POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 77: ROGELIO DELA ROSA AND MILA DEL SOL IN "MILYONARIA" (1949)

"Milyonaria" (1949)- Stars Rogelio de la Rosa, Mila del Sol, Eusebio Gomez, Engracio Ibarra, Justina David, Armando Canseco, Rita Amor, Miguel Lopez, Tomas Esteban and Bayani & Menggay/Story and Directed by Susana C. de Guzman

Synopsis: Anita Amor (Mila del Sol) inherited a large sum of money and a flourishing newspaper and printing company from her late father, Don Pepe. The printing press is being managed by Don Pepe’s trusted man and editor Delfin Glorioso (Rogelio dela Rosa).

After years abroad, Anita arrives with companion and fiance Dr. Reyes (Eusebio Gomez). Her overseer and caretaker, Mang Gorio (Engracio Ibarra) briefs her of her father’s heroism during the war, his vast wealth, shows her and Dr. Reyes around and brings them to the printing press where they are introduced to the hardworking editor Delfin.

Delfin, who is deep in his work, ignores Anita's presence, which infuriates the lady. From then on, Anita is uncomfortable with Delfin and tells this to Mang Gorio.

The late Don Pepe is a philanthropist, cares for the poor and the needy and loves to donate to charitable institutions, while Anita is the exact opposite, who loves to splurge on dresses, gambles and spend lavishly. Before his death, Don Pepe instructs Delfin to continue his noble deeds and pass this on to his daughter.

Anita becomes more enraged when she sees her name in newspaper losing heavily in gambling. She castigates her editor, but the more Anita berates him, the more Delfin teaches her the social value of clean living.

Humiliated, Anita devises a plan to get even with Delfin. She fires Delfin’s male secretary. Anita disguises herself as Letty Carmona, a look-alike and distant relative of Anita. She changes her looks, wears eyeglasses and speaks with a native accents. She introduces herself to Delfin as her new secretary. Delfin is first hesitant, but Letty tries to convince Delfin that she is hardworking and capable of the job.

Though he has some reservation about Letty’s personality, he sets it aside. Delfin begins to fall in love with her and soon blossoms to a romance.

During a big party, Letty divulges her scheme and shames Delfin in front of her friends and visitors. Instead, it backfires and Delfin scolds and slaps her. He is deeply hurt of the revelation since he’s already in love with Letty/Anita.

He resigns from the company and stays out late most of the time drinking.

Job opportunities came when his former male secretary comes over with an offer similar to his former post. His new boss is likewise into charities and civic programs.

Anita later realizes her mistakes and tries to make amends to Delfin and family. Likewise, she dumps Dr. Reyes since she also realizes how much he loves Delfin.

To win back Anita, Dr. Reyes hatches an evil plan. He shoots Delfin and is critically wounded. Anita learns about the incident and seeks the medical help of Dr. Reyes. The doctor accedes on the condition that Anita marries him.

The operation is successful. Anita and Dr. Reyes decide to get married abroad. Delfin is informed later that the real boss he is working for is Anita.

Knowing that Anita will be leaving any moment now, he goes straight to the airport and intercepts Anita from Dr. Reyes. In a scuffle that ensues, the doctor draws his gun and aims at Delfin. “Sana pinatay na kita,” he blurts out (“I should have finished you off”). The timely arrival of the authorities prevents what would have been a tragic finale.

That’s the only time that Delfin and Anita learn about Dr. Reyes’ participation. The police authorities arrest the doctor and the two are reunited.

Delfin (Rogelio de la Rosa) and Anita (Mila del Sol) in their first meeting at the printing press office.


Delfin talks to his mother (Justina David) regarding Anita's unusual behavior.


Irked and angered over Delfin's interfering on her social activities.


A comic scene between Bayani (family driver) and Menggay (househelp)


Delfin and Anita in a riotous scene


Anita disguises as Letty, the new secretary


Delfin and Letty starting to have feelings towards one another


A song number


Letty in a heart to heart talk with Delfin's mother


Letty divulges her plan and shames Delfin


Delfin scolds and berates Anita


Dr. Reyes (Eusebio Gomez) plans an evil plot


Anita accedes to Dr. Reyes' condition to marry him


The final confrontation as Dr. Reyes draws and points a gun at Delfin


The two finally reunited

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 76: "SOR REMEDIOS" (1948)

"Sor Remedios"
Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.
Release Date: June 3-12, 1948/ Dalisay
Story Susana C. de Guzman
Photography Cesar Silos
Music Constancio C. de Guzman
Direction Octavio Silos
Cast Paraluman, Fred Montilla, Rosie Lorenzana, Maria Cristina

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 75: "HIRAM NA PANGALAN" (1948)

"Hiram na Pangalan"
Premiere Productions
Release Date: August 12- September 2, 1948/ Center
Photography Tomas Marcelino
Sound Demetrio Santos
Music Santiago Suarez
Direction Ramon A. Estella
Cast Jose Padilla, Anita Linda, Fernando Royo, Efren Reyes, Virginia Montes, Amelita Sol, Frankie Gordon, Mary Walter, Tony Tolman, Luis San Juan, Dodang Ortega, Luz Kahanding, Marcial Glorioso

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 74: "HALIK SA BANDILA" (1948)

"Halik sa Bandila"
Premiere Productions
Release Date: April 13-23, 1948/ Dalisay
Direction Consuelo P. Osorio
Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Ester Magalona, Fernando Royo, Amelita Sol, Virginia Montes, Tolindoy, Dely Atay-atayan, Mary Walter, Fernando Santiago, Simplicio Serafin Casupang, Alfonso Reyes, Alvaran, Totoy Torrente, Efren Reyes

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 73: "MGA BUSABOS NG PALAD" (1948)

"Mga Busabos ng Palad"
Nolasco Bros. Pictures
Release Date: August 12- September 2, 1948/ Center
Direction Luis F.Nolasco
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Vida Florante, Bimbo Danao, Leila Morena, Fernando Royo, Rosa Aguirre, Gil de Leon, Ben Perez, Don danon and Quiel Segovia

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 72: "SELOSA" (1948)

"Selosa"
Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.
Release Date: April 8- 13, 1948/ Center
Story Inigo Ed. Regalado
Music Tito Arevalo Direction Eddie Romero
Cast Carmen Rosales, Ely Ramos, Lillian Leonardo, Roberto Rosales, Rosie Lorenzana, Vicente Liwanag, Oscar Frazenda, Arsenio Almonte, Ely Nakpil, Ramon Toledo Jr., Dick Tuazon, Liberty Ilagan

RIC RODRIGO AND LOLITA RODRIGUEZ IN "TATLONG PATAK NA LUHA" (1960)

"Tatlong Patak na Luha" (1960)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Carlos Salazar, Greg Martin, Liberty Ilagan, Zeny Zabala, Lito Legaspi, Boy Planas, Ven Medina, Pablo Guevarra, Aring Bautista, Matimtiman Cruz, Ely Roque, Lillian de Leon, Jose Villafranca and Juvy Cachola/ Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa

Synopsis: Hoping that Julia’s (Lolita Rodriguez) marriage to Martin (Carlos Salazar), son of a wealthy businessman, would give her the comforts of life, Lucio (Ric Rodrigo) gives up his own love.

Julia marries Martin because she badly needs money for her sick mother. But Martin’s father objects to the marriage and disown him. Martin dies in a car accident leaving his widow and two children penniless.

News of Julia’s ill fortune reaches Lucio who sees her just as she is about to be assaulted by a hoodlum. The hoodlum dies while Lucio tries to defend Julia, and the death is blamed on Lucio. He is imprisoned, but is able to escape, clears himself and finally gets reunited with Julia. (Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine)

DELIA RAZON AND MARIO MONTENEGRO IN "REBELDE" (1958)

"Rebelde" (1958)- Stars Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Rebecca Del Rio, Alfonso Carvajal, Oscar Keesee, Eusebio Gomez, Lydia Antonio/ Directed by Artemio Marquez

Synopsis: Florencia (Delia Razon) is a typical Filipina who joins the rebels when her father is killed by Kapitan Mariano, a Filipino employed by the American occupation forces. Florencia becomes ruthless in her efforts to avenge her father's death and with the help of Donato (Carlos Padilla, Jr.), organizes a rebel army to fight against the Americans.

Kapitan Mariano is all for fighting the rebels with force but the governor thinks otherwise. Mario (Mario Montenegro), the governor's son, volunteers to act as an emissary to convince the rebels to surrender peacefully. Mario contacts Donato but the latter, suspecting him of spying, orders him hanged. Mario is saved by Florencia who believes he is telling the truth.

Mario and Donato start for the town for a conference with the governor but when they reach town, they learn that the governor has been murdered. Although Dr. Lorna de Dios (Rebecca Del Rio), Mario’s sweetheart knows the identity of the murderer, she refuses to tell Mario who murdered his father.

Mario takes to the hills and is welcomed with open arms by Florencia who has fallen in love with him arousing Donato‘s jealousy. Later on Lorna relents and tells Mario that Kapitan Magno, one of Kapitan Mariano’s men, is the murderer of his father.

Mario finds Kapitan Mariano just as the latter with his men have captured Florencia. Kapitan Mariano makes a run for it, killing Lorna in the process. Mario pursues Kapitan Mariano and when he catches up, engages him in a fist fight which he eventually wins. He returns to Florencia. (Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine)

"LOS PALIKEROS" (1963): FPJ'S MOST HATED MOVIE

In an article interview with Intrigue Magazine dated January 27, 1994, action king Fernando Poe, Jr. willingly shared and revealed to a group of movie scribes his most hated movie and candidly tell all about it... one of Da King's wittiest moments...

(Thanks to Eric Nadurata for the article)

Siyempre, kung mayroong pelikulang gustung-gusto alalahanin at gawan ng sequel, o kaya’y maging basehan sa isa pang ulit na matinong pelikula, meron ding pelikulang gusto nang kalimutam ni FPJ.

“ ‘Yong ginawa namin sa Amerika. Kaming dalawa ni Erap (Vice President Joseph Estrada),” sabi nga ni FPJ, kahit best friend niyang itinuturing si JE na ngayo’y Chairman pa ng PACC (Presidential Anti-Crime Commission).

“You know, ni hindi ko ibinenta sa GMA ‘yon, sa kahihiyan,” kuwelang banggit pa ni FPJ, na ang tinutukoy ay isang pelikulang may pamagat na Los Palikeros.“Kami ni Erap pang bida. Los Palikeros ba ‘yon? pag-ulit ni FPJ. “Title pa lang, o talo na! First day, last day na ‘yon. Kami ni Erap pang bida.” Would you believe, ang pinaka-hate na pelikula ni FPJ ay kinunan pa sa Amerika?

“Pumunta kami sa States to do that movie. Actually, mahabang istorya ‘yan, eh,” nag chain reaction nga lang daw, according to FPJ pa rin.

Siyempre, kuwento ulit.

“Pumunta kami ni Paquito (Diaz) sa Tokyo, “ bungad ulit na kuwento ni FPJ, “nabalitaan ni Erap. Bakit daw ang kasama ko lang si Kits? “O, sama ka na, Erap,” pagyaya na rin ni FPJ. “Tapos no’n, nabalitaan ni Pablo Santiago (director). O, pupunta ka ro’n, di pumunta na tayo sa Hawaii…”

“Parami nang parami. So, pumunta kami, around-the-world, para gumawa ng dalawang pelikula,”natatawang wika ni FPJ.

“Ano’ng makikita mo sa ginawa namin?” pagkuwa’y tanong naman niya. “Tumatawid lang kami ni Erap sa kalye, gano’n. Tapos ‘yung corridor ng Sampaguita hotel, du’n natapos ang pelikula! Naka-amerikana pa kami."

Mula sa kuwento ni FPJ, alam mo agad na total disaster ang naturang pelikula nila ni Erap (hindi siguro ‘yon kasing ganda ng napanood naming Ang Agila at ang Araw nila ni Erap, ‘no?). Of course, not! Sabi nga kasi ni FPJ, ang Los Palikeros daw ay ‘yong tipong, “When you go to the movies, thirty minutes lang, gusto mo nang matulog, eh. Gusto mo nang umuwi, eh. You know, I didn’t sell that, ha, ‘yong rights, sa Channel 7, gaya ng maraming FPJ movies ngayon. I didn’t sell that, dahil sa kahihiyan!”

“Imagine, I can easily sell that for 1 million; 1 million is 1 million, pero nakakahiya sa audience!” matapat namang wika ni Ronnie. “Sa kahihiyan sa tao… kahit na libre… baka gusto na tuloy nilang masira ‘yong TV nila! Gano’n kagarapal. Wala ka nang makikita kundi tatawid (sila ni Erap), magda-dialogue, lalakad. Halos… you hardly see any action.”

Sina FPJ at director-prodyuser Cirio Santiago ang nagprodyus ng naturang pelikula, na ayon kay FPJ, wala namang istorya. “Ewan ko, hindi ko na tinanong,” aniya pang natatawa-tawa. “I don’t know if it was color na. Hindi naman talaga pelikula ‘yon, eh.”

Hindi rin daw maituturing na travelogue ang ginawa nila ni Erap. “Hindi bale sana kung magaganda… hindi ba pag travelogue, ‘yong leading man, leading lady, magandang tingnan?” Eh, hindi nga raw gano’n nangyari sa Los Palikeros. “Kaming dalawa ni Erap, ano’ng maganda ro’n? punchline pa ni FPJ, gaya sa tuwing aalaskahin niya ang matalik na kaibigan all these years.

Anupa’t ang sumunod niyang pahayag ang lalong nakapagpahagalpak sa tawa naming ng mga kasamang movie scribes. Sabi ni FPJ, still referring to his and Erap starrer, na silang dalawa nga lang ang mga bida, “Mahahalata pa ang isa sa amin do’n!”

O, ‘di ba? Sampol lang ‘yan kung gaano ka-witty o ng taglay na sense of humor ni Tito Ronnie na ikinatutuwa naming ipaabot sa nakakarami.

By William R. Reyes
Intrigue Magazine
January 27, 1994

(Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ 1963)

"Los Palikeros" (1963)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Joseph Estrada, Paquito Diaz, Vic Diaz, Arabella Harmon and Maggie dela Riva/ Directed by Cirio H. Santiago and Armando A. Herrera

ZALDY ZSHORNACK IN TWO OF HIS EARLY LEAD ROLES AS "UKELELE BOY" (1957) AND "FIGHTING TISOY" (1958)

"Ukelele Boy" (1957)- Stars Anita Linda, Ben Perez, Lani Oteyza and Zaldy Zshornack in the title role/ with Berting Labra, Vic Diaz, Jose Garcia, Abraham Cruz, Luis San Juan, Manuel Barbeyto and the Reycard Duet/ Directed by Pablo Santiago

"Fighting Tisoy" (1958)- Stars Zaldy Zshornack, Myra Crisol, Ben Perez, Elvira Reyes, Chiquito, Bobby Gonzales, Luis San Juan, Larry Ramos, Dencio Padilla, Fernando Santiago, Menchi Ferrer, Ligaya Reyes, Mila Bernardo/Guest- Ramon D' Salva/ Directed by Pablo Santiago

Synopsis: Zaldy is a collegiate basketball star who is disqualified from the team after engaging in a free-for-all with members of the opposing team. He decides to quit school and look for a job to help his sickly mother. He goes to a boxing gym where he is able to earn five pesos sparring with a boxer.

A boxing promoter, Daniel Perez, is attracted by his powerful right hand and he tries to convince Zaldy to train as a professional boxer under him. But before Zaldy can decide, Zaldy is convinced by one of his professors to resume his studies.

In school, Zaldy, upon the urgings of his friends and professors, becomes a member of the boxing team. While Zaldy is training at the school gym, Priscilla, a new girl, makes a big play for him, arousing the jealousy of Myra, Zaldy's cheerleader who also has a crush on him. Although Zaldy also loves Myra, he does not tell her of his feelings, believing he is too poor for her. On the other hand, Myra, to be near Zaldy, frequently visits his sick mother.

Zaldy becomes an amateur boxing champion and when his mother's illness becomes worse he seeks out Daniel Perez and accepts the latter's offer to fight professionally. In his first professional bout, Zaldy is the betting favorite. Gamblers threaten to kill him if he does not throw the fight but Zaldy tells Perez about it. Perez advises him to fight to win and takes care of the gamblers. Zaldy wins the fight and his mother is cured. (Source: Literary Song-Movie magazine)

PANCHO MAGALONA AND MYRNA DELGADO IN FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "WALDAS" (1955): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION

"Waldas" (1955)- Stars Pancho Magalona, Myrna Delgado, Van de Leon, Rosa Mia, Chichay, Eddie Garcia, Panchito Alba, Rod Navarro, Martin Marfil, Jose Salameda, Tero de Guzman, Elena Adorable/ Directed by Mar S. Torres




Pilipino Komiks/ 1955
Nobela't Guhit ni Francisco V. Coching

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SUSAN ROCES AS PABLO S. GOMEZ/ CARLOS GONDA'S "TORKWATA" (1957): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION

"Torkwata" (1957)- Stars Eddie Arenas, Susan Roces, Aruray, Zeny Zabala, Tito Galla, Precy Ortega, Marilou Cuadrado/ Directed by Rosa Mia

Synopsis: Dona Irene adopts an orphan, Torkwata (Susan Roces), to keep her company in her old age. Aling Goria and Mang Tuse, househelps, also prevail on her to adopt also their grandchild, Tacing, with the intention of finally eliminating Torkwata and their mistress, leaving Tacing the heiress to Dona lrene‘s wealth.

Because of clever scheming of the three, Dona Irene begins to distrust Torkwata, relegates her to the status of a servant. The trio subjects the old woman to slow poisoning, as a result of which she is confined to bed, leaving the trio to live a life of luxury at the expense of the old woman.

Benedicta knows of the going-ons, but before she has time to tell Dona Irene about it, she is urgently called to China where an old relative dies and leaves her a fortune. On her return, she takes pity on Torkwata, employs a detective, Renato (Eddie Arenas), who exposes the scheme of the trio. But while working to uncover the plot against Torkwata, Renato falls in love with the her whom he finally marries. (Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine)

Photo courtesy of James dela Rosa, Pelikula ATBP


Hiwaga Komiks/ 1956
Nobela nina Carlos Gonda at Pablo S. Gomez
Guhit ni Nestor Redondo

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From the Collection of Steve Santos/
Unang Labas Blog