MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ANA MARIA, CARLOS PADILLA, LORETA ANDRADA AND AQUILINO TUAZON IN JOSE NEPOMUCENO'S "KAMAY NG DIOS" (1934)

"Kamay ng Dios" (1934)
Release Date March 2- 5, 1934/ Cine Tivoli
Story by Severino Reyes
Produced and Directed by Jose Nepomuceno
Cast Ana Maria, Carlos Padilla, Loreta Andrada and Aquilino Tuazon

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSA DEL ROSARIO, CARLOS PADILLA, NORMA DEL ROSARIO, NATY BERNARDO IN "SA TAWAG NG DIOS" (1934)

"The call of the flesh lured her but instead she heard the call of God", says the blurb in this 1934 movie, "Sa Tawag ng Dios." Then archbishop O'Doherty has this to say, "I believe you have produced a fine, clean picture that will exert aprofound influence upon the people of these Islands. You have done a splendid work in portraying love of God superior to all earthly loves."
Produced by Filippine Films, the movie was written and directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa and starred Rosa del Rosario, Carlos Padilla, Norma del Rosario, Naty Bernardo and others. It was shown in a full crowd at Grand Theater, November 29, 1934..

"Sa Tawag ng Dios" (1934)

Filippine Films

Release Date November 30, 1934/ Grand Theater

Story and Direction Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Carlos Padilla, Norma del Rosario, Naty Bernardo

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: MARY WALTER, CARLOS PADILLA, RITA RICA, PAULA MAURAT, FERMIN BRAVA, PEDRO FAUSTINO, TORCUATO REYES IN "HINAGPIS NG MAGULANG" (1934)

"A gripping mother story with heart-rending pathos and inspiring romance.," says the ad in this 1934 drama, "Hinagpis ng Magulang." Produced by Filippine Films and directed by Octavio Silos, the movie starred Mary Walter, Carlos Padilla, Rita Rica, Paula Maurat, Fermin Barva, Pedro Faustino, Torcuato Reyes. It was shown at Radio Theater, June 30- July 5, 1934.

"Hinagpis ng Magulang" (1934)

Filippine Films

Release Date June 30- July 5, 1934/ Radio Theater

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Mary Walter, Carlos Padilla, Rita Rica, Paula Maurat, Fermin Barva, Pedro Faustino, Torcuato Reyes

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: RITA RICA, NORMA DEL ROSARIO, EDUARDO DE CASTRO, BABY LORING IN "DINUKOT" (1934)

"A heart-stirring story of a kidnapped baby... an epic romance with a might cast..., says the ad in this 1934 12-parts drama, "Dinukot." Produced by Paragon, the movie was directed by James Matthew and starred Rita Rica, Norma del Rosario, Eduardo de Castro, Baby Loring and others. It was shown at Cine Tivoli, April 8- 10, 1934.

"Dinukot" (1934)

Paragon Film

Release Date April 8- 10, 1934

Story and Direction James Matthew

Cast Rita Rica, Norma del Rosario, Eduardo de Castro, Baby Loring

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: EDUARDO DE CASTRO, FAUSTINO MAURAT, NORMA DEL ROSARIO IN "PAG-IIMBOT" (1934)

"What did these eyes see?," says the ad in this 1934 movie, "Pag-Iimbot." Produced by Filippine Films, it starred Eduardo de Castro, Faustino Maurat, Norma del Rosario. The movie was shown at Radio Theater, March 15- 19, 1934.

"Pag-Iimbot" (1934)

Filippine Films

Release Date March 15- 19, 1934/ Radio Theater

Cast Eduardo de Castro, Faustino Maurat, Norma del Rosario

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSA DEL ROSARIO,JOSE PADILLA, JR. IN "MAG-INANG MAHIRAP" (1934)

"A drama mighty as war itself," says the blurb in this 1934 movie, "Mag-inang Mahirap." Produced by Filippine Films, the movie topbilled Rosario del Rosario and upcoming star, Jose Padilla, Jr. It was shown at Grand Theater, January 25- 31, 1934.

"Mag-inang Mahirap" (1934)

Filippine Films

Release Date January 25-31, 1934/ Grand Theater

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Jose Padilla, Jr.

 

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: VICENTE ALBO, LORETA ANDRADA, SOLDAD AQUINO, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA IN "ANG GANID" (1933)

"Ang Ganid"

Release Date December 8- 10, 1933/ Cine Tivoli

Produced and Directed by Jose Nepomuceno

Cast Vicente Albo, Loreta Andrada, Soledad Aquino, Rogelio de la Rosa

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARLOS PADILLA, VICENTA DEL CAMPO AND SALVADOR ZARAGOZA IN "MAGKABILANG MUKHA" (1933)

"Magkabilang Mukha" (1933)

Malayan Production

Release Date October 6- 9, 1933/ Cine Tivoli

Cast Carlos Padilla, Viicenta del Campo, Salvador Zaragoza

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: SOLEDAD AQUINO, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA IN "NAHULING PAGSISISI" (1932)

"Nahuling Pagsisisi" (1932)

Release Date September 9- 11, 1933/ Elite & Prince
Cast Soledad Aquino, Rogelio de la Rosa

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARLOS PADILLA AND ROSITA RIVERA IN JOSE NEPOMUCENO'S "MAKATA AT PARALUMAN" (1933)/ UPDATED

"Here's a picture that's full of thrills...of romance, laughter and tears... full of the promise of a really joyous evening! It is worth more than you pay to see it!" says the ad in this 1933 movie, "Makata at Paraluman (Poet and Maiden)," one of the first 100% talkies in the vernacular.

Produced by Malayan Studio, from the story by Franco Vera Reyes and direction by Jose Nepomuceno, the movie starred Carlos Padilla, Sr. and Rosita Rivera.

"Makata at Paraluman" (1933)

Malayan Studio
Release Date: April 5- 11, 1933

Story Franco Vera Perez

Director Jose Nepomuceno

Cast Carlos Padilla and Rosita Rivera

On August 3, 1929, Radio Theater presented the first talkie: Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanian Syncopation. However, this was achieved by merely synchronizing phonograph records with the film. The audience complained that the sound was faint and muffled in parts. The real sound film, however, was not long in coming. On October 12, 1929, Leon Britton, a British engineer, arrived in Manila with 35 cases of equipment and 35,000 feet of film. The next day, he presented a program of optically recorded sound films at the Lyric Theater: Rainbow Man, Steamboat Bill, The Marionettes at the Opera and A Trip to the London Zoo. Immediately after, a talkie fever swept Manila.

In order to compete with the foreign sound films, Filipino silents were dubbed live by stage actors and advertised as talkies.

Sound equipment was prohibitive by Filipino standards: it would take a few more years to import and master the technology. Despite these limitations, however, Filipino cinema took off and became the country’s most popular entertainment.

On March 4, 1930, Carlos Vander Tolosa presented his first film, Collegian Love. It is the first Filipino film to be synchronized with phonograph records. This proved to be immensely popular. By then, the competition to produce the first optically recorded talkie was underway.

Two years after Tolosa’s film, filmmakers were still grappling with the new technology. Jose Nepomuceno advertised his film, Sa Pinto ng Langit/At Heaven’s Gate, as the first talkie, but this turned out to be a false claim. A visiting Hollywood director, Arthur Thompson, announced he was shooting a sound film with Virginia Spencer, a cousin of Hollywood star Belle Bennett. A Filipino-American, Jessie Matthews, who worked with Cecile B. De Mille in Hollywood, set up Paragon Pictures. However, he only got to finish his first film, Dinukot/Kidnapped, a silent, in 1934.

The first film made in the Philippines to feature optically recorded sound was George Musser’s Ang Aswang/Vampire. In 1932, Musser imported php 50,000 worth of optical sound equipment and turned his house into a studio. He spent a year shooting the film with Charles Miller as his cinematographer and William Smith as his soundman. Despite its Tagalog title, the film was actually recorded in Spanish and English. The film opened to acclaim at the Lyric on January 1, 1933. Unfortunately, according to some observers, the sound was sometimes out of sync and inaudible.

Also in 1933, Leon Britton returned to Manila to shoot a talkie, Children of the Philippines.

In 1933, two Americans, George Harris and Eddie Tait, embarked on a plan to make Manila the film capital of Asia. Using Manila as their base, they envisioned the production of films not only for the Philippines but also for Indonesia, Malaya and China. The initial venture, a partnership with Jose Nepomuceno, was to attach a soundtrack to Nepomuceno’s half-finished film, Punyal na Ginto/The Golden Dagger. This was followed by 100 percent talkies in the vernacular: Makata at Paraluman/Poet and Maiden and Dr. Kuba/Dr. Hunchback.

(Source: The URIAN Anthology/ 1990-1999)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: DON DANON, ROSA DEL ROSARIO IN JOSE NEPOMUCENO'S "DOCTOR KUBA" (1933)

Based from the story by Fausto J. Galauran, "Doctor Kuba," a mystery-thriller, was released in 1933 as one of the first 100% talkies in the vernacular. Produced under Jose Nepomuceno Production, the movie starred Don Danon and Rosa del Rosario. It made its theatrical run at Cine Tivoli, June 9- 13, 1933.

"Doctor Kuba" (1933)

Jose Nepomuceno Production

Release Date June 9- 13, 1933/ Cine Tivoli

Story Fausto J. Galauran

Cast Don Danon, Rosa del Rosario

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ADOR DEL MAR, HELEN FAUCET, BEN DE LUNA, ROSALINA LEANO IN "THE PENDULUM OF FATE" (1933)

The date- March 17, 1933---
"March 17th will be a red letter day for moviegoers and fans when "The Pendulum of Fate" makes its first appearance in the Tivoli. It is the premier production of the first woman director, Brigida Perez Villanueva, and its realization constitutes one of the milestones in local filmdom. It will also be the first local production made according to the fastidious standards of Hollywood..."

"The Pendulum of Fate" (1933)

Release Date March 17, 1933/ Cine Tivoli

Story, Produced and Directed by Brigida Perez Villanueva

Cast Ador del Mar, Helen Faucet, Ben de Luna, Rosalina Leano

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: EDUARDO DE CASTRO, RITA RICA, SALVADOR ZARAGOSA, DOLLY GARCIA, LINDA NELLY, FAUSTINO MAURAT IN "ANG BATAS NA GINTO" (1933)

The date- January 20, 1933---

The movie, "Ang Batas na Ginto" is the second and final episode of the much acclaimed picture, "Sa Labi ng Lumang Libingan." The question, "Who killed Don Cesar Altiveros? left unanswered that lingered in the minds of hundreds of movie fans who have seen the first episode, a picture that is totally wrapped with inexplicable mystery. This question has to be solved if not is to unveil the mystery of the outrageous murder committed by an unknown criminal.

The management of Imperial Theater will offer several costly prizes to all who can disclose the identity of the real author of the crime. The murdered man has written with his own hand on his handkerchief the name of the murderer, but the real truth is hidden.

The movie, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, starred Eduardo de Castro, Rita Rica, Salvador Zaragosa, Dolly Garcia, Linda Nelly, Faustino Maurat, Aurora Flores, Fausto Zaragosa, Jesus Llorente, Ramon Monroy, Pedro Putya.

"Ang Batas na Ginto" (1933)

Banahaw Pictures Corporation

Release Date January 20- 22, 1933/ Imperial Theater

Story by Donato Espinosa

Photographed by Mr. Domingo

Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Eduardo de Castro, Rita Rica, Salvador Zaragosa, Dolly Garcia, Linda Nelly, Faustino Maurat, Aurora Flores, Fausto Zaragosa, Jesus Llorente, Ramon Monroy, Pedro Putya.

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CELIA XEREZ BURGOS, LUIS AYESA, ARTURO SWANSON, MATIAS GARCIA, MONSERRAT GARCIA IN "ANG ASWANG" (1933)/ THE FIRST FILIPINO-SPANISH ALL TALKING PICTURE PRODUCED IN THE PHILIPPINES

The movie, "Ang Aswang," the first Filipino talking picture makes debut today at Lyric Theater.

The opening of "Ang Aswang" at the Lyric theater today marks a new era in the production of motion pictures in the Philippine Islands. The first all talking picture to be produced in these islands should command the attention and support of all citizens interested in the furtherance of native industry. George P. Musser, producer and director does not claim "Ang Aswang" to be flawless, but it is a big step that should have far reaching effects in the years to come and with this in mind the management of the Lyric theater presents its premier with pleasure. 

(The Tribune, January 1, 1933)

The movie, produced and directed by George P. Musser, starred Celia Xerez Burgos, Luis Ayesa, Matias Carcia, Arturo Swanson, Monserrat Garcia. 

"Ang Aswang" (1933)

Manila Talkatone, Inc.

Release Date January 1, 1933/Lyric

Produced and Directed by George P. Musser

Cast Celia Xerez Burgos, Luis Ayesa, Arturo Swanson, Matias Garcia

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: "ANG MAGPAPAWID" (1932)

"Ang Magpapawid" (1932)

Banahaw Pictures Corporation

Release Date November 4- 10, 1932/ Imperial Theater

A Prize Story Winner of The Liwayway Weekly

Story by Teodoro Virrey

Photographed by Augusto Silos and Cesar Silos

Directed by Atty. Agapito Conchu

All-Star Cast