THE FIFTIES # 124: CELIA FLOR, MARIO MONTENEGRO, ROSA ROSAL, WITH TONY ARNALDO, MARIA CRISTINA, PATSY MATEO, ANITA SERRANO, MINDA MIRANDA IN "CORRECCIONAL" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Correccional" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 10- 19, 1952/ Dalisay

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Story and Direction Susana C, de Guzman

Cast Celia Flor, Mario Montenegro, Rosa Rosal, Tony Arnaldo, Maria Cristina, Patsy Mateo, Anita Serrano, Minda Miranda

Synopsis: The forthcoming wedding of Norma (Celia Flor) and Armando (Mario Montenegro), a young lawyer, was supposed to be a great and wonderful event for the two, but everything went haywire. Perhaps, it was because the bride tried on her bride gown, and that’s bad luck, according to a popular belief.

Salome (Rosa Rosal), Armando’s client, was hosting a birthday party. She is married to Don Julio (Tony Arnaldo), much older than her. However, Salome is in love with Armando, the same way with Don Julio to Norma.

During the party, the scheming Salome slips a pill into Norma’s drink which makes the latter dizzy and unknowingly went into the bedroom to sleep. Don Julio follows her and starts to take advances. Then, enters Salome with Armando in tow into the room and found the two in a scandalous position.

Despite pleas from Norma, Armando calls off the engagement. Salome, on the other hand, demands separation from her husband and monetary settlement. In one of the bitter confrontations between the couple, Salome stabbed and killed Don Julio. Norma, at that time, went to see Don Julio to clear her name, only to find him dead with a letter opener stuck in his body. Salome comes out from behind shouting murder and the two househelps seeing Norma holding the bloody weapon. Evidences point to Norma as the guilty person and is sentenced to a prison term at the Correccional, where her own mother is the Superintendent.

The mother believes firmly in her daughter's innocence, and she wants justice done, so she resigns her position and begins to take steps to vindicate her daughter. The mother confronts Salome, threatens her with a gun if she does not clear out her daughter, but in the scuffle that ensues, the gun goes off killing Norma’s mother. Salome is found guilty of murder and committed at the Correccional. There, she meets Norma.

The hatred between the two flares up into a first class cat-fighting, as a result of which they are placed in solitary confinement. Norma begins to work on the nerves of the guilty Salome by mentioning to her that her husband's soul and the soul of Norma’s mother will haunt her. Salome could no longer stand it and decides to sign a written confession clearing Norma.

The good news spreads out, and Armando who has been making moves to win back Norma for some time, is happy enough to welcome his sweetheart into his arms.

 

Armando (Mario Montenegro) and Norma (Celia Flor) ironing out their forthcoming wedding

Salome (Rosa Rosal), with husband, Don Julio (Tony Arnaldo) welcomes Armando on the former's birthday party

Don Julio confronts the scheming Salome

Norma explains her side to the doubting Armando. The two eventually separated.

Salome stabs Don Julio

but Norma gets the blame

Armando visits Norma at the correccional, later realizing Norma's innocence

Norma's mother feels that her daughter is innocent

The mother confronts and points a gun at Salome, but is overwhelmed and killed

Salome is committed to the correccional...her guilty conscience bombards her no end and eventually clears Norma of the charges.

Norma prays in front of her mother's grave...

.... and forgives Armando

THE FIFTIES # 67: CELIA FLOR, TEODY BELARMINO, WITH ALFONSO CARVAJAL, LILA LUNA, PATSY MATEO, ETANG DISCHER, NENITA VIDAL, BEN MEDINA, NORA LINDA IN "YOLANDA" (1951)/ UPDATED

"Yolanda"
LVN Pictures, Inc.
Release Date July 26, 1951/ Dalisay
Music F. Buencamino Sr. & Jr.
Direction Susana C. de Guzman
Cast Celia Flor, Teody Belarmino, Alfonso Carvajal, Lila Luna, Patsy Mateo, Etang Discher, Nenita Vidal, Ben Medina, Nora Linda

THE FIFTIES # 53: JAIME DE LA ROSA, CELIA FLOR, WTH TONY SANTOS, MILAGROS NAVAL, GERORIO FERNANDEZ, EUSEBIO GOMEZ, EZAR VISENIO, ARMANDO GARCES, MARTIN MARFIL, JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS IN "KONTRABANDO" (1950) / UPDATED

Kontrabando, serialized in the “Bagong Buhay” magazine and adapted into the screen in 1950, tells of a dashing, wily and sleek G-2 spy agent, Lt. Diego (Jaime de la Rosa) who infiltrated a notorious smuggling syndicate dealing with guns, jewelries, drugs (opium) and even alien infiltrators. He gained the confidence of the alleged boss (played by Director Gregorio Fernandez), but some of the gang members doubted him and kept their distance. Equipped with a spy camera attached to his belt buckle, he uncovered and recorded vital information and sent them over to his headquarter. The gang’s operations were gradually exposed, their goods intercepted and the whole gang was eventually dismantled, the last one at Jolo, one of the vital drop-off points of the syndicate. He learned later on that the mastermind turned out be Mr. Chua (Eusebio Gomez), the father of Celia (Celia Flor), the woman he loved.

One of the exciting scenes of the movie can be viewed on the short clip below---

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

"Kontrabando" (1950)

LVN Pictures

Release Date July 25, 1950

Direction Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Jaime dela Rosa, Celia Flor, Tony Santos, Milagros Naval, Gregorio Fernandez, Eusebio Gomez, Ezar Visenio, Armando Garces, Martin Marfil, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Jr./ 

Alien infiltrators being smuggled into the country were been cornered and apprehended by the authorities.

A suspected government spy being questioned by the syndicate.

---A fight scene at the airport tarmac---

Lt. Diego being tortured by the syndicate.

The mastermind, Mr. Chua (Eusebio Gomez) intercepting a call from her daughter Celia (Celia Flor).

(Stills: LVN Pictures)

THE FIFTIES # 18: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, CELIA FLOR, EUSEBIO GOMEZ IN LAMBERTO AVELLANA'S "HANTIK" (1950)/ UPDATED

Excerpts from: “War and Its Aftermath in Philippine Cinema" by Agustin 'Hammy' Sotto---

Philippine cinema depicted the collaborator in the darkest of colors; he is the most despicable and loathsome of villains and deserving his most dastardly fate.

In “Hantik,” a member of the Makapili, the “League of Patriotic Filipinos” organized by the Japanese (the society’s name later became synonymous with traitor), inspects the sacks of rice received as some kind of tax from the townspeople. He exposes the trick played by the starving farmers who mix rice with other substances. He is more vicious than the Japanese and is shot down in the same cruel fashion by the guerrillas.

… Similarly in “Hantik,” Teresa (Celia Flor) befriends the Japanese commander, Colonel Nasimoto (Eusebio Gomez) in order to ask the release of her lover’s father. Her actions are misinterpreted by her lover (Leopoldo Salcedo) and for a time, she is branded as collaborator.

"Hantik"
LVN Pictures
Release Date: March 8- 20, 1950/ Dalisay
Direction Lamberto V. Avellana
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Celia Flor, Eusebio Gomez

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 94: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, CELIA FLOR, WITH TEODY BELARMINO, INDAY JALANDON, NELA ALVAREZ, GREGORIO FERNANDEZ, JOSE CRIS SOTO, OSCAR OBLIGACION, TONY SANTOS, EUSEBIO GOMEZ IN "CAPAS" (1949)/ UPDATED

"Capas"
LVN Pictures
Release Date: June 29/30- July 9, 1949/Life
Music Josefino Cenizal
Story and Screenplay Armando Garces

Music Josefino Cenizal
Direction Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Celia Flor, Teody Belarmino, Inday Jalandoni, Nela Alvarez, Gregorio Fernandez, Jose Cris Soto, Oscar Obligacion, Tony Santos, Eusebio Gomez, Armando Garces, Jose De Villa

Photos, courtesy of Casa Grande

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 90: CELIA FLOR AND ARMANDO GOYENA, WITH ALFONSO CARVAJAL IN "MARIA BELES" (1949)/ UPDATED

"Maria Beles"
LVN Pictures
Release Date April 1-10, 1949/Life

Story and Direction Nemesio Caravana
Cast Celia Flor, Armando Goyena, Alfonso Carvajal

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 111: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, CELIA FLOR, ARMANDO GOYENA, TESSIE QUINTANA IN "SA TOKYO IKINASAL" (1948)

"Sa Tokyo Ikinasal"
LVN Pictures
Release Date: December 20, 1948/ Dalisay
Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Celia Flor, Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 53: ROGELIO DELA ROSA, TONY ARNALDO, ROSA ROSAL AND INTRODUCING CELIA FLOR IN "HAMPAS NG LANGIT" (1948)/ UPDATED

"Hampas ng Langit"
LVN Pictures, Inc.

Release Date August 22- 31, 1948/Dalisay

Story Susana de Guzman, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Nemesio Caravana

Photography Enrique Rosales

Sound July Hidalgo

Assistant Director Juanito Montes
Direction Susana de Guzman

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Tony Arnaldo, Rosa Rosal/ Introducing Celia Flor/ with Merly Fernandez, Priscilla, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Amandita

Rogelio de la Rosa and Celia Flor in "Hampas ng Langit" (1948)

(Photo, courtesy of Casa Grande)

THE FIFTIES # 665: JOSE PADILLA, JR., CELIA FLOR, WITH ALFONSO CARVAJAL, CARLOS SALAZAR IN "MARIA MERCEDES" (1953)

"Maria Mercedes" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 15- 24, 1953/ Dalisay

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Angel Fernandez

Music Maj. Antonio Buenaventura

Direction Nemesio E. Caravana

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Celia Flor/ Also Starring Alfonso Carvajal, Carlos Salazar/ Also Starring Annie Sales, Patsy Mateo, Nora Linda, Minda Miranda, N.E. Caravana, Agnes Rey

THE FIFTIES # 311: CELIA FLOR, MARIO MONTENEGRO, CARMENCITA ABAD IN "PANYOLITONG BUGHAW" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Panyolitong Bughaw" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date September 22- October 1, 1955/ Dalisay

Music S.S. Suarez

Direction Billy Icasiano

Cast Celia Flor, Mario Montenegro, Carmencita Abad, Tessie San Juan, Eusebio Gomez, Ven Medina, Jose Troni, Miguel Lopez, Priscilla Ramirez, Miniong ALvarez, Loida Morales, F. Estacio

THE FIFTIES # 301: DAVID BRIAN, MARSHA HUNT, HUGH CORCORAN AND IKE JARLEGO, JR. IN "NO PLACE TO HIDE" (1955)/ Re-posted

"No Place To Hide" (1955)

LVN Pictures & Lebran-Movietec

Release Date July 28- August 7, 1955/ Lyric and Life

Original Screenplay Norman Corwin

Music Hershel Gilbert

Direction Josef Shaftel

Cast David Briam, Marsha Hunt, Hugh Corcoran, Ike Jarlego, Jr. and Candy( the wonder dog)/ Guest star: Celia Flor/ with Manuel Silos, Eddie Infante, Alfonso Carvajal, Oscar Keese, Pianing Vidal, Jose de Cordova, Vicenta Advincula, Jose Avellana and Lou Salvador

Did you know that Marsha Hunt, a popular American film, theater, and television actress who was blacklisted by Hollywood movie studio executives in the 1950s, appeared in a Filipino-American movie titled, No Place to Hide? Director Josef Shafter & Co. collaborated with LVN Pictures and Lebran-Movietec to come up with a beautiful movie shot entirely in the Philippines. Filipino child star Ike Jarlego, Jr. had a memorable major role in the movie as one of the two boys on the run carrying a deadly gelatine-coated capsules, mistaking them for marbles. These capsules when released would wipe out a whole city.

Controversial Hollywood star Marsha Hunt graced the cover of Literary Song-Movie Magazine in 1955

During the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Marsha Hunt (b.1917) signed a number of petitions promoting liberal ideals. She was also a member of the Committee for the First Amendment. Because of this association her name appeared in the pamphlet Red Channels. And although she and her husband, Robert Presnell, were never called before the House Un-American Activities Commission (HUAC), like Charlie Chaplin, their names were put on the blacklist, and they found it extremely difficult to find work. On October 27, 1947, she flew with a group of about 30 actors, directors, writers, and filmmakers (including John Huston, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Danny Kaye), to Washington D.C. to protest the actions of Congress. When she returned to Hollywood three days later, things had changed. She was asked to denounce her activities if she wanted to find more work, but she refused. For her, the issue here was not Communism, but freedom of speech, privacy of opinion, freedom of advocacy, and freedom of democracy. She did keep working until the publication of Red Channels, but afterwards it became very hard.

She had worked steadily from 1935 until 1949, appearing in fifty-two films. After being blacklisted, she appeared in only three films in the next eight years. In 1957 she started getting more work, appearing in six films the next three years, at which time she semi-retired in 1960. Since then she has appeared only in small roles in five films and numerous television shows, including an episode of the ABC medical drama Breaking Point. (wikipedia)

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ 1955

THE FIFTIES # 246: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND CELIA FLOR IN "TINALIKDANG DAMBANA" (1954)

"Tinalikdang Dambana" (1954)
LVN Pictures
Release Date October 27 to November 5, 1954/ Dalisay
Story A.C. Bagabaldo
Music F. Buencamino Jr.
Direction Billy Icasiano
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Celia Flor, Tony Santos, Jose de Cordova, Oscar Obligacion, Priscilla Ramirez, Ched Bermudez, Baby Zenny, Eduardo Rodriguez, VicenteAdvincula, Antonio Medina, Purita Alba, Francisco Estacio

THE FIFTIES # 214: CELIA FLOR, MARIO MONTENEGRO, PRISCILLA CELLONA IN "PASIYA NG LANGIT" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Pasiya ng Langit" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date June 14- 23, 1954/ Life

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Story and Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Celia Flor, Mario Montenegro, Priscilla Cellona, Ven Medina, Priscilla Ramirez, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Candida Balderrama

THE FIFTIES # 178: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND CELIA FLOR IN AVELLANA'S "LOIDA: ANG AKING PAG-IBIG" (1953)

"Loida: Ang Aking Pag-ibig" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date May 5- 14, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Jaime de la Rosa and Celia Flor

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