THE SEVENTIES # 321: ROSEMARIE, DANTE RIVERO, HILDA KORONEL IN MARS RAVELO'S "CADENA DE AMOR" (1971)/ A FILM BY LINO BROCKA

Synopsis: Sonya’s (Rosemarie) groom, Rommel, runs away from the altar when the vows are about to be pronounced. She faints when she sees him speed away in his car. She starts to cultivate morbidity and sports a dazed look. She orders a coffin for herself, which is installed in the living room, and tells her servants to cut off the electric lights. Instead, candles are used.

Regidor (Dante Rivero), one of her former suitors, is told of her morose situation by her aunt, Aling Karina. He tries to bring her to her senses by organizing a surprise birthday party for her. She becomes angry when she sees the crowd and turns them away. She also asks Regidor to leave. Regidor decides to enforce a more drastic plan. He enters Sonya’s bedroom and, in a series of freeze-frames, forces himself on her. It does not work and she slaps him. But Sonya is slowly brought back to her senses because of the rape. One day, she wakes up feeling love for Regidor. She calls up his house and finds that he is leaving for abroad. She rushes to the airport but is too late to stop him. 

On that same night, she is informed by Regidor’s mother that his plane has crashed. Sonya weeps profusely. But Regidor survives the crash. His body is washed ashore and is discovered by Arnold Gamboa. He has lost his memory and is cared for by Rossanna (Hilda Koronel), a cripple. He begins to fall in love with her. One day, he stumbles and recovers his memory. He is now faced with a dilemma –whom to marry: Sonia or Rossanna.

(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times) 

"Cadena de Amor" (1971)

Lea Productions

Release Date June 25, 1971

Serialized in Espesyal Komiks

Story Mars Ravelo

Screenplay Mario O'Hara

Cinematography Loreto Isleta

Music Jose Mari Chan

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Rosemarie, Dante Rivero, Hilda Koronel/ Also Starring Mary Walter, Nello nayo, Patricia Mijares and Arnold Gamboa

THE SEVENTIES # 295: GLORIA ROMERO, EDDIE GARCIA, MARISSA DELGADO, RONALDO VALDEZ WITH LORNA TOLENTINO AND ARNOLD GAMBOA IN MARS RAVELO'S "LUMUHA PATI MGA ANGHEL" (1971)

A drunkard (Eddie Garcia) mercilessly beats up his sickly wife and two children. He deserts his family for a two-bit hooker. His wife dies of tuberculosis. He goes back to his house with his girlfriend who is cruel to the children.

The movie won the FAMAS award for best supporting actress for Marissa Delgado and best child performer for Arnold Gamboa.

(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times)

"Lumuha Pati Mga Anghel" (1971)

Lea Productions

Release Date May 21, 1971

Serialized in Bulaklak Magazine

Story Mars Ravelo

Screenplay Mario O' hara

Cinematography Loreto Isleta

Music Doming Valdez

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, Marissa Delgado, Ronaldo Valdez/ Also Starring Lorna Tolentino, Arnold Gamboa and Henry Duval (in a cameo role)/ Co-starring Mary Walter, Veronica Palileo, Patricia Mijares, Tita de Villa, Feliza Salcedo, Angie Ferro, Carpi Asturias, Edwin O'Hara, Joe Galvez, Dante Balawes

THE SEVENTIES # 269: TIRSO CRUZ III AND HILDA KORONEL, WITH EDDIE GARCIA, TITA MUÑOZ AND CHICHAY IN LINO BROCKA'S "NOW!" (1971)

Teenagers, Tirso and Hilda, sing to each other at the University of the Philippines. He belongs to a gang whose unruly behavior she objects to. He has been forbidden by his politician father to associate with them. But before he could cut off his ties, the gang kills Hilda’s brother in a rumble. Despite his entreaties, Hilda blames him for her brother’s death. The lovers break up. Tirso helps in the arrest of the gang. The misunderstanding is cleared. The lovers are reunited and once again sing their song of love. (Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times)

"Now" (1971)
Lea Productions
Release Date April 10, 1971
Cinematography Loreto Isleta
Choreography Bonnie Weinstein Calagopi
Lyrics Rolando A. Carbonell
Music Danny Subido
Story, Screenplay and Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Tirso Cruz III and Hilda Koronel/ Also Starring Eddie Garcia, Tita Muñoz and Chichay/ Co-starring Angie Ferro, Ariosto Reyes, Jr., Joey Avelino, Dindo Cruz

THE SEVENTIES # 211: LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, HILDA KORONEL, JAY ILAGAN AND EDDIE GARCIA IN LINO BROCKA'S "TUBOG SA GINTO" (1970)/ Re-posting

"Tubog sa Ginto" (1970)

Lea Productions

Release Date December 25, 1970/ Dalisay

Story Mars Ravelo

Cinematography Steve Perez

Music Doming Valdez

Screenplay and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Hilda Koronel, Jay Ilagan and Eddie Garcia/ Also Starring Luis Gonzales, Marissa Delgado, Mario O'Hara, Veronica Palileo

Tubog sa Ginto is a serialized komiks novel written by Mars Ravelo and was adapted into film by Lea Productions in 1971. Director Lino Brocka’s third movie and Eddie Garcia’s award-winning and favorite film, “Tubog sa Ginto,” tackles a very sensitive and controversial theme on homosexuality.


It tells of Don Benito (Eddie Garcia), a millionaire, who is married to Doña Emma (Lolita Rodriguez) and has a son named Santi (Jay Ilagan). Unknown to his family, Don Benito is a closet homosexual and was having a secret affair with his driver, Diego (Mario O’Hara). Don Benito tries very hard to conceal his true identity until Diego decides to blackmail him. He gives in to all of Diego’s demands until he gets fed up and eventually kills him. Before the horrifying eyes of his family, Don Benito turns the gun on himself.

Lolita Rodriguez plays mother to Jay Ilagan

Eddie Garcia plays a homosexual with a scheming lover Mario O'Hara

THE SEVENTIES # 155: FERNANDO POE, JR., BOOTS ANSON-ROA, HILDA KORONEL AND DANTE RIVERO, WITH JAY ILAGAN, CARIDAD SANCHEZ, MARY WALTER, RUBEN RUSTA IN LINO BROCKA'S "SANTIAGO!" (1970)

A guerrilla (Fernando Poe, Jr.) inadvertently bombs a schoolhouse in which the Japanese garrisoned over a hundred civilians. He becomes conscience-stricken when he finds out and defects from the army. He languishes in a neighboring town and is branded a coward. (Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times)

"Santiago!" (1970)

Lea Productions

Release Date November 13, 1970/ Life

Cinematography Conrado Baltazar

Music Doming Valdez

Screenplay and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Fernando Poe, Jr., Boots Anson-Roa, Hilda Koronel and Dante Rivero/ Also Starring Jay Ilagan, Caridad Sanchez, Mildred Ortega, Mary Walter, Ruben Rustia, Joonee Gamboa, Angie Ferro, Lorli Villanueva and the SOS Daredevils/ Featuring Mario O'Hara and Mildred Ortega (in a cameo role)

THE SEVENTIES # 119: CHIQUITO, MAMIE VAN DOREN, GORDON MITCHELL, MARIELA BRANGER AND BERNARD BONNIN IN "ARIZONA KID" (1970)/RE-UPLOADED

"Arizona Kid" (1970)
Premiere Productions, Inc.
Release Date September 5, 1970/ Avenue
Screenplay Lino Brocka
Cinematography Felipe Sacdalan
Music Restie Umali
Producer Cirio H. Santiago
Direction Luciano B. Carlos
Cast Chiquito, Mamie Van Doren, Gordon Mitchell, Mariela Branger and Bernard Bonnin

Ambo (played by Chiquito), the unlikely hero, was on his way to a remote town in Mexico to look for his long, lost uncle. His journey took him in a small Mexican town being terrorized by a group of ruthless gunslingers headed by Cayote (Gordon Mitchell).

Ambo was hired as a cook-waiter in one of the taverns. Things get rough for Ambo when he messed up with some of Cayote's men resulting to the killing of the tavern's owner.

Arizona Kid, tapped by the townspeople to protect them, arrived and killed the men responsible, but was later slain in a separate encounter.

The sudden death of the Arizona Kid, forced Ambo to assume the dead man's identity. Reluctantly, Ambo agreed with the help of a sexy, blonde dame (Mamie Van Doren) who seduced him.

Ambo met Cayote in an uproarious final gun duel.

Chiquito had several funny and memorable comic moments in the movie especially with Hollywood bombshell, Mamie Van Doren.

Screenplay by Lino Brocka...



Chiquito as Ambo...



A funny scene in a stagecoach ride to Mexico...



Ambo as a cook and waiter...



Ambo and Ramona (Mariela Branger)



Bernard Bonnin as Leonardo...



Chiquito with his love interest, Mamie Van Doren



Mamie out to seduce Ambo... asking him to act as Arizona Kid...



Ambo and Mamie in a torrid, kissing scene...



Ambo, flabbergasted of what happened...



Chiquito and Mamie Van Doren



Gordon Mitchell as Cayote... calls out Arizona Kid to come out...



Ambo was terrified...



Cayote with the prepared coffin...



Cayote out to finish Ambo...



The final hilarious duel...



The victory...

THE SEVENTIES # 87: DANTE RIVERO, BOOTS ANSON-ROA AND LIZA LORENA, WITH CARIDAD SANCHEZ, MARY WALTER, ETANG DISCHER IN LINO BROCKA'S "WANTED: PERFECT MOTHER" (1970)

"Wanted: Perfect Mother" (1970)
Lea Productions
Manila Film Festival Entry
Release Date June 14, 1970/ Ideal
Serialized in Pilipino Komiks
Story Mars Ravelo
Cinematography Conrado Baltazar
Music D'Amarillo
Original Song Numbers Danny Subido
Screenplay And Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Dante Rivero, Boots Anson-Roa and Liza Lorena/ Also Starring Caridad Sanchez, Mary Walter, Etang Discher, Eddie Mercado, Rebecca Domingo/ The children- Gina Alajar, Ariosto Reyes, Jr., Arnold Gamboa and introducing Snooky

Based on the novel by Mars Ravelo and serialized in Pilipino Komiks, Wanted: Perfect Mother is described as " light, heartwarming dramatic story for wholesome family entertainment." It tells of a couple, Dante (Dante Rivero) and Elsa (Liza Lorena) who hires a new governess, Carla (Boots Anson-Roa) to care for their four children (Gina Alajar, Ariosto Reyes, Jr., Arnold Gamboa and 4-year old Snooky, who was introduced here) . The governess quickly establishes rapport with the children--- and the husband--- creating rumors of an affair. Before things could go wrong, Carla decides to leave. Elsa dies in a car accident and the widower decides to marry again and getting a new mother to his children. Carla is the popular one among several choices, but the head servant (Caridad Sanchez) poisons the minds of the children against her. 

Lino Brocka's directorial debut---

Caridad Sanchez played nanny to the four children (l-r) Arnold Gamboa, Snooky, Gina Alajar and Ariosto Reyes, Jr.

FILMMAKER LINO BROCKA LISTED IN "501 MOVIE DIRECTORS" BOOK

Filmmaker Lino Brocka was listed and cited in a book, titled “501 Movie Directors,” a comprehensive guide to the greatest filmmakers.

Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
A copy of this valuable book is destined to find its way into the home of every true movie fan, cinema scholar, and film critic. It's a chronological compendium that profiles the 501 most important film directors of all time. Entries--augmented with a photo of each director plus movie stills from his or her films--describe such major figures as Sergei Eisenstein, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Fritz Lang, Leni Riefenstahl, Orson Welles, Federico Fellini, Steven Spielberg, Robert Altman, and many, many others. Written by an expert team of film critics and historians, this book was compiled under the direction of editor Steven J. Schneider, who's 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die has sold a half-million copies worldwide to date. Readers will learn--


Why D. W. Griffith is called the father of filmmaking
The details surrounding Martin Scorsese's fascination with New York
The truth about Alfred Hitchcock's stunning blondes . . . and much more

All filmmakers receive at least a one-page entry, which includes discussion of their work and influences, their complete filmography, and listing of awards they have received. Seventy-five directors of special importance are profiled in larger entries--two-page spreads--while 15 internationally acknowledged master directors are discussed and examined in two double-page spreads. Here is a comprehensive survey of the creative imaginations behind more than a hundred years of filmmaking. It's a wonderful book for browsing, for reference, and for gaining insights into the personalities who directed the most memorable movies ever made.

LINO BROCKA'S "ORAPRONOBIS" LASER DISC

Produced during the Aquino administration, Lino Brocka's Orapronobis was banned for commercial exhibition because of its anti-militarization theme, but was previewed at the UP Film Center. Manuel Morato, then chairman of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), banned the release of this film due to the harsh violence that was portrayed and the explicit message expressed by the director regarding the sensitive issues of the film. Several institutions, especially the military and the government, were targeted by the theme of the movie. (source: wikipilipinas)

The movie never came out in original home video, whether in beta or VHS format. However, it was released in Laser Disc format in the early 90s under the title "Fight for Us."

Product Description: The place: the Philippines. The time: the uncertain aftermath of a bloody revolution to overthrow a corrupt dictatorship. But now the shattered nation faces a new, more insidious threat: the ruthless death squads of the Orapronobis - a violent and depraved cult of political vigilantes bent on total control of the country. Emerging from prison to challenge this new order is Jimmy Cordero, a priest and social activist jailed under the old regime. Soon, Cordero is caught up in a web of political treachery, barbaric torture and inhuman brutality that leaves his young son murdered and mutilated his lover, raped and left for dead. In the tradition of such political thrillers as "Missing," “Under Fire," and “Salvador” and based on true incidents, “Fight For Us" is a dramatic ride into explosive political turmoil and heart-stopping heroism.

In 1985, in the remote town of Dolores, the Orapronobis, a group of anti-communist vigilantes under the leadership of Kumander Kontra (Bembol Roco), executed a foreign priest who gave the last rites to an alleged rebel, who was also killed by the same group. At the success of the 1986 EDSA revolt, political detainees, led by Jimmy Cordero (Philip Salvador), celebrate the fall of the dictatorship. All political prisoners were released, including Jimmy, an ex-priest-turned-underground revolutionary. Not long after, Jimmy married a human rights activist, Trixie (Dina Bonnevie). He became an advocate of human rights. Despite Trixie’s protests, Jimmy and Trixie’s brother, Roland (William Lorenzo) went with a fact-finding mission to Dolores to investigate the latest crime committed by the Orapronobis. Jimmy met Esper (Gina Alajar), his ex-girlfriend. He found out that he had a son with her, Camilo (RR Herrera). They agreed to keep Jimmy’s true identity a secret from the boy. Conniving with the military, the Orapronobis step up their acts of terrorism.

Jimmy’s group was forced to evacuate the townspeople to the town church, then later to Manila. Back in Manila, Jimmy turned down a friend’s invitation to rejoin the underground movement. Later, he and Roland were ambushed. Jimmy survived, but not Roland. He recovered and shortly after that, Trixie gave birth to their child. Soldiers raided the refugee center with a masked man who identified several of the barrio folk as rebels. The refugees and the human rights activists complained to the government. Esper and her son were abducted by the Orapronobis who accused Esper of helping the rebels. She was raped and beaten up by Kumander Kontra in front of Camilo. Fighting back, she shot at Kontra. In a hysterical rage, Kontra went on a shooting rampage, killing Esper, Camilo and the captured barrio men. Later, the military brought the casualties to the town plaza where Jimmy wept over the bodies of Esper and his son. The film ends with Jimmy contacting his old colleague from the underground. (Source: IMDB)