The news that will thrill thousands of local movie fans all over the islands is the release of “Binatang Bukid,” Parlatone's musical super production, which had its gala opening last night at the newly remodeled Fox Theatre. The picture marks Angel Esmeralda's newest and latest. Once again, Angel proves that he is the idol of local moviedom. On no occasion was a theatre so stormed by movie fans as was the Fox Theatre last night. People actually fought their way in. And the crowd in the lobby never thinned, waiting for even a glimpse of the star and the entire principal cast who made a thrilling personal appearance after the show.
Fans will remember the romance of "Nasaan Ka Irog," the drama of "Ang Pagbabalik," the beauty of "Milagro ng Nazareno," the comedy of "Ruben." All these, and more, they will find embodied tenfold in Mar. I. Esmeralda's picturization of the greatest of his zarzuelas, “Binatang Bukid.” For the first time in his career Angel Esmeralda plays a dual role, that of a country boy and that of a city heir. As the former he finds himself mistaken for the latter, from which error arise all sorts of complications and no end of fun. To make matters worse, the gardener, the maid, and the cook of "Ruben" enlist themselves as his guardians in the city. The results are nothing short of hilarious. Together, they make the picture a laugh riot from beginning to end.
All Angel's fans will agree that their idol practically steals the show in spite of superlative competition from a brilliant cast. In his previous roles, that in "Ang Pagbabalik" in particular, he showed what he can do with drama. That comedy, too, was well within his reach he showed in "Ruben." In “Binatang Bukid,” he proves that he is master at both. The picture is principally a comedy. However, there is one instance — a scene which flashes off almost in the wink of an eye- where the boy portrays drama in all its depth and power. The very air is tense for one long minute...In an exactly opposite characterization ,as the country lad ignorant of all city ways, half lost in the midst of city intricacies, he is just as utterly, deliciously perfect. It is in this latter role that he practically steals the picture. For never has Angel been more natural, never more appealing, never greater than as the naive — not stupid, just delightfully ignorant — binatang bukid. Most emphatically, with this picture, he proves that all the adulation showered on him by young and old, by men and women from all walks of life, is not undeserved.
Two of Parlatone's loveliest play opposite him in the picture, the gorgeous Purita Sta. Maria, who grows more and more beautiful in each close-up, it seems, and a lovely newcomer, Estela Mari of whom there will be many inquiries after this picture. They play the "dalagang bayan" and the "dalagang bukid," respectively, and just as Puring is daring, rich — in looks as well as in manner, spoiled, and very enchanting, so is Estela sweet, unspoiled, shy, and very lovable. Gregorio Ticman and Gerardo de Leon present a splendid pair of fathers.
(The Tribune, August 28, 1938)
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