THE FIFTIES # 289: EFREN REYES, EDNA LUNA, JOHNNY MONTEIRO, CORAZON RIVAS, LAURO DELGADO IN "ESKRIMADOR" (1955): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

Likened to some of Hollywood’s top swordsmen like Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks or even Basil Rathbone, 50s action greats Efren Reyes (Sr.) and Juan ‘Johnny’ Monteiro starred in an action- adventure epic aptly titled Eskrimador. The two popular stars displayed their dashing mantle of swordplay, debonair acrobatics and daring stunts. Their mastery of the sword thrilled their fans and seeing them leaping over parapets, rescuing exotic princess with one hand and effectively foiling the opposition with adept thrusts of the sword.

The movie was based from a komiks serial by Clodualdo del Mundo serialized in Hiwaga Komiks.

"Eskrimador" (1955)

Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date May 30- June 8, 1955/ Life

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Efren Reyes, Edna Luna, Juan Monteiro, Corazon Rivas, Lauro Delgado

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Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ May 1955

Hiwaga Komiks/ 1955

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Komiks materials-
from the private collection of Steve Santos

THE FIFTIES # 272: JUAN MONTEIRO, ARSENIA FRANCISCO, EDUARDO DEL MAR, EDNA LUNA, WITH RAMON D'SALVA, RUBEN RUSTIA, VICENTE LIWANAG, PURITA ALMA, NELLO NAYO, RIC BUSTAMNATE IN "GUERRERO" (1955)/ UPDATED

 "Guerrero" (1955)

Premiere Productions

Release Date March 11-20, 1955/ Life

Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks

Story Cirio H. Santiago

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Juan 'Johnny' Monteiro, Arsenia Francisco, Eduardo 'Eddie' del Mar, Edna Luna, Ramon D' Salva, Ruben Rustia, Vicente Liwanag, Purita Alma, Nello Nayo, Ric Bustamante

THE FIFTIES # 258: EFREN REYES, EDNA LUNA, LOPITO, WITH RAMON D'SALVA, RUBEN RUSTIA, LITO ANZURES, PURITA ALMA IN F.V. COCHING'S "PEDRO PENDUKO" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Pedro Penduko" (1954)

Premiere Productions/ People's Picture

Release Date December 21-30, 1954/ Life

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Gerardo de Leon

Cast Efren Reyes, Edna Luna, Lopito, Ramon D'Salva, Ruben Rustia, Lito Anzures, Purita Alma/ Introducing Nina Morales, Renato Robles

Efren Reyes and Lopito

Efren Reyes and Edna Luna

"Pedro Penduko" ni Francisco v. Coching

(Photos and Komiks- via Cesar Hernando)

THE FIFTIES # 240: EDNA LUNA, JUAN 'JOHNNY' MONTEIRO, CAROL VARGA, VICENTE LIWANAG, NELLO NAYO IN GERARDO DE LEON'S " SI EVA AT SI ADAN" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Si Eva at si Adan" (1954)
Manuel Vistan Productions/ Premiere Productions, Inc.
Release Date October 17- 26, 1954/ Dalisay
Direction Gerardo de Leon
Cast Edna Luna, Juan 'Johnny' Monteiro, Carol Varga, Vicente Liwanag, Nello Nayo

Popular 50s stars Edna Luna and Juan "Johnny" Monteiro (both starred together in "Paladin") changed sex identities in the 1954 Gerardo de Leon's controversial movie, "Si Eva at si Adan." The movie made an uproar when it ran problems and raised a furor with the Board of Censors because of its very hot and sensitive issues on homosexuality. Manong Gerry was way ahead of its time when he tackled such controversial themes and it takes guts on his part to do that. I also can't imagine seeing Johnny Monteiro portraying the role of a gay. Monteiro, known for his breathtaking fencing skills, appeared in countless action and adventure movies pitting him mostly with another popular action star, Efren Reyes.

THE FIFTIES # 212: EDNA LUNA, JUAN 'JOHNNY' MONTEIRO, WITH OSCAR KEESEE, RAMON D' SALVA, LAURO DELGADO, JOSE ROMULO, NELLO NAYO, LUIS FERRER IN "PALADIN" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Paladin" (1954)

Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date June 21-28, 1954/ Dalisay

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Direction Eduardo de Castro

Cast Edna Luna, Juan 'Johnny' Monteiro, Oscar Keese, Ramon D'Salva, Lauro Delgado, Jose Romulo, Nello Nayo/ Introducing Luis Ferrer

THE FIFTIES # 197: JOSE PADILLA, JR., EDNA LUNA, WITH ROSITA NOBLE, LOPITO, AMADO CORTEZ, LETICIA OJERA, CAROL VARGA, LETICIA OJERA, NELLO NAYO, PAQUITO SALCEDO, FELISA ABAD, LITO ANZURES IN "SA KABILA NG BUHAY" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Sa Kabila ng Bukas" (1954)

Premiere Productions

Release Date March 31- April 12, 1954/ Dalisay

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Edna Luna, Rosita Noble, Lopito, Amado Cortez, Leticia Ojera, Carol Varga, Bebong Osorio, Nello Nayo, Paquito Salcedo, Felisa Abad, Lito Anzures, Jose Lapid, Tony Palomer, Tony Osorio, Zeny Zabala, Candido Manahan

THE FIFTIES # 177: JAIME DE LA ROSA, EDNA LUNA, WITH CAROL VARGA, FERNANDO ROYO IN MARS RAVELO'S "DYESEBEL" (1953)/ A FILM BY GERARDO DE LEON/ UPDATED

 "Dyesebel"
Premiere Productions
Release Date July 4- 13, 1953/ Dalisay 

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks
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

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Katapusang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

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Source: Komiks materials from

the collection of Steve Santos

THE FIFTIES # 659: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, EFREN REYES, CESAR RAMIREZ, EDNA LUNA, JOHNNY MONTEIRO, CYNTHIA ZAMORA, BOB SOLER IN "ANG MATAPANG LAMANG" (1959)

"Ang Matapang Lamang" (1959)

People's Pictures, Inc.

Release Date October 17-26, 1959/ Life

Story Cirio H. Santiago

Screenplay Augusto Buenaventura and Bert Duenas

Music Tony Maiquez

Direction Cesar Gallardo

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Efren Reyes, Cesar Ramirez, Edna Luna, Johnny Monteiro, Cynthia Zamora, Bob Soler/ Co-starring Lito Anzures, Max Alvarado, Francisco Cruz, Aida Villegas/ with Bino Garcia, Jesus Lapid, Poleng Mendoza

THE SIXTIES # 207: EDNA LUNA, BERT SILVA, PUGAK & TUGAK, VILMA VALERA, HELEN GAMBOA AND BERTING LABRA AS "HUGO, THE SIDEWALK VENDOR" (1962)

"Hugo, The Sidewalk Vendor" (1962)

Larry Santiago Productions, Inc.

Release Date March 17, 1962/ Center

Based on the character created by Danny Villanueva and Rody Ragodon

Screenplay Mike Caguin

Music Tony Maiquez

Direction Larry Santiago

Cast Edna Luna, Bert Silva, Pugak and Tugak, Vilma Valera, Helen Gamboa and Berting Labra (in the title role)/ Co-starring Paquito Diaz, Johnny de Leon, Fred Panopio, Pabo Zapata, Doro de los Ojos, Billy Viscarra, Flor Bien, Jerry Pons, Romeo San Jose, Zeny Buena, Rory Santiago/ with Arsenio Alonzo, Rafael Jimenez, Francia Ferrer, Jane Palomar, Dadang Ortega, Dely Villanueva, Cleng-Cleng, Rene Gutierrez, Boy Pineda, Joey Joven, Armando Escueta, Pery Punla, Vince Juarez

THE SIXTIES # 162: ZALDY ZSHORNACK, JOSEPH ESTRADA, EDNA LUNA, ROBERT CAMPOS IN "NAG-U-UMPUGANG BATO" (1961)

"Nag-u-umpugang Bato" (1961)

Larry Santiago Productions

Release Date October 4-10. 1061/ Center

Based on Dominador Ad Castillo's Bulaklak novel "Inang Pilipina"

Serialized by Artemio Marquez and Pablo Santiago

Aired over DZXL

Screenplay Tommy David

Music Tito Arevalo

Direction Pablo Santiago

Cast Zaldy Zshornack, Joseph Estrada, Edna Luna, Robert Campos, Anita Linda, Van de Leon, Ben Perez, Vilma Valera, Paquito Diaz/ Featuring Boy Montes, Randy, Tony Montes/ with Francisco Cruz, Ely Nakpil, Arsenio Alonzo, Ponching Adiano, Ponching Alvares, Lota de Guzman, Sandra Santiago, Leni Trinidad, Angie Alegre, Manding Rinio, Fred Ramirez