THE FIFTIES # 188: CESAR RAMIREZ, MYRNA DELGADO, NORMA VALES, RIC RODRIGO IN "TRES MUSKITERAS" (1954)

"Tres Muskiteras" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date February 9- 18, 1954

Direction Nardo Vercudia

Cast Cesar Ramirez, Myrna Delgado, Norma Vales, Ric Rodrigo, Aruray, Bayani, Precy Ortega

THE FIFTIES # 187: PANCHO MAGALONA AND GLORIA ROMERO IN "MUSIKONG BUMBONG" (1954)

"Musikong Mumbong" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date February 3-12, 1954/ Center

Story Dr. Fausto J. Galauran

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Pancho magalona, Gloria Romero, Boy Alano, Rosa Mia, Rebecca del Rio, Etang Discher, Horacio Morelos

THE FIFTIES # 186: LILIA DIZON AND ARMANDO GOYENA IN "TUCYDIDES" (1954)

"Tucydides" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 30- February 8, 1954/ Dalisay

Story Dominador Ad Castillo

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Artemio Marquez

Cast Lilia Dizon, Armando Goyena, Milagros Naval, Cecilia Lopez, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Florentino Ballecer, Victor Blanco, Pacita Corrales, Belen Velasco

Armando Goyena and Lilia Dizon in LVN Pictures' "Tucydides" (1954)

THE FIFTIES # 185: JAIME DE LA ROSA, TESSIE QUINTANA AND PRISCILLA CELLONA IN "DALAWANG PANATA" (1954)

"Dalawang Panata" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 20-29, 1954/ Dalisay

Story A.C. Bagabaldo

Music S.S. Suarez

Direction Billy Icasiano

Cast Jaime dela Rosa, Tessie Quintana, Priscilla Cellona, Carmencita Palma, Oscar Obligacion, Chito Navarro, Miguel Lopez, Roger Nite, Zenny Garcia, Nora Dy, Baby Zenny

THE FIFTIES # 184: OSCAR MORENO AND PARALUMAN IN "SARAWAK" (1954)

"Sarawak" (1954)

Palanca Bros. Productions

Release Date January 8-13, 1954/ Times

Story Potenciano A. Palanca & Jesus Esguerra

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Oscar Moreno, Paraluman, Elvira Reyes, Sonia Reyes, Restie Sandel, Basilio de Luis, Nilda Balmori, Linda Martinez

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ATANG DE LA RAMA IN "MAHIWAGANG BINIBINI (ANG KIRI)" (1939)

"Mahiwagang Binibini (Ang Kiri)" (1939)

Diwata Films

Release Date April 5-11, 1939/ Grand Theater

Cast Atang de la Rama, Precioso Palma, Carmen Rosales, Nilo Barredo, Gregorio Ticman, Flor Ballecer, Conrado Santiago

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: GERARDO DE LEON AND TITO AREVALO IN "AMA AT ANAK" (1939)

National Artist for Film, Gerardo 'Gerry' de Leon, both as Actor and Director---

"Ama at Anak" (1939)

Parlatone Productions

Release Date June 22- July 2, 1939/ Fox

Direction Gerardo de Leon 

Cast Gerardo de Leon, Tito Arevalo, Lilia Vizconde, Virginia Salcedo, Armando Cris, Eduardo Infante, Edy Nagali, Laling Talti

THE FIFTIES # 183: ARMANDO GOYENA AND EVELYN VILLAR IN "KAPITAN KIDLAT NGAYON!" (1953)

"Kapitan Kidlat Ngayon!" (1953)

Sequel to "Kapitan Kidlat"

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 1-10, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Oscar del Rosario

Cast Armando Goyena, Evelyn Villar, Alfonso Carvajal, Oscar del Rosario, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Casmot, Carmencita Abad, Arturo Moran, Miguel Lopez, Florentino Garcia, Helen Nazario & Menandro Ramos

THE FIFTIES # 182: DELIA RAZON AND MARIO MONTENEGRO IN "3 LABUYO" (1953)

"3 Labuyo" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 5- 14, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Richard Abelardo

Cast Delia razon, Mario Montenegro, Tony Santos, Alfonso Carvajal, Casmot, Letty Alonso, Jose Corazon de Jesus

THE FIFTIES # 181: TITA DURAN, PANCHO MAGALONA AND DOLPHY IN "SA ISANG SULYAP MO TITA" (1953)/ Re-posted

"Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita" (1953)
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date August 8-17, 1953
Music Tirso Cruz and his Manila Hotel Orchestra
Direction Armano Garces
Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Dolphy, Aruray, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Aring Bautista, Consuelo P. Osorio, Bert Guinto, Eddie Garcia, Bert Olivar, Ricardo Mirasol, Artemio Tecson


Courtesy of Sampaguita Pictures

I finally got to see "Sa Isang Sulyap Mo Tita" (1953), dubbed as one of the biggest and spectacular musical movies in the 50s and starring the country's popular reel-and-real life sweetheart and husband-and-wife tandem in Philippine movies, Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. With the backdrop and setting in the life in the navy, it reminds me of two of my favorite Hollywood musical classics--- "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) and "On the Town" (1949)

. Pancho Magalona and Dolphy as the navy men or sailors, ala-Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, are in days off and they’re out to have lots of fun, singing, dancing and drinking. As they say, they're out to "paint the town red."

Dolphy, probably his first major movie role as Pancho’s buddy, exhibits his awesome dancing skills (see movie clip below).

Courtesy of Sampaguita Pictures

"Anchors Aweigh" (1945) / "On the Town" (1949)

THE FIFTIES # 180: OSCAR MORENO AND ERLINDA CORTES IN "MAY ISANG TSUPER NG TAXI" (1953)

"May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi" (1953)

Lebran Productions

Release Date July 14- 23, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Oscar Moreno, Erlinda Cortes, Oscar Keese, Conrado Conde, Juan Monteiro, Andres Iturbi, Etang Discher, Norma Buenaobra, Noemi de Leon, Paquito Legaspi, Ric Balmori, Ching Macabasco

THE FIFTIES # 179: NIDA BLANCA AND NESTOR DE VILLA IN L.V. AVELLANA'S "HIYASMIN" (1953)

"Hiyasmin" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 31, 1953- January 9, 1954

Story Gemiliano Pineda

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Tony Santos, Gil de Leon, Johnny Reyes, Arturo Moran, Carmencita Abad, Casmot, Vic Silayan, Priscilla Ramirez

Photo, courtesy of LVN Pictures

THE FIFTIES # 177: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND EDNA LUNA IN MARS RAVELO'S "DYESEBEL" (1953)

 "Dyesebel"
Premiere Productions
Release Date July 4- 13, 1953/ Dalisay 
Story Mars Ravelo
Direction Gerardo de Leon
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Carol Varga, Fernando Royo and Edna Luna in the title role

Dyesebel first appeared in the pages of Pilipino Komiks in the 50s. Created by renowned and prolific Filipino novelist Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres, the komiks novel has been adapted into movies in 1953, 1973, 1978, 1990 and 1996. A sequel was made in 1964, “Anak ni Dyesebel.” Here's the first and last installments of that original version of Dyesebel, as it made its memorable run in 1952 to 53.

Unang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1952

click images to enlarge

Katapusang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

click images to enlarge

Source: Komiks materials from

the collection of Steve Santos

THE FIFTIES # 176: JOSE PADILLA, JR. AND CELIA FLOR IN L.V. AVELLANA'S "HUK SA BAGONG PAMUMUHAY" (1953)/ Re-posted

Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay, a film by National Artist Lamberto Avellana tells of Carding (played by Jose Padilla, Jr.), a former guerrilla, who mortgages his mother's piece of land, thinking that his family could pay the usurer, a certain Mr. Fargas with the harvest or his backpay. Bad luck hounds Carding as the typhoon practically destroy most of the crops. The backpay likewise does not arrive. Mr Fargas forecloses the land. Push against the wall, Carding strikes the usurer with a shovel. Now a fugitive from justice, Carding is forced to join the burgeoning Hukbalahap, the local Communist movement.

The movie, produced by LVN Pictures as part of the government propaganda effort against the spread of communism in the country, received numerous awards from the FAMAS- Best Picture, Best Actor (Jose Padilla, Jr.), Best Supporting Actor (Leroy Salvador) and Best Director (Lamberto Avellana).

"Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay" (1953)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Celia Flor, Leroy Salvador/ Directed by Lamberto V. Avellana

Here's a short absorbing clip of the movie that drove Carding (played by Jose Padilla, Jr.) to lose his temper and struck the usurer with a shovel---

Courtesy of LVN Pictures




lobby cards from internet sources

THE FIFTIES # 175: BOY ALANO AS MARS RAVELO'S "KIKO" (1953)

Did you know that Boy Alano had his share of stardom when he was just starting as a child star at Sampaguita Pictures? He made his debut movie in 1951 in "Roberta", as Roberta's (played by child wonder Tessie Agama) trusted and best friend. In 1953, Alano was given the lead role, in Mars Ravelo's "Kiko".

"Kiko" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date November 11-20, 1953/ Dalisay

Story Mars Ravelo

Direction Olive la Torre

Cast Boy Alano, Patria Plata, Van de Leon, Rosa Mia, Aruray, Etang Discher, Leonora Ruiz

THE FIFTIES # 172: PANCHO MAGALONA AND RITA GOMEZ IN F.V. COCHING'S "MALDITA" (1953)

 "Maldita" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date October 2- 11, 1953

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Enrique Moreno (or Eddie Romero)

Cast Pancho Magalona, Rita Gomez, Boy ALano, Tony Cayado, Bella Flores, Aruray, Martin Marfil 

 

When Sampaguita was in the process of scouting for an actress to play the role of Maldita, another popular F.V. Coching character in Pilipino Komiks, Coching insisted on Rita Gomez, whom he had seen in the Gerry de Leon film, Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (based on Amado Yasona komiks serial). His choice could not have been more apt as the film went on to become one of the top moneymakers in 1953. Gomez was herself on her way to becoming a fine performer, as attested to by her Famas Best Actress award in the 1958 adaptation of another Coching komiks serial Talipandas, playing the character of the bar girl with a heart of gold, which was also one of the country’s official entries to the Asian Film Festival that year.

"Maldita"

Story and penned by Franscico V. Coching

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

THE FIFTIES # 171: TITA DURAN AND PANCHO MAGALONA IN VOD-A-VIL" (1953)

"Vod-a-vil" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date December 21-30, 1953/ Dalisay

Music Tirso Cruz and hid Manila Hotel Orchestra

Direction Olive La Torre

Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Katy de la Cruz, Rosa Mia, Dolphy, Rebecca del Rio, Pedro Faustino, Jose de Villa, Bert Olivar, Priscilla Concepcion, Horacio Morelos, Armando Villamor, Pablo Raymundo, and Bayani (Guest Star)

THE FIFTIES # 169: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA & LILIA DIZON IN "SA PAANAN NG BUNDOK" (1953): A FILM BY SUSANA C. DE GUZMAN/ Re-posted

Susana C. de Guzman (1912-1992) was one of the very few successful woman directors in Philippine cinema. She was a prolific writer and many of the films she made for LVN were serialized in Liwayway and other popular magazines. She was best remembered for her movies, like Sarrung Banggi (1947), Sumpaan (1948), Sonny Boy, (1955), Krisalis (1957), Villa Milagrosa (1958), among others. She was the recipient of Natatanging Gawad Urian in 1991.

One of De Guzman's works was Sa Paanan ng Bundok, which appeared on the pages of Liwayway Magazine in 1953. It was adapted into the screen which she also directed.

"Sa Paanan ng Bundok" (1953)- Stars Rogelio de la Rosa, Lilia Dizon, Rosa Aguirre, Jose de Cordova, Maria Norma Mendoza, Jose Cris Soto, Ike Jarlego, Jr./ Directed by Susana C. de Guzman

Sa Paanan ng Bundok tells of Ric (Rogelio de la Rosa), a doctor who finds love in a remote resort when he was asked by a friend to be his best man in the wedding. Ric and Gloria (Lilia Dizon) met accidentally while fishing at the foot of the mountain. They soon fall in love.

However, Lukas (Joseph de Cordova), who is also in love with her, is against of the relationship. Lukas is the son of Gloria’s stepfather. Her mother (Rosa Aguirre) remarries after her father dies. It turns out to be a miserable life for Gloria and family. Lukas is able to succeed in cutting the ties between Ric and Gloria.

Ric, heartbroken, goes back to Manila and continue his medical profession. He met Elvie (Maria Norma Mendoza), the socialite-daughter of a medical director. Ric is very close to the father, from which he is fully grateful for of what he is now. Elvie is suffering from a serious heart ailment and was advised to take it easy. Ric is tasked to take care of Elvie. Elvie thought that Ric is in love with her and not to hamper her health condition Ric decides to pretend that he also likes her, all upon the advice and orchestration of the father. Unexpectedly, both get married.
On the other hand, Gloria, her brother (Ike Jarlego,Jr.) and mother are able to escape from the clutches of Lukas and head towards Manila. They ask Ric for help for temporary shelter. Gloria learns that Ric is now married. Though married, Ric still sees and visits Gloria now and then. When Elvie learns about it, she confronted Gloria. The confrontation can be viewed on the short clip below---

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

Elvie's health deteriorates and dies.
The movie ends with Ric going back to the foot of the mountain where he finally reconciles with Gloria.