MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: PARALUMAN, FERNANDO POE IN "PUTING DAMBANA" (1941)

"The mend broke hearts... but their own hearts are broken... They save people from sickness and disasters, but they can not save themselves from unhappiness... This is the inside story of the women and men in white who make the world happy at the expense of their own welfare!" says the ad in this 1941 drama, "Puting Dambana," a sequel to "Bayani ng Buhay."

The movie, directed by Eduardo de Castro, starred Paraluman and Fernando Poe. It was released and shown at Dalisay theater, November 28, 1941, and a week after, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. 

"Puting Dambana" (1941)

X'Otic Films, Inc.

Release Date November 28, 1941/ Dalisay

Direction Eduardo de Castro

Cast Paraluman, Fernando Poe

(Image, courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor, no movie ad available)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ESTER MAGALONA, FRED CORTES, DEANNA PRIETO, WITH GREGORIO TICMAN, PRECIOSO PALMA, AMELITA SOL, CECILIO JOAQUIN, FERNANDO ROYO, ARMANDO VILLA, VICENTE OCAMPO, FIDEL DE CASTRO, CRESENCIA (DIMPLES) ALIGADA (1941)/ UPDATED

"Ikaw Pala" (1941)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: November 21- 27 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.
Story Jovita Martinez Memije

Director Lamberto V. Avellana
Cast Ester Magalona, Fred Cortes, Deanna Prieto, Gregorio Ticman, Precioso Palma, Amelita Sol, Cecilio Joaquin, Fernando Royo, Armando Villa, Vicente Ocampo, Fidel de Castro, Cresencia (Dimples) Aligada

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CORAZON NOBLE, ELY RAMOS IN "BALATKAYO" (1941)

"Balatkayo" (1941)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date November 14, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Cast Corazon Noble, Ely Ramos

(Image, from internet source, 

no movie ad available)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: MILA DEL SOL, FRED CORTES, ESTER MAGALONA, VICENTE OLIVER, DEANNA PRIETO, BEN RUBIO, WITH CECILIO JOAQUIN, MIGUEL ANZURES, ROSARIO LAM, CANUPLIN, REGIO VILLA, JUAN RODRIGUEZ IN "IBONG ADARNA" (1941)/ UPDATED

LVN Pictures. Inc. contributes an important chapter to the well-nigh unimpressive history of the Philippine movies with the production of its third anniversary picture "Ibong Adarna", which is scheduled to open today at the Dalisay theatre. Adapted from that popular Tagalog legend of the same title, "Ibong Adarna", filmed in varicolor, is the most extraordinary picture to date ever produced in the Philippines.

Mila del Sol, Fred Cortes, Ester Magalona, Vicente Oliver, Deanna Prieto and Ben Rubio compose the stellar cast, supported by Cecilio Joaquin, Rosario Lam, Canuplin, Juan Rodriguez, Regio Villa and thousands of extras. Vicente Salumbides who undertook the three-sided task adapting the story on the screen, writing the screen play and directing the production fully justifies his great ability as a showman. Manuel Conde shares good mention in the technical staff for his part as technical supervisor.

"Ibong Adarna" is fantastic as well as spectacular. As much it is a film novelty of the highest order, which will appeal to both young and old and even to the most fastidious moviegoer.

The story deals with three brother-princes who set out to look for the magic bird, which according to the wise men, will prove the only remedy to their ailing father. Romance, dramatic intrigue, wonderful acts, glorious music, specially composed for the picture by Francisco Buencamino Sr. and Jr., mass scenes featuring thousands of extras, aside from the many spectacular and fantastic details, highlight this ambitious LVN production. It can well be adjudged a screen masterpiece, but most of all it gives the Filipino motion picture business a good top toward modern film technique.

LVN Pictures, Inc., sticking to its policy of giving the movie public the best kind of screen entertainment possible, did not toil for over six months and spend enormous sum of money in producing "Ibong Adarna" for nothing. So you'll see and maybe you'll say "I thought such a thing couldn’t happen here".  (The Tribune, October 17, 1941)

For the first time in 1941 color was introduced in local cinema via Ibong Adarna produced by LVN Pictures. The process, however, did not use actual color film negative; the colors were hand-painted, frame-by-frame, on certain scenes to depict an enchanted bird in all its rainbow glory.

"Ibong Adarna" (1941)
LVN Pictures
Release Date: October 17-28, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Music Francisco Buencamino Sr. and Jr.

Technical Supervision Manuel Conde
Director Vicente Salumbides)
Cast Mila del Sol, Fred Cortes, Ester Magalona, Vicente Oliver, Deanna Prieto, Ben Rubio, with Cecilio Joaquin, Miguel Anzures, Rosario Kam, Canuplin, Regio Villa, Juan Rodriguez and a thousand others

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSA DEL ROSARIO, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, WITH SYLVIA ROSALES, BEN RUBIO, FERNANDO ROYO, ANGELITA (RHUMBA) REY, JOSE CRIS SOTO AND PUGO & TOGO IN "ANG MAESTRA" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Ang Maestra" (1941)

RDR Productions

Release Date October 15, 1941/Life Theater

Story Rogelio de la Rosa

Music Conrado Conde and Tito Arevalo

Direction Gerardo de Leon

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Rogelio de la Rosa, with Sylvia Rosales, Ben Rubio, Fernando Royo, Angelita (Rhumba) Rey/ Featuring Jose Cris Soto, Pugo and Togo

What gimmick did the producer of RDR Productions’ "Ang Maestra" (1941) resort to in order to promote the movie?

Matinee idol Rogelio de la Rosa, who was both the male lead star and producer of the movie, wrote a personal letter to schoolteachers all over the country exhorting them to promote the movie not only to their students but likewise to their students’ families and neighbors as well. On a nationwide scale, that would mean millions of potential filmgoers. No wonder "Ang Maestra" became one of the most successful films of the prewar period, not only in terms of box-office but likewise from a critical standpoint too. (Amadis Ma.Guerrero)
(Source: A Movie Album Quizbook by Jessie B. Garcia)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ARSENIA FRANCISCO, ANGEL ESMERALDA, YOLANDA MARQUEZ, WITH RAQUEL CARO, MARTINA JIMENEZ, BEN RACELIS, MARCELA GARCIA, LEO VIBAR, CITA DELIA, PERFECTA CARPIO, NENITA NAVARRO, CANUPLIN, SOTO AND BAYANI IN "KUNG KITA'Y KAPILING" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Kung Kita'y Kapiling" (1941)

AZ (Acuna/Zaldarriaga) Productions, Inc.
Release Date: October 10-16, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music Constancio De Guzman
Story Susana De Guzman

Director Tor Villano
Cast Arsenia Francisco, Angel Esmeralda, Yolanda Marquez, Raquel Caro, Martina Jimenez, Ben Racelis, Marcela Garcia, Leo Vibar, Cita Delia, Perfecta Carpio, Nenita Navarro, Canuplin, Soto and Bayani

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: FERNANDO POE, PARALUMAN, MONA LISA, AMANDING MONTES, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, MANUEL LAREDO, PATRING CARVAJAL, JOSE TRONI, ARMANDO CRIS, JUANITO LAZAGA, MATTY TORRES, PEDRO FAUSTINO, ENRIQUE H. DAVILA IN "PALARIS" (1941)

"Palaris" (1941)

X'Otic Films, Inc.

Release Date October 2, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

In Charge of Production Eduardo de Castro

Direction Garcia Verches

Cast Fernando Poe, Paraluman, Mona Lisa, Amanding Montes, Salvador Zaragoza, Manuel Laredo, Patring Carvajal, Jose Toni, Armando Cris, Juanito Lazaga, Matty Torres, Pedro Faustino, Enrique H. Davila, "Royal Trio", Monchito, Teresita Quintana, Teody Aliermo, Fausto Garcia

(Image, courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARMEN ROSALES, ROGELIO DELA ROSA, WITH PACITA DEL RIO, TEDDY BENAVIDES, PRECIOSO PALMA, ROSA AGUIRRE, ENGRACIO IBARRA, AMELITA SOL, PACO ZAMORA, PEDRO CRUZ, FRANCO GARCIA, NARCISO LIMSON IN "TAMPUHAN" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Tampuhan" (1941)
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date September 19- October 1, 1941/ Dalisay Theater
Director Lorenzo P. Tuells
Cast Carmen Rosales, Rogelio dela Rosa, Pacita Del Rio, Teddy Benavides, Precioso Palma, Rosa Aguirre, Engracio Ibarra, Amelita Sol, Paco Zamora, Pedro (Tembong) Cruz, Franco Garcia, Narciso Limson

(Image, courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, ROSA DEL ROSARIO, DINA VALLE, FRED CORTES IN "ILANG-ILANG" (1941)

"Ilang-Ilang" (1941)

LVN Pictures

Release Date September 12, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Direction Ramon A. Estella

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Rosa del Rosario, Dina Valle, Fred Cortes

 

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ARSENIA FRANCISCO, RODOLFO RUIZ, PATRICIA MIJARES, WITH VICTOR (BANAHAW) SEVILLA, PEDRO FAUTISNO, JOSE NIETO, ROSARIO LAM, GUILLERMO CARLS, VICENTE OCAMPO, MERCEDES DE GAVINI IN "BABALIK KA RIN" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Babalik Ka Rin" (1941)

Excelsior Pictures, Inc.
Release Date September 6-11, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Story Luis Garchitorena
Music Miguel Velarde, Jr.

Director Octavio Silos

Cast Arsenia Francisco, Rodolfo Ruiz, Patricia Mijares, Victor (Banahaw) Sevilla, Pedro Faustino, Jose Nieto, Rosario Lam, Guillermo Carls, Vicente Ocampo, Mercedes De Gavino

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CORAZON NOBLE, ELY RAMOS, WITH PACITA DEL RIO, TEDDY BENAVIDEZ, CARIDAD GESLER, ROSARIO ONG, ENGRACIO IBARRA, JUANITA ANGELES, JOSE LUZ BERNARDO, TONY ARNALDO, FRANCO GARCIA, NARDO VERCUDIA, LILLIAN LEONARDO IN "SA IYONG KANDUNGAN" (1941)

''Sa Iyong Kandungan" is a delicate and poignant love story of a slick city boy and a lovely barrio belle, portrayed with convincing reality by Corazon Noble. Ely Ramos, as the dashing man-about-town meets Cora in a most unusual way, and falls in love with her. From there on follow sequences after sequences of laughter and comedy, tears and heartbreaks, so deftly blended to give you everything you've longed for by way of screen entertainment

Directed by one of the Islands' leading directors, Guillermo J. Icasiano, "Sa Iyong Kandungan"also presents Teddy Benavides, Pacita del Rio, and Caridad Gesler, a newcomer who before long

will be among the topflight movie actresses in the country.

Filmed against the breaktakingly beautiful landscapes of one of the Philippines' most famous

resorts, Tagaytay, "Sa Iyong Kandungan" is unsurpassed in the splendor of its local color, rustic

atmosphere and magnificent portrayal of provincial life.

Aside from the fact that "Sa Iyong Kandungan" brings Corazon Noble and Ely Ramos together for the first time, this motion picture becomes one of the best ever projected upon the silver sheet because of its scintillating music and its simple but dramatic story, the climax of which will undoubtedly hold you speechless and spellbound.

See "Sa Iyong Kandungan" by all means at the Dalisay Theatre today. It's a photoplay you would want to see over and over again. (The Tribune, August 28, 1941)

"Sa Iyong Kandungan" (1941)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date August 28, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Direction Guillermo Icasiano

Cast Corazon Noble, Ely Ramos, with Pacita del Rio, Teddy Benavidez, Caridad Gesler, Engracio Ibarra, Juanita Angeles, Jose Luz Bernardo, Tony Bernardo,Franco Gracia, Nardo Vercudia, Lillian Leonardo

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LUNINGNING, SERAFIN GARCIA, WITH PATRING CARVAJAL, NENA SERRANO, MARTINA JIMENEZ, JOSE TRONI, MANUEL ELORIAGA, ARMANDO CRIS, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, BAYANI CASIMIRO IN "HALIMAW" (1941)/ UPDATED

 "Halimaw" (1941)

X-Otic Films

Release Date August 19- 27, 1941/ Dalisay 

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Luningning, Serafin Garcia, Patring Carvajal, Nena Serrano, Martina Jimenez, Jose Troni, Manuel Eloriaga, Armando Cris, Salvador Zaragosa, Jose Cris Soto, Bayani Casimiro

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: MILA DEL SOL, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, CARLOS PADILLA, WITH DEANNA PRIETO, FERNANDO ROYO, EXEQUIEL SEGOVIA IN "ARARONG GINTO" (1941)/ UPDATED

Synopsis--- The story is about the adventures of a young ambitious farmer (Leopoldo Salcedo) who hails from the city and migrates to Davao, the land of promise. Pioneering in the South, he meets a rural teacher (Mila del Sol) with whom he falls in love. Things get hot for both of them when the city gangsters invade the Southern homesteads and make all sort of trouble. Things get more complicated when the farmer if framed up as a dummy for Japanese aliens. Everything turns out all right in the end with several spectacular musical numbers and dances. In this connection, the public is advised of the unusual twist in the story--- that of the presentation of the serious message, which Conde alone could execute with such dramatic impact.
(The Tribune, August 8, 1941)

"Ararong Ginto" (1941)

LVN Pictures.
Release Date: August 8-18, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music Juan Silos, Jr.
Screenplay Manuel Conde

Director Manuel Conde
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Mila Del Sol, Carlos Padilla, Deanna Prieto, Fernando Royo, Exequiel Segovia

Source: The Cinema of Manuel Conde by Nicanor Tiongson

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LUCITA GOYENA, FERNANDO POE, SERAFIN GARCIA, MONA LISA, WITH LUPE VELASCO, JOSE TRONI, SONIA REYES, ROSARIO ONG, MANUEL ELORIAGAIN"ANG VIUDA ALEGRE" (1941)

"Ang Viuda Alegre" (1941)

X-otic Films Inc.
Release Date: July 31- August 7, 1941/ Times Theater

Music Franz Lehar
In Charge of Production Eduardo de Castro

Director Enrique H. Davila
Cast Lucita Goyena, Fernando Poe, Serafin Garcia, Mona Lisa, Lupe Velasco, Jose Troni, Sonia Reyes, Rosario Ong, Manuel Eloriaga, R. Centenera, Antonia Santos, S. Zaragosa, Juanito Lazaga

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: NORMA BLANCAFLOR, JOSE PADILLA, JR., ROBERTO ROSALES, WITH BERT LE ROY, PACITA DEL RIO, PRECIOSO PALMA, CIELITO FRANQUELI, ROSARIO LAM, ENGRACIO IBARRA, JUSTINA DAVID, EUSEBIO GOMEZ, DIGNA DE AMOE, ROMY BRION IN "PAGSUYO" (1941)

"Pagsuyo" (1941)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date July 29, 1941/Dalisay Theater

Written and Directed by Salvador P. Osorio and Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Norma Blancaflor, Jose Padilla, Jr., Roberto Rosales, with Bert Le Roy, Pacita del Rio, Precioso Palma, Cielito Franquelli, Rosario Lam, Engracio Ibarra, Justina David, Eusebio Gomez, Digna de Amor, Romy Brion