THE FIFTIES # 169: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, LILIA DIZON, WITH ROSA AGUIRRE, JOSE DE CORDOVA, MARIA NORMA MENDOZA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, FRANK GORDON IN "SA PAANAN NG BUNDOK" (1953): A FILM BY SUSANA C. DE GUZMAN/ UPDATED

Susana C. de Guzman (1912-1992) was one of the very few successful woman directors in Philippine cinema. She was a prolific writer and many of the films she made for LVN were serialized in Liwayway and other popular magazines. She was best remembered for her movies, like Sarrung Banggi (1947), Sumpaan (1948), Sonny Boy, (1955), Krisalis (1957), Villa Milagrosa (1958), among others. She was the recipient of Natatanging Gawad Urian in 1991.

One of De Guzman's works was Sa Paanan ng Bundok, which appeared on the pages of Liwayway Magazine in 1953. It was adapted into the screen which she also directed.

"Sa Paanan ng Bundok" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date August 18- 27, 1953

Music Constancio de Guzman

Story and Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Lilia Dizon, Rosa Aguire, Jose de Cordova, Maria Norma Mendoza, Jose Cris Soto, Frank Gordon, Victor Blanco, Angge, Ike Jarlego, Jr. / Introducing Cecilia Lopez

"Sa Paanan ng Bundok" (1953)- Stars Rogelio de la Rosa, Lilia Dizon, Rosa Aguirre, Jose de Cordova, Maria Norma Mendoza, Jose Cris Soto, Ike Jarlego, Jr./ Directed by Susana C. de Guzman

Sa Paanan ng Bundok tells of Ric (Rogelio de la Rosa), a doctor who finds love in a remote resort when he was asked by a friend to be his best man in the wedding. Ric and Gloria (Lilia Dizon) met accidentally while fishing at the foot of the mountain. They soon fall in love.

However, Lukas (Joseph de Cordova), who is also in love with her, is against of the relationship. Lukas is the son of Gloria’s stepfather. Her mother (Rosa Aguirre) remarries after her father dies. It turns out to be a miserable life for Gloria and family. Lukas is able to succeed in cutting the ties between Ric and Gloria.

Ric, heartbroken, goes back to Manila and continue his medical profession. He met Elvie (Maria Norma Mendoza), the socialite-daughter of a medical director. Ric is very close to the father, from which he is fully grateful for of what he is now. Elvie is suffering from a serious heart ailment and was advised to take it easy. Ric is tasked to take care of Elvie. Elvie thought that Ric is in love with her and not to hamper her health condition Ric decides to pretend that he also likes her, all upon the advice and orchestration of the father. Unexpectedly, both get married.
On the other hand, Gloria, her brother (Ike Jarlego,Jr.) and mother are able to escape from the clutches of Lukas and head towards Manila. They ask Ric for help for temporary shelter. Gloria learns that Ric is now married. Though married, Ric still sees and visits Gloria now and then. When Elvie learns about it, she confronted Gloria. The confrontation can be viewed on the short clip below---

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

Elvie's health deteriorates and dies.
The movie ends with Ric going back to the foot of the mountain where he finally reconciles with Gloria.

THE FIFTIES # 181: TITA DURAN, PANCHO MAGALONA AND DOLPHY, WITH ARURAY, TONY CAYADO, JOSE DE VILLA, ARING BAUTISTA, CONSUELO P. OSORIO IN "SA ISANG SULYAP MO TITA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita" (1953)
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date August 8-17, 1953
Music Tirso Cruz and his Manila Hotel Orchestra
Direction Armando Garces
Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Dolphy, Aruray, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Aring Bautista, Consuelo P. Osorio, Bert Guinto, Eddie Garcia, Bert Olivar, Ricardo Mirasol, Artemio Tecson

I finally got to see "Sa Isang Sulyap Mo Tita" (1953), dubbed as one of the biggest and spectacular musical movies in the 50s and starring the country's popular reel-and-real life sweetheart and husband-and-wife tandem in Philippine movies, Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. With the backdrop and setting in the life in the navy, it reminds me of two of my favorite Hollywood musical classics--- "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) and "On the Town" (1949)

Pancho Magalona and Dolphy as the navy men or sailors, ala-Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, are in days off and they’re out to have lots of fun, singing, dancing and drinking. As they say, they're out to "paint the town red."

Dolphy, probably his first major movie role as Pancho’s buddy, exhibits his awesome dancing skills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNOuqpLLtWE

Courtesy of Sampaguita Pictures

"Anchors Aweigh" (1945) / "On the Town" (1949)

THE FIFTIES # 176: JOSE PADILLA, JR., CELIA FLOR , WITH LEROY SALVADOR, ROSA AGUIRRE, JOSEPH DE CORDOVA, VIC SILAYAN, VEN MEDINA IN L.V. AVELLANA'S "HUK SA BAGONG PAMUMUHAY" (1953)/ UPDATED

Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay, a film by National Artist Lamberto Avellana tells of Carding (played by Jose Padilla, Jr.), a former guerrilla, who mortgages his mother's piece of land, thinking that his family could pay the usurer, a certain Mr. Fargas with the harvest or his backpay. Bad luck hounds Carding as the typhoon practically destroy most of the crops. The backpay likewise does not arrive. Mr Fargas forecloses the land. Push against the wall, Carding strikes the usurer with a shovel. Now a fugitive from justice, Carding is forced to join the burgeoning Hukbalahap, the local Communist movement.

The movie, produced by LVN Pictures as part of the government propaganda effort against the spread of communism in the country, received numerous awards from the FAMAS- Best Picture, Best Actor (Jose Padilla, Jr.), Best Supporting Actor (Leroy Salvador) and Best Director (Lamberto Avellana).

"Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date August 3- 12, 1953/ Dalisay

Story Rolf Bayer

Music Constantino de Guzman

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Celia Flor, Leroy Salvador/ Also starring Ven Medina, Joseph de Cordova, Rosa Aguirre, Vic Silayan, Leroy Salvador, Miguel Lopez, Ezar Visenio

Here's a short absorbing clip of the movie that drove Carding (played by Jose Padilla, Jr.) to lose his temper and struck the usurer with a shovel---

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

lobby cards from internet sources

THE FIFTIES # 180: OSCAR MORENO, ERLINDA CORTES, WITH OSCAR KEESE, CONRADO CONDE, JUAN MONTEIRO, ANDRES ITURBI, ETANG DISCHER, NORMA BUENAOBRA IN "MAY ISANG TSUPER NG TAXI" (1953)/ UPDATED

"May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi" (1953)

Lebran Productions

Release Date July 14- 23, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Oscar Moreno, Erlinda Cortes, Oscar Keese, Conrado Conde, Juan Monteiro, Andres Iturbi, Etang Discher, Norma Buenaobra, Noemi de Leon, Paquito Legaspi, Ric Balmori, Ching Macabasco

THE FIFTIES # 574: ALICIA VERGEL (IN THE TITLE ROLE), CESAR RAMIREZ, WITH EDDIE GARCIA, BELLA FLORES, PRECY ORTEGA, MARTIN MARFIL IN "DIWANI" (1953)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

"Diwani" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date July 9- 18, 1953/ Life

Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks

Direction Nardo Vercudia

Cast Alicia Vergel and Cesar Ramiez, Eddie Garcia, Bella Flores, Precy Ortega, Martin Marfil

"Diwani" (1953)

Katha at Guhit ni Nestor Redondo

Inilathala sa Hiwaga Komiks

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 # 140: ARMANDO GOYENA, TESSIE QUINTANA, WITH JOSE DE CORDOVA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, ANGGE, FRANK GORDON, CASMOT, ARTURO MORAN IN "HAWAYANA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Hawayana" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date June 14-23, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana, Jose de Cordova,  Jose Cris Soto, Angge, Frank Gordon, Casmot, Arturo Moran

THE FIFTIES # 153: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ARSENIA FRANCISCO, CARLOS PADILLA, WITH OSCAR KEESE, PATRIA PLATA, RAMON D'SALVA, ROSITA NOBLE, NATY RUBI, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN "SA HIRAP AT GINHAWA" (1953)/ UIPDATED

"Sa Hirap at Ginhawa" (1953)

Maria Clara Pictures

Release Date June 8-18, 1953/ Life

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Arsenia Francisco, Carlos Padilla, Oscar Keese, Patria Plata, Ramon D' Salva, Rosita Noble, Naty Rubi, Dely Atay-Atayan, Don Antonio de la Mogueis, Luis San Juan, Benny Mack and Engracio Ibarra

THE FIFTIES # 143: TESIE AGANA (IN THE TITLE ROLE), LINDA ESTRELLA, VAN DE LEON, WITH TONY CAYADO, BOY ALANO, SYLVIA LA TORRE, ARURAY, BERT OLIVAR, PEDRO FAUSTINO IN "MUNTING KORONEL (1953)/ UPDATED

Child star sensation Tessie 'Roberta' Agana, filmdom's "Shirley Temple of the Philippines" did a movie in 1953 titled "Munting Koronel," patterned over the 1935 Shirley Temple starrer "The Little Colonel."

See Tessie Agana as Roberta

"Munting Koronel" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date June 4- 13, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Tessie Agana, Linda Estrella, Van de Leon, Tony Cayado, Boy Alano, Sylvia La Torre, Aruray, Bert Olivar, Pedro Faustino

Right- The Little Colonel (1935)- Stars Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore, Evelyn Venable, John Lodge, Bill Robinson 

THE FIFTIES # 142: LILIA DIZON, MARIO MONTENEGRO AND ROSA ROSAL, WITH JOHNNY REYES, VICTOR BLANCO, OSCAR OBLIGACION, FRANKIE GORDON IN "KUWINTAS NG PASAKIT" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Kuwintas ng Pasakit" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date May 30- June 8, 1953/ Life

Story Ding M. De Jesus

Music Constancio de Guzman

Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Lilia Dizon, Mario Montenegro, Rosa Rosal, Johnny Reyes, Victor Blanco, Oscar Obligacion, Frankie Gordon, Pepita Gonzales, Cynthia Gomez, Rebecca Rocha

THE FIFTIES # 174: CESAR RAMIREZ, NENA CARDENAS, VAN DE LEON, WITH TITA MUNOZ, BOY ALANO, TONY CAYADO, MYRNA DELGADOIN F.V. COCHING'S "EL INDIO" (1953): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

El Indio (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date May 20, 1953/ Life Theater

 Direction Enrique Moreno

Cast Cesar Ramirez, Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano, Tony Cayado and Myrna Delgado /with Bert Olivar, Martin Marfil, Totoy Torrente, Eddie Garcia, Olive dela Torre, Conrado Conde, Ely Nakpil

Francisco V. Coching’s El Indio, serialized in Pilipino Komiks in 1952-53, is an adventure komiks novel which tells the story of Fernando, a handsome and dashing colored Spanish mestizo who went back to the Philippines to exact revenge on his father whom he believed abandoned him and his mother Blanquita. There, he discovered the cruel and oppressive colonial government, and joined the rebels in the fight against the oppressors as El Indio. El Indio is the sequel to Coching’s earlier series entitled Barbaro, and is one of most popular series in Philippine komiks history. (Komiklopedia)

El Indio was adapted into the big screen in 1953. Sampaguita Pictures was able to secure the movie right of the novel and signed up Cesar Ramirez to play the role of Fernando or El Indio. The movie also starred Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano under Enrique Moreno direction. The movie had its grand opening at Life theater, May 20, 1953.

El Indio covers courtesy of Gerry Alanguilan

Comic book artist and writer Gerry Alanguilan, creator of Wasted and Elmer and a big fan of Francisco V. Coching, is in the forefront of digitally restoring Coching’s classic 50s komiks serial novel El Indio. For the past several years, Gerry, in between deadlines, was able to scan the original comic book pages and meticulously restored each page. He hopefully to see this on print next year.
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/724

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