THE FIFTIES # 62: CARMEN ROSALES, DOMINGO PRINCIPE, WITH FARA LIZARDO, JOSE VILLAFRANCA, ROSA AGUIRRE, ALMA BELLA, TONY MOGUEIS, PACO ZAMORA, RENE ANTONIO IN "HULING KONSIYERTO" (1951)/ UPDATED

"Huling Konsiyerto"
Benito Bros. Pictures
Release Date July 20-29, 1951/ Life
Music Levy Celerio
Story & Direction Don Alcaraz
Cast Carmen Rosales, Domingo Principe, Fara Lizardo, Jose Villafranca, Rosa Aguirre, Alma Bella, Tony Mogueis, Paco Zamora, Rene Antonio

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 158: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, BIMBO DANAO, BEN PEREZ, BEN RUBIO, GIL DE LEON, FERNANDO ROYO, DON DANON, WITH ROSA AGUIRRE, ALMA BELLA IN "SIETE DOLORES (ANG PITONG ANAK)" (1948)

"Siete Dolores (Ang Pitong Anak)" (1948)

Nolasco Bros, Pictures

Release Date February 19- March 21, 1948/ Boulevard

Photography Pedro R. Santos

Sound Tommy R. Santos

Direction Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Bimbo Danao, Ben Perez, Ben Rubio, Gil de Leon, Fernando Royo, Don Danon/ Also Starring Rosa Aguirre, Alma Bella/ Featuring Quiel Segovia/ Introducing Leila Morena

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA, DOMINGO PRINCIPE, PERLA BLANCA, ANGELITA REY, NARDING ANZURES, BILLY VIZCARRA IN "INANG PULOT" (1940)

Billed as the season’s most powerful dramatic offering, “Inang Pulot”—starring Alma Bella, one of the screen’s finest character actresses—takes center stage at the Metropolitan Theater.

The film explores a timeless question: Can one’s past stand in the way of the future? Alma Bella delivers a deeply moving portrayal of a woman with a shadowed past who bravely faces a world of gossip and judgment, striving to rise above her mistakes and escape the haunting memories that threaten her happiness.

Also featured in the stellar cast are Domingo Principe, Perla Blanca, Angelita Rey, Narding Anzures, Billy Vizcarra, and others. Directed by Mauricio Guidote, “Inang Pulot” premiered at the Metropolitan Theater on May 24, 1940.

"Inang Pulot" (1940)

San F.rancisco del Monte Pictures

Release Date May 24, 1940/ Metropolitan Pictures

Direction Mauricio Guidote

Cast Alma Bella, Domingo Principe, Perla Blanca, Angelita Rey, Narding Anzures, Billy Vizcarra and others

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA AND DOMINGO PRINCIPE IN "MGA PUSONG LUMULUHA" (1939)

"Mga Pusong Lumuluha" (1939)

Sinukuan Pictures Corporation

Release Date December 4, 1939/ Metropolitan Theater

Direction Agaton G. Evangelista

Cast Alma Bella and Domingo Principe

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA, RICARDO DE SOTTO, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, CORAZON NOBLE, TOR VILLANO, PEDRO FAUSTINO IN "DUGONG HINUGASAN" (1938)

A realistic picturization of human strife, "Dugong Hinugasan" throbs to the rapid pulsation of blood, grips with the naked claws of life, is at once beautiful and ugly, tender and cruel. It is overflowing with the red stuff of life. In order to bring forth all the dramatic elements in the original Teodoro Virrey novel, Filippine Films studded the production with true and tested stars, foremost among them being Alma Bella, Tor Villano. Salvador Zaragoza and Pedro Faustino. Miss Bella, everybody knows, is next only in dramatic capacity to Rosa del Rosario, and easily superior to all other actresses in the local film firmament. 

Tor Villano, the youngest director in the Philippines who gave you "Ilaw ng Langit" and "Ligaw m Bituin." took time out from his directorial duties and gave it to the moulding and shaping of a character that is destined to be the most talked about even after many years will have passed---that of Enchong, scarred face, righteous, cruel and brave gang leader. Salvador Zaragoza, as Diego the good-for-nothing husband of Miss Bella, adds another leaf to his laurel of remarkable screen characterizations.

The story presents a boy who is stolen from his parents during the cradle days, grows up in the midst of plenty and decency, becomes a judge and then meets his father when the latter, who has been living a life of crime all the time, is tried before him and sentenced to die. 

(The Tribune, June 30, 1938)

"Dugong Hinugasan" (1938)

Filippine Films

Release Date July 7, 1938/ Fox Theater

Story Teodoro Virrey

Direction Cecilio R. Joaquin

Cast Alma Bella, Ricardo de Sotto, Salvador Zaragoza, Corazon Noble, Tor Villano, Pedro Faustino

 

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ALMA BELLA, MARY WALTER, WITH MIGUEL ANZURES, CRAZON NOBLE, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, NARDING ANZURES, MANUEL BARBEYTO IN "ANG BATANG TULISAN" (1938)

Adapted from Liwayway popular serial created by Gregorio Coching, "Ang Batang Tulisan" starred Jose Padilla, Jr., Alma Bella, Mary Walter, Miguel Anzures, Corazon Noble, Salvador Zaragoza, Narding Anzures and Manuel Barbeyto, and with Rod Avlas at the helm.

The movie was released and shown at Fox and Savoy theaters, February 12- 14, 1938, and unfortunately the exhibition was stopped by the Censors but was reshown 8 months later, on October 10, 1938, under a new title, "Binatang Parang."

The movie the turbulent story of Gabriel (Miguel Anzures), a scientist whose life is destroyed after marrying Atang (Mary Walter), a woman entangled in an illicit affair with Mat (Manuel Barbeyto). Betrayed, Gabriel saves Atang’s child, joins outlaws, and vows revenge. Meanwhile, Atang becomes a poison-wielding murderer. Years later, her daughter Oning falls in love with bandit leader Mausig (Narding Anzures). Identities unravel: Mat reappears disguised as a priest, Atang kills him, and then takes her own life to spare Oning shame. The tale ends in redemption, with Gabriel and the bandit queen, and Mausig and Oning, choosing straight lives after the bandits disband.

"Ang Batang Tulisan" (1938)

Filippine Films

Release Date February 12-14, 1938/ Fox and Savoy Theaters

Story Gergorio C. Coching

Direction Rod Avlas

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Alma Bella, Mary Walter, with Miguel Anzures, Corazon Noble, Salvador Zaragoza, Narding Anzures, Manuel Barbeyto

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, WITH NELA ALVAREZ, TAITA SARI, PERLA GARCIA IN "MAGKAPATID" (1937)

"Another contemporary classic in the vernacular comes to the screen with the filming of Jose Esperanza Cruz hit of the year novel "Magkapatid" by Filippine Films, under the same title that has made it so popular all over the Islands.

"Magkapatid," depicting the struggle for happiness of a detested half-sister, dramatically portrayed by its author has been faithfully brought to the screen with all its emotional richness, with an exceptionally strong cast headed by Alma Bella, Rogelio de la Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo, Nela Alvarez, Taita Sari and supported by such well-known feature players as Perla Garcia, Patring Carvajal, Juanita Angeles, Salvador Zaragoza and Manuel Barbeyto." (The Tribune, August 1937)

The movie, directed by Fermin Barva,  was released and shown at Fox Theater, August 9, 1937

"Magkapatid" (1937)

Filippine Films

Release Date August 9, 1937/ Fox Theater

Story Jose Esperanza Cruz

Direction Fermin Barva

Cast Alma Bella, Rogelio de la Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo/ with Nela Alvarez, Taita Sari, Perla Garcia, Patring Carvajal, Juanita Angeles, Salvador Zaragoza, Manuel Barbeyto

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, NELA ALVAREZ, DOMINGO PRINCIPE, FRANCISCO BALLECER, JUANITA ANGELES, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA IN "UMARAW SA HATING-GABI" (1937)

Popular movie star Alma Bella returns to the screen after an absence of several months to play opposite Leopoldo Salcedo in Filippine Films' "Umaraw sa Hating-Gabi." The movie was based from a prize winning novel by Francisco M. Vasquez and was directed by Fermin Barva. It also starred Nela Alvarez, Domingo Principe, Francisco Ballecer,  Juanita Angeles, Salvador Zaragoza.

It was released and shown at Fox Theater, April 27, 1937.

"Umaraw sa Hating-gabi" (1937)

Filippine Films

Release Date April 27, 1937/ Fox Theater

Story Francisco M. Vasquez

Direction Fermin Barva

Cast Alma Bella, Leopoldo Salcedo, Nela Alvarez, Domingo Principe, Francisco Ballecer,  Juanita Angeles, Salvador Zaragoza

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA, JOSE PADILLA, JR., NORMA DEL ROSARIO, RITA RICA, JUANITA ANGELES IN "ANG PAMANA NG PULUBI" (1936)

Filippine Films super production's "Ang Pamana ng Pulubi" gives "an authentic portrayal of the trials and sufferings of orphaned childhood. It is also a replica of the great humanitarian work which doctors and nurses do in their respective communities."

"Alma Bella as Lucy, has lived up to the expectation of her thousands of admirers everywhere in the Islands, in that her part in the movie is true to type in every respect. Special mention must be made of the two Faustino children, Rosauro and Carmen, who played the role of orphans. It is the opinion of all those who have seen them that they give promise of greater achievement in local movies. Director Eduardo de Castro is receiving hundreds of congratulations for his remarkable work in the picture." (The Tribune, February 26, 1936)

"Ang Pamana ng Pulubi" (1936)

Filippine Films

Release Date February 26, 1936/ Lyric Theater

Direction Eduardo de Castro

Cast Alma Bella, Jose Padilla, Jr., Norma del Rosario, Rita Rica, Juanita Angeles

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: EDUARDO DE CASTRO, ROSA DEL ROSARIO, NORMA DEL ROSARIO, ALMA BELLA, PEDRO FAUSTINO, FLORENTINO BALLECER IN "AMA" (1936)

Filippine Films' "Ama," tells the story of a father's love and long suffering for the sake of a son. Based on the Liwayway's prize-winning story by Lazaro Francisco, the movie was "evidently inspired by the widespread dissatisfaction and unrest among tenants and small farmers today as a result of the abuses of big landlords. It centers around Ikong Tasio, whose lands in Puting Lupa are taken away from him through the legal manipulations of Don Panfilo Melendrez, a rich nd haughty 'cacique.' Tasio stays in the place as a tenant and bears with inhuman treatment in order to support his son, Delfin, in college." (The Tribune, June 30, 1936)

The movie, which was directed by Agapito R. Conchu, starred Eduardo de Castro, Rosa del Rosario, Norma del Rosario, Alma Bella, Pedro Faustino, Florentino Ballecer.

It was shown at Lyric Theater, June 30, 1936

"Ama" (1936)

Filippine Films

Release Date June 30, 1936/ Lyric Theater

Story Lazaro Francisco

Direction Agapito R, Conchu

Cast Eduardo de Castro, Rosa del Rosario, Norma del Rosario, Alma Bella, Pedro Faustino, Florentino Ballecer

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ALMA BELLA, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, FLORA VIDAL, MAGGIE CALLOWAY, ANTONIO SERRANO IN "ULONG INASNAN (MYSTERIOUS MUMMY)" (1932)

"A local drama which will make your hair stand on end," says the blurb in this 1932 silent film, "Ulong Inasnan" (Mysterious Mummy).

One of the most popular actresses that time, Miss Alma Bella starred opposite a very young Rogelio de la Rosa.

The movie made its theatrical run at Cine Tivoli, December 2 to 5, 1932.

 

"Ulong Inasnan" (Mysterious Mummy)/ (1932)

Malayan Pictures Corp.

Release Date December 2- 5, 1932/ Tivoli

Cast Alma Bella, Rogelio de la Rosa, Flora Vidal, Maggie Calloway, Antonio Serrano

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: "PUNYAL NA GINTO" (1933): FIRST TAGALOG ALL-TALKIE FILM

Punyal na Ginto, released and shown in 1933, was the first Tagalog sound movie or completely “all talking” photoplay. Produced by Felix Paterno and Francisco Santamaria, under Malayan Pictures Corporation, the movie starred Alma Bella, Tina del Rosario and Carlos Padilla under Jose Nepomuceno direction. Exhibited at the Lyric Theater on the Escolta, this production was made possible with the importation of American technicians and sound camera equipment by two American businessmen and promoters, George F. Harris and Stewart “Eddie” Tait of the Tait Shows carnival fame.

(Source: A Movie Album Quizbook/ Jessie B. Garcia)

"Punyal na Ginto" (1933)
Malayan Pictures Corporation
Release Date: March 9, 1933/ Lyric Theater
Director Jose Nepomuceno
Cast Alma Bella and Carlos Padilla