THE FIFTIES # 282: JAIME DE LA ROSA, NIDA BLANCA, NITA JAVIER, TONY SANTOS, ALFONSO CARVAJAL, WITH JOSE DE CORDOVA, OSCAR OBLIGACION IN "SAYDWOK BENDOR" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Saydwok Bendor" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 15- 24, 1955/ Dalisay

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Lamberto Avellana

Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Nida Blanca, Nita Javier, Manuel 'Sano' Silos, Alfonso Carvajal, Tony Santos, Jose de Cordova, Oscar Obligacion, Priscilla Ramirez, Pamboy

NIDA BLANCA

LVN Pictures' "Saydwok Bendor" (1955)

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ March 1955

THE FIFTIES # 281: PANCHO MAGALONA, RAMON REVILLA, MYRNA DELGADO, LOLITA RODRIGUEZ IN "S DULO NG LANDAS" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Sa Dulo ng Landas" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date April 25- May 4, 1955/ Dalisay

Music Nestor Robles

Direction Armando Garces

Cast Pancho Magalona, Ramon Revilla, Myrna Delgado, Lolita Rodriguez, Panchito Alba, Marcela Garcia, Horacio Morelos, Herminia Carranza, Apolonia Aguilar, Elena Adorable, Clara Yumul

THE FIFTIES # 280: JOSE PADILLA, JR., OLIVIA CENIZAL, CORAZON RIVAS, JOSE ROMULO, LOPITO IN " HA CHA CHA" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Ha Cha Cha" (1955)

Premiere Productions, Inc/ People's Picture

Release Date April 20-29, 1955/ Life

Story and Direction Nemesio E. Caravana

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Olivia Cenizal, Corazon Rivas, Jose Romulo, Lopito, Abraham Cruz

THE FIFTIES # 279: ARMANDO GOYENA, ROSA ROSAL, CARMENCITA ABAD, NENITA VIDAL, IKE JARLEGO, JR. IN "HAGAD" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Hagad" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 15-24, 1955/ Dalisay

Story Amado C. Yasona

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Direction Rino Bermudez

Cast Armando Goyena, Rosa Rosal, Carmencita Abad, Nenita Vidal, Ike Jarlego, Jr.

THE FIFTIES # 278: CARMEN ROSALES, CESAR RAMIREZ, WITH CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, ETANG DISCHER, PRECY ORTEGA, MANOLO NOBLE, HORACIO MORELOS, TONY DUNGAN IN "UHAW NA PAG-IBIG" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Uhaw na Pag-ibig" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date April 10-19, 1955/ Life

Music Danny Holmsen

Direction Olive La Torre

Cast Carmen Rosales, Cesar Ramirez, Chichay, Tolindoy, Etang Discher, Precy Ortega, Manolo Noble, Horacio Morelos, Tony Dungan, Teroy de Guzman, Elena Adorable

 Carmen Rosales and Cesar Ramirez

Carmen Rosales with comic duo Chichay and Tolindoy 

THE FIFTIES # 277: DELIA RAZON, MARIO MONTENEGRO, WITH JOSE DE CORDOVA, JOSE VERGARA, ARTURO MORAN, VICENTA ADVINCULA, CANDIDA BALDERAMA, EMELITA GITIERREZ AND JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS IN "BANAL O MAKASALANAN?" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Banal O Makasalanan?" (1955)
LVN Pictures
Release Date March 31- April 9, 1955
Music Lt. Col. A. Buenaventura
Story and Direction Susana C. de Guzman
Cast Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Jose Cordova, Jose Vergara, Arturo Moran, Vicenta Advincula, Candida Balderama, Emelita Gutierrez and Jose Corazon de Jesus

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Based on a radio serial by Susana C. de Guzman, Banal O Makasalanan (1955) tells of Salome (Delia Razon), a seductive and alluring daughter of Herodias and stepdaughter to King Herod (Joseph de Cordova), who discovers faith and Christianity through her love for a Roman centurion named Cornelius (Mario Montenegro).

A prophet named Juan Bautista (or John the Baptist) denounced Herodias marriage to Herod, her former husband’s brother, as a sin. Herodias bitterly resented Juan’s denunciation and promptly ordered Juan’s arrest and wanted him killed. Herod, fearing that John may be the messiah foretold by prophecy, would not do it. However, Herodias devised a plot and used Herod’s birthday celebration as an opportunity to carry the plan. She let Salome performed a dance that pleased Herod no end. He offered her anything she desired. Encouraged by Herodias, Salome asked Herod for the head of Juan on a platter. Reluctantly, Herod was compelled to obey her desires and ordered Juan to be beheaded (see clip below).

Salome had nightmares and sleepless nights because of that incident and Cornelius was there to comfort her. When news of a new prophet named Jesus gaining ground in the countryside, Cornelius was asked by Salome to investigate. Disguised as an ordinary man, he seek out the Man they called Jesus. Through his own eyes, he witnessed how Jesus performed miracles like using only a few loaves of bread and several fish to feed thousands of men, women and children. Cornelius told Salome about this and asked her to go with him and lead a new life. Salome declined the offer. Salome asked Pontius Pilate’s help, Cornelius being one of Pilate’s men. With the help of Salome, Cornelius was arrested and because of the gravity of his crime he was sentenced to die. This was not what Salome wanted to happen and beg Pilate for mercy and to spare his loved one. Instead, Cornelius was given 20 whip lashes on the face that caused him to get blind. Disabled and incapacitated due to severe punishment, Salome asked Pilate for Cornelius’ freedom which Pilate acceded. She asked for Cornelius forgiveness and promised to take good care of him. The movie ends at Golgota, where Salome with Cornelius, seek Jesus for repentance and atonement. A miracle happened as Cornelius' eyesight was restored (see clip below).

THE FIFTIES # 276: LEILA MORENA, EFREN REYES, LOPITO, WITH ABRAHAM CRUZ, BELEN VELASCO, PAQUITO SALCEDO IN "MAG-ASAWA'Y DI BIRO" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Mag-asawa'y Di Biro" (1955)

Premiere Productions, Inc./ People's Pictures

Release Date March 26- April 4, 1955/ Dalisay

Direction Emmanuel Rojas

Cast Leila Morna, Efren Reyes, Lopito, Abraham Cruz, Belen Velasco, Paquito Salcedo

THE FIFTIES # 275: ALICIA VERGEL, CESAR RAMIREZ, VAN DE LEON, BOY ALANO IN "KURIPOT" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Kuripot" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date March 21-30, 1955/ Life

Music Ariston Avelino

Story and Direction Tony Cayado

Cast Alicia Vergel, Cesar Ramirez, Van de Leon, Boy Alano

THE FIFTIES # 273: PANCHO MAGALONA, LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, LUIS GONZALES IN "BULAKLAK SA PARANG" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Bulaklak sa Parang" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date March 16-25, 1955/ Dalisa

Music Constancio C. de Guzman

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Pancho Magalona, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales

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 # 271: NIDA BLANCA, NESTOR DE VILLA, WITH LORNA MIRASOL, LEROY SALVADOR IN "DARLING KO!" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Darling Ko!" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date March 6-15, 1955/ Dalisay

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction F.H. Constantino

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Lorna Mirasol, Leroy Salvador

THE FIFTIES # 657: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, GLORIA ROMERO, DOLPHY, LUIS GONZALES IN "ARTISTA" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Artista" (1955)

Sampguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date March 1- 10, 1955/ Life

Music Carding Cruz and the Tirso Cruz Band

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Gloria Romero, Dolphy, Luis Gonzales

(l-r) Luis Gonzales, Gloria Romero, Rogelio de la Rosa

THE FIFTIES # 270: JOSE PADILLA, JR., VIRGINIA MONTES, TESSIE AGANA, AMADO CORTES, CRISING ALIGADA, JOSE SISON, AMELITA SOL, ENGRACIO IBARRA IN "BARIL O' ARARO? (GUN OR PLOW?)" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Baril O' Araro? (Gun or Plow?)" (1955)

Filipinana Pictures, Inc.

Release Date February 24 to March 5, 1955/ Dalisay

Direction Alex Sunga and Pedro S. Vera

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Virginia Montes, Tessie Agana, Amado Cortes, Crising Aligada, Jose Sison, Amelita Sol, Engracio Ibarra, Deleng Tinoco, Roger Cardinal, Ric Bustamante

THE FIFTIES # 269: JOSE ROMULO (IN THE TITLE ROLE), ARSENIA FRANCISCO, ROSITA NOBLE, LOPITO, RAMON D' SALVA IN "ADVENTURES OF DI-13" (1955)/ UPDATED

Pinoy viewers were introduced to James Bond in 1962 in the movie "Dr. No." But did you know that 7 years earlier, in 1955, Premiere Productions produced a similar type of movie---ala-James Bond? The film was Adventures of DI-13, with Jose Romulo playing the intrepid Filipino sleuth. The blurb says "You'll be gasping for breath as you follow the dangerous, romantic, hilarious adventures of DI-13" --- a typical James Bond formula---

"The Adventures of DI-13" (1955)

Premiere Productions/ Larry Santiago Productions

Release Date February 14- 23, 1955/ Dalisay

Story Damy Velasquez

Direction Cesar Gallardo

Cast Jose Romulo, Arsenia Francisco, Rosita Noble, Lopito, Ramon D'Salva

 "The Adventures of DI-13"

Story by Damy Velasquez

Artwork by Jesse Santos

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

THE FIFTIES # 268: FRED MONTILLA, MYRNA DELGADO, NORMA VALES, DOLPHY, WITH CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, GREGORIO TICMAN, EDDIE GARCIA, JOSE DE VILLA IN MARS RAVELO'S "TATAY NA SI BONDYING" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Tatay na si Bondying" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date February 9-18, 1955/ Life

Story Mars Ravelo

Music Tirso Cruz

Direction Armando Garces

Cast Fred Montilla, Myrna Delgado, Norma Vales, Dolphy, Chichay, Tolindoy, Gregorio Ticman, Eddie Garcia, Jose de Villa, Leonara Ruiz, Teroy de Guzman, Carding Cruz