jose Nepomuceno
Cast Alma Bella and Carlos Padilla

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: "MAKATA AT PARALUMAN" (1933)

Makata at Paraluman was one of the first 100 percent talkies in the vernacular---

"Makata at Paraluman" (1933)

Malayan Studio
Release Date: April 5- 11, 1933

Story Franco Vera Perez

Director Jose Nepomuceno
Cast Carlos Padilla and Rosita Rivera

On August 3, 1929, Radio Theater presented the first talkie: Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanian Syncopation. However, this was achieved by merely synchronizing phonograph records with the film. The audience complained that the sound was faint and muffled in parts. The real sound film, however, was not long in coming. On October 12, 1929, Leon Britton, a British engineer, arrived in Manila with 35 cases of equipment and 35,000 feet of film. The next day, he presented a program of optically recorded sound films at the Lyric Theater: Rainbow Man, Steamboat Bill, The Marionettes at the Opera and A Trip to the London Zoo. Immediately after, a talkie fever swept Manila.

In order to compete with the foreign sound films, Filipino silents were dubbed live by stage actors and advertised as talkies.

Sound equipment was prohibitive by Filipino standards: it would take a few more years to import and master the technology. Despite these limitations, however, Filipino cinema took off and became the country’s most popular entertainment.

On March 4, 1930, Carlos Vander Tolosa presented his first film, Collegian Love. It is the first Filipino film to be synchronized with phonograph records. This proved to be immensely popular. By then, the competition to produce the first optically recorded talkie was underway.

Two years after Tolosa’s film, filmmakers were still grappling with the new technology. Jose Nepomuceno advertised his film, Sa Pinto ng Langit/At Heaven’s Gate, as the first talkie, but this turned out to be a false claim. A visiting Hollywood director, Arthur Thompson, announced he was shooting a sound film with Virginia Spencer, a cousin of Hollywood star Belle Bennett. A Filipino-American, Jessie Matthews, who worked with Cecile B. De Mille in Hollywood, set up Paragon Pictures. However, he only got to finish his first film, Dinukot/Kidnapped, a silent, in 1934.

The first film made in the Philippines to feature optically recorded sound was George Musser’s Ang Aswang/Vampire. In 1932, Musser imported php 50,000 worth of optical sound equipment and turned his house into a studio. He spent a year shooting the film with Charles Miller as his cinematographer and William Smith as his soundman. Despite its Tagalog title, the film was actually recorded in Spanish and English. The film opened to acclaim at the Lyric on January 1, 1933. Unfortunately, according to some observers, the sound was sometimes out of sync and inaudible.

Also in 1933, Leon Britton returned to Manila to shoot a talkie, Children of the Philippines.

In 1933, two Americans, George Harris and Eddie Tait, embarked on a plan to make Manila the film capital of Asia. Using Manila as their base, they envisioned the production of films not only for the Philippines but also for Indonesia, Malaya and China. The initial venture, a partnership with Jose Nepomuceno, was to attach a soundtrack to Nepomuceno’s half-finished film, Punyal na Ginto/The Golden Dagger. This was followed by 100 percent talkies in the vernacular: Makata at Paraluman/Poet and Maiden and Dr. Kuba/Dr. Hunchback.

(Source: The URIAN Anthology/ 1990-1999)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: "LA MONJITA" (1931)

"La Monjita" (1931)
Malayan Pictures Corporation
Release Date: April 17-21, 1931/ Cine Tivoli
Cast Rosa Rivera, Carlos Padilla
(Images above and below: URIAN Anthology Book 1990- 1999)


Cine Tivoli at Plaza Sta. Cruz circa 1920s

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: "ORIENTAL BLOOD" (1930)

"Oriental Blood (Dugong Silangan)" (1930)

A Carmen Concha Presentation
Release Date: December 12-20, 1930/ Savoy Theater

Director Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Jose Corazon de Jesus (Huseng Batute), Annie Harris, Atang de la Rama, Purita Carino and others

(Image above: URIAN Anthology Book 1990- 1999)

José Corazón de Jesús (November 22, 1896 – May 26, 1932), also known by his pen name Huseng Batute, was a Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for independence during the American occupation of the Philippines, a period that lasted from 1901 to 1946. He is best known for being the lyricist of the Filipino song Bayan Ko.

De Jesús, who was already famous around the Philippines as Huseng Batute, was asked in 1930 to act in the movie Oriental Blood, which also starred Atang dela Rama, the most famous actresses of the day. De Jesús contracted an ulcer during the filming of Oriental Blood and died of complications on May 26, 1932. (Source: Wikipedia)

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 29: ESTER MAGALONA, FRED CORTES, DEANNA PRIETO IN LAMBERTO V. AVELLANA'S "IKAW PALA" (1941)

"Ikaw Pala" (1941)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: November 21- 27 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.
Story Jovita Martinez Memije

Director Lamberto V. Avellana
Cast Ester Magalona, Fred Cortes, Deanna Prieto, Gregorio Ticman, Precioso Palma, Amelita Sol, Cecilio Joaquin, Fernando Royo, Armando Villa, Vicente Ocampo, Fidel de Castro, Cresencia (Dimples) Aligada

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 28: "KUNG KITA'Y KAPILING" (1941)

"Kung Kita'y Kapiling" (1941)

AZ (Acuna/Zaldarriaga) Productions, Inc.
Release Date: October 10-16, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music Constancio De Guzman
Story Susana De Guzman

Director Tor Villano
Cast Arsenia Francisco, Angel Esmeralda, Yolanda Marquez, Raquel Caro, Martina Jimenez, Ben Racelis, Marcela Garcia, Leo Vibar, Cita Delia, Perfecta Carpio, Nenita Navarro, Canuplin, Soto and Bayani

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MILA DEL SOL, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, CARLOS PADILLA, DEANNA PRIETO IN "ARARONG GINTO" (1941): "ANOTHER MANUEL CONDE"S LOST PRIZED GEM

"Ararong Ginto" (1941)

LVN Pictures.
Release Date: August 8-18, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music Juan Silos, Jr.
Screenplay Manuel Conde

Director Manuel Conde
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Mila Del Sol, Carlos Padilla, Deanna Prieto, Fernando Royo, Exequiel Segovia

Synopsis--- The story is about the adventures of a young ambitious farmer (Leopoldo Salcedo) who hails from the city and migrates to Davao, the land of promise. Pioneering in the South, he meets a rural teacher (Mila del Sol) with whom he falls in love. Things get hot for both of them when the city gangsters invade the Southern homesteads and make all sort of trouble. Things get more complicated when the farmer if framed up as a dummy for Japanese aliens. Everything turns out all right in the end with several spectacular musical numbers and dances. In this connection, the public is advised of the unusual twist in the story--- that of the presentation of the serious message, which Conde alone could execute with such dramatic impact.
(The Tribune, August 8, 1941)

Source: The Cinema of Manuel Conde by Nicanor Tiongson

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 27: LUCITA GOYENA, FERNANDO POE, SERAFIN GARCIA, MONA LISA IN"ANG VIUDA ALEGRE" (1941)

"Ang Viuda Alegre" (1941)

X-otic Films Inc.
Release Date: July 31- August 7, 1941/ Times Theater

Music Franz Lehar
In Charge of Production Eduardo de Castro

Director Enrique H. Davila
Cast Lucita Goyena, Fernando Poe, Serafin Garcia, Mona Lisa, Lupe Velasco, Jose Troni, Sonia Reyes, Rosario Ong, Manuel Eloriaga, R. Centenera, Antonia Santos, S. Zaragosa, Juanito Lazaga

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MILA DEL SOL, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, DINA VALLE, FRED CORTES IN "VILLA HERMOSA" (1941): ANOTHER MANUEL CONDE'S LOST MASTERPIECE

"Villa Hermosa" (1941)

LVN Pictures
Release Date:May 18-26, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Manuel Conde
Music Juan Silos, Jr.Cast Mila Del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Dina Valle, Fred Cortes, Gregorio Ticman, Pedro Faustino, Juan Rodriguez, Nardo Zamora

Synopsis: A beautiful country mansion becomes the legacy of a convent-bred provinciana (Mila del Sol). She comes to Manila to take possession and meets a madcap taxi driver (Leopoldo Salcedo) and a handsome playboy (Fred Cortes). The taxi driver turns out to be the real heir to the mansion and Mila only a muchacha. Nevertheless, they fall in love and the sister of the heir (Dina Valle) falls for the playboy Fred. (Tribune, May 27, 1941)

Source: The Cinema of Manuel Conde by Nicanor Tiongson

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 26: CARMEN ROSALES AND JOSE PADILLA, JR. IN "PRINCESITA" (1941)

"Princesita" (1941)

Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date:May 9-17, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Gregorio Fernandez
Cast Carmen Rosales, Jose Padilla, Jr., Roberto Rosales, Pacita Del Rio, Gregorio Fernandez, Precioso Palma, Engracio Ibarra, Rosario Lam, Linda Estrella, Luis Pedrino, Vita Ortega, Nardo Vercudia, Lina Rosales

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 25: MILA DEL SOL, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, WITH FRED CORTES, ESTER MAGALONA IN "ROSALINDA" (1941)/ A FILM BY LAMBERTO AVELLANA

"Rosalinda" (1941)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: April 29- May 6, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Lamberto Avellana
Music Francisco Buencamino Sr. and Jr.
Story Engracio Valmonte
Cast Mila Del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Fred Cortes, Ester Magalona, Gregorio Ticman, Deanna Prieto, Juan Rodriguez, Ricardo Pasion

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

"SAWING GANTINGPALA" (1940): MANUEL CONDE'S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

National Artist for film Manuel Conde directed his first movie in 1940 via LVN Pictures' Sawing Gantingpala. The movie starring Mila del Sol and Ely Ramos which opened on July 25, 1940 packed crowds at the Grand Theater everyday during its entire exhibition.

"Sawing Gantingpala" (1940)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: July 25-31, 1940/ Grand Theater
Director Manuel Conde
Screenplay Susana C. de Guzman
Cinematography Remigio Young
Music Juan Silos, Jr.
Lyrics Dona Aurora Quezon
Cast Ely Ramos, Mila Del Sol, Tita Duran, Dina Valle, Salvacion Ortega, Precioso Palma, Cecilio Joaquin, Amelita Sol, Manuel Eloriaga, Alberto Lazaro, Nenita Sarmiento, Purita dela Rosa, Fred Cortes

Synopsis: Two girls, Dolores and Maria Corazon, are left orphans when their mother dies. Dolores, the elder, promised their mother that she will always care for her younger sister. From the orphanage, Hospicio de San Jose, they are adopted by different people. Maria Corazon goes to live in the province. Corazon (Dina Valle) blooms into a young woman and falls in love with Dr. Benjamin Raceles (Ely Ramos), who does not return the feeling. Summoned to the province by a former teacher, Raceles meets Dolores (Mila del Sol) and falls in love with her. Maria Corazon folows him to the province and tells Dolores how much she loves him. Dolores, at great personal sacrifice, gives him up. He goes back to Manila and ask Maria Corazon to marry him on the rebound. (Source: Tribune, July 25, 1940)

Dina Valle, Ely Ramos and Mila del Sol

Source: The Cinema of Manuel Conde by Nicanor Tiongson

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 24: ELY RAMOS, NORMA BLANCAFLOR, PUGO & TOGO IN "BINIBINI NG PALENGKE" (1941)

"Binibini ng Palengke" (1941)

Filippine Films
Release Date: April 19-28, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Carlos Vander Tolosa
Music Ariston Avelino
Story Carlos Vander Tolosa and Narciso Asistio
Cast Ely Ramos, Norma Blancaflor, Pugo & Togo, Florentino Ballecer, Exequiel Segovia, Patring Carvajal, Rosario Lam

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 23: MILA DEL SOL, FRED CORTES, REYNALDO DANTE, ESTER MAGALONA IN "ANGELITA: AKO'Y NAGKASALA" (1941)

"Angelita: Ako'y Nagkasala" (1941)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: February 13-19, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Guillermo Icasiano
Music Francisco Buencamino, Jr. Story Augusto Revilla
Cast Mila Del Sol, Fred Cortes, Reynaldo Dante, Ester Magalona, Cecilio Joaquin, Amador Alegre, Vicenta Fernandez, Jose Luz Bernardo, Benny Mack

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

THE SEÑORITA, CARMEN ROSALES LIKES AND ENDORSES "DIANA MARGARINE" CIRCA 1940

One of the biggest star in the pre-war era was Carmen Rosales in which her movie Señorita, produced by Sampaguita Pictures, was the biggest moneymaker in 1940 and the studio's top pre-war hit.

In the product endorsement below, Ms. Rosales (second from right) was with from left, Gloria Del Mundo, Rosa Aguirre, Miguel Anzures and Narding Anzures. Just to refresh your memory, Rosa Aguirre was the wife of Miguel Anzures and Narding, the boy at the far right was their son, which later got involved in the celebrated Lilian Velez Murder Case in 1948.

From the Collection of Steve Santos