Video 48: MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: GERARDO DE LEON, TITO AREVALO, LILIA VIZCONDE, VIRGINIA SALCEDO, ARMANDO CRIS, EDUARDO INFANTE, EDO NAGALI, LALING TALTI IN "AMA AT ANAK" (1939)

From the pen of Simeon P. Arcega, well-known vernacular writer comes one of the most human themes that has been the privilege of Parlatone to offer — its latest drama, "Ama at Anak." A most powerful story, full of emotional scenes actually taken in Bilibid Prison, yet not a prison story— but the tortured drama of "after prison," the life continuously haunted by the years spent "behind the bars." Realistic, fast moving, and most wholesome, "Ama at Anak" is a cinch to please not only fathers and sons, but also mothers and daughters, while it is an essentially sad story, yet the elements of incidental comedy sprinkled all over the picture relieves whatever tension there is.

There is not a slow movement during the picture's entire running time. Dialogue and action are well-balanced with the greater emphasis on the latter. Two prominent stars, Gerardo de Leon and Tito Arevalo at the climax of their brilliant screen careers are portraying the leading roles. Gerardo as director and star exercised much ingenuity and plenty of hard work to make "Ama at Anak" the successful picture that it is. As the first film appearance of Tito Arevalo since his success in "Isang Halik Lamang," Tito as the grown up son definitely establishes a place for himself among the dramatic actors of the Filipino screen.

Parlatone also invested in top talents when it engaged the other leading stars who contributed to the making of "Ama at Anak." Lilia Vizconde who comes back to the screen after an absence of sometime is at her best, and so with Virginia Salcedo. The unequalled Laling Talti and Edo Nagali will again have the crowd roaring with their antics. Armando Cris, Eduardo Infante, Amelita Sol, Moneng Iiagan, Juan Espinosa, Emong Torres, are the able cast playing the supporting roles. The boys, Totoy Hernandez and Eduardo Sanga will captivate the hearts of all. No less than the well known Prof. Julio Eeteban Anguita and the equally famous Maestro Juan Hernandez collaborated in making the music.

(The Tribune, June 22, 1939)