MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARMEN ROSALES, JOSE PADILLA, JR., WITH PACITA DEL RIO, GREGORIO FERNANDEZ, PRECIOSO PALMA, JUSTINA DAVID, ENGRACIO IBARRA< DOMINGO SANTOS, TOMASA ALVAREZ, ROSARIO LAM IN "CARMEN" (1941)/ UPDATED

Inaugurating the new Dalisay theatre is Sampaguita's first musical production for 1941, "Carmen, which brings to the screen, after almost three years, the unforgettable love-team of

"Arimunding Munding," Carmen Rosales and Jose Padilla, Jr., and which starts showing to the eagerly waiting public today. Directed by Gregorio Fernandez, who made such 1940 hits as "Senorita," "Katarungan" and "Colegiala," and written by that versatile vernacular woman writer, Susana de Guzman, who was responsible for the highly exhilarating story of "Arimunding-Munding," "Carmen" will, undoubtedly, sweep commendations from film critics and go into the annals of motion picture history as one of the New Year's best celluloid products with the most sprightly, heart-balming tale of romance.

Briefly, the story concerns the all-consuming fire of love at first sight. A beautiful Carmen meets a handsome Jose on board a ship going down south to Cebu. In that meeting, a love for each other is born, they being unaware that that love will only be suppressed upon reaching their destination.  For Carmen and Jose are both ignorant of the fact that they are rushing to Cebu to see an eccentric old woman breathe her last and to inherit from her a fortune of P50,000 each. This eccentric old woman is Carmen's aunt, who in her youth loved immensely Jose's father. Because of this love, she bequeaths to the son of the man she loves a part of her wealth. However, the last will of the dying woman stipulates that, before Carmen and Jose will come to possess the money, they must neither fall in love with each pther nor bind themselves together with the holy bonds of matrimony. But, Carmen and Jose have already fallen in love with each other before they come to know of the wishes of the dying woman. And this complicates matter because Carmen and Jose can neither afford to lose the money they will inherit nor their love for each other. How they are able to extricate themselves from the difficult problem of either choosing money or love gives the picture a thrill-packed climax.

Aside from Carmen Rosales and Jose Padilla,Jr., many prominent film players are featured in the supporting cast

--- Pacita del Rio, most vixenish actress of the local screen, is making her debut with Sampaguita in this picture. She provides the womanly intrigue to the film and plays her role with finesse. Others in the supporting cast are Gregorio Fernandez, Precioso Palma, Justina David, Engracio Ibarra, Domingo Santos, Tomasa Alvarez and Rosario Lam.

Popular tunes which are composed by popular song-writer, Constancio de Guzman, abound in the picture, and are destined to be the hit tunes of the season. The beautiful scenes of "Carmen" were photographed by the skillful cameraman, Higino J. Fallorina, who, it must be recalled, was also responsible for the excellent photography of "Arimunding Munding,” the first picture co-starring Carmen Rosales and Jose Padilla, Jr.

If you want high-class entertainment, if you want a picture that has all the ingredients for arousing your every emotion, if you want to have more than two hours of thrilling screen experience, then see "Carmen"at the  new Dalisay theatre, opening today.

(The Tribune, January 31, 1940)

"Carmen" (1941)

Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date: January 31- February 12,1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Gregorio Fernandez
Cast Carmen Rosales, Jose Padilla, Jr., Pacita Del Rio, Gregorio Fernandez, Precioso Palma, Justina David, Engracio Ibarra, Domingo Santos, Tomasa Alvarez, Rosario Lam