THE FIFTIES # 124: CELIA FLOR, MARIO MONTENEGRO, ROSA ROSAL, WITH TONY ARNALDO, MARIA CRISTINA, PATSY MATEO, ANITA SERRANO, MINDA MIRANDA IN "CORRECCIONAL" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Correccional" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 10- 19, 1952/ Dalisay

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Story and Direction Susana C, de Guzman

Cast Celia Flor, Mario Montenegro, Rosa Rosal, Tony Arnaldo, Maria Cristina, Patsy Mateo, Anita Serrano, Minda Miranda

Synopsis: The forthcoming wedding of Norma (Celia Flor) and Armando (Mario Montenegro), a young lawyer, was supposed to be a great and wonderful event for the two, but everything went haywire. Perhaps, it was because the bride tried on her bride gown, and that’s bad luck, according to a popular belief.

Salome (Rosa Rosal), Armando’s client, was hosting a birthday party. She is married to Don Julio (Tony Arnaldo), much older than her. However, Salome is in love with Armando, the same way with Don Julio to Norma.

During the party, the scheming Salome slips a pill into Norma’s drink which makes the latter dizzy and unknowingly went into the bedroom to sleep. Don Julio follows her and starts to take advances. Then, enters Salome with Armando in tow into the room and found the two in a scandalous position.

Despite pleas from Norma, Armando calls off the engagement. Salome, on the other hand, demands separation from her husband and monetary settlement. In one of the bitter confrontations between the couple, Salome stabbed and killed Don Julio. Norma, at that time, went to see Don Julio to clear her name, only to find him dead with a letter opener stuck in his body. Salome comes out from behind shouting murder and the two househelps seeing Norma holding the bloody weapon. Evidences point to Norma as the guilty person and is sentenced to a prison term at the Correccional, where her own mother is the Superintendent.

The mother believes firmly in her daughter's innocence, and she wants justice done, so she resigns her position and begins to take steps to vindicate her daughter. The mother confronts Salome, threatens her with a gun if she does not clear out her daughter, but in the scuffle that ensues, the gun goes off killing Norma’s mother. Salome is found guilty of murder and committed at the Correccional. There, she meets Norma.

The hatred between the two flares up into a first class cat-fighting, as a result of which they are placed in solitary confinement. Norma begins to work on the nerves of the guilty Salome by mentioning to her that her husband's soul and the soul of Norma’s mother will haunt her. Salome could no longer stand it and decides to sign a written confession clearing Norma.

The good news spreads out, and Armando who has been making moves to win back Norma for some time, is happy enough to welcome his sweetheart into his arms.

 

Armando (Mario Montenegro) and Norma (Celia Flor) ironing out their forthcoming wedding

Salome (Rosa Rosal), with husband, Don Julio (Tony Arnaldo) welcomes Armando on the former's birthday party

Don Julio confronts the scheming Salome

Norma explains her side to the doubting Armando. The two eventually separated.

Salome stabs Don Julio

but Norma gets the blame

Armando visits Norma at the correccional, later realizing Norma's innocence

Norma's mother feels that her daughter is innocent

The mother confronts and points a gun at Salome, but is overwhelmed and killed

Salome is committed to the correccional...her guilty conscience bombards her no end and eventually clears Norma of the charges.

Norma prays in front of her mother's grave...

.... and forgives Armando

THE FIFTIES # 131: LEILA MORENA, JESUS RAMOS (IN THE TITLE ROLE), LOPITO, OSCAR KEESE, BOY FRANCISCO IN "OG" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Og" (1952)

Premiere Productions

Release Date April 5, 1952/ Life

Story Teodoro Virrey

Direction Cesar Gallardo

Cast Leila Morena, Jesus Ramos, Lopito, Oscar Keese, Boy Francisco 

Leila Morena and Jesus "Og" Ramos 
on the cover of Literary Song-Movie Magazine 
April 1952

Photo credit: courtesy of Baul ni Juan (James de la Rosa)

More on: Jesus 'Og' Ramos 

THE FIFTIES # 126: JAIME DE LA ROSA, NIDA BLANCA, MILAGROS NAVAL, TONY SANTOS, ALFONSO CARVAJAL, GIL DE LEON, JOHNNY REYES, OSCAR OBLIGACION, ARTURO MORAN, LEROY SALVADOR IN LAMBERTO AVELLANA'S "KOREA" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Korea" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date March 31- April 9, 1952/ Dalisay

Story Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, Jr.

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Tony Santos, Alfonso Carvajal, Gil de Leon, Johnny Reyes, Oscar Obligacion, Arturo Moran, Leroy Salvador, Miguel Lopez, Mario Roldan/ co-starring Milagros Naval and Nida Blanca

Did you know that…

Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino [ Philippine opposition leader during the Marcos era, senator and national hero] was only 17 when he joined the country’s biggest newspaper, The Manila Times. When The Times was casting about for someone to cover what was happening to the Philippine contingent in the Korean War, Ninoy jumped at the chance. He cajoled the newspaper’s Brooklyn-born editor, Dave Boguslav, and its publisher, Joaquin ‘Chino’ Roces to send him to Korea. But he was only 17! What could a ‘boy correspondent’ do? “What will your mother say?”, Chino exclaimed. When the two hesitated, Ninoy simply hitched a ride on a military plane and was in Korea sending dispatches before his two bosses realized that he had jumped the gun on them. The Times’ editors, Boguslav and Joe Bautista, soon came to appreciate that gung ho quality which was to rocket Aquino to fame.

Excerpt from: Ninoy: In the Eye of Memory
By Maximo V. Soliven
People Magazine/ August 2003

Photo shows (l-r)  actor Johnny Reyes, writer Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, Jr., director Lamberto V. Avellana, Lt. Bonny Serrano and actor Jaime de la Rosa (photo credit: Cesar Hernando)

Did you also know that…
Ninoy Aquino wrote the story and screenplay of the movie, Korea (1952), which starred Jaime de la Rosa and directed by Lamberto V. Avellana. It was nominated for that year’s FAMAS Best Picture and Best Screenplay (for Ninoy). It won two FAMAS major awards: Best supporting actor for Gil de Leon and Best supporting actress for Nida Blanca who was only 16 years old then and just barely one year in LVN. She portrayed the role of a young Korean war waif.

A scene from the movie Korea with lead star Jaime De la Rosa and young Nida Blanca.

THE FIFTIES # 669: NORMA BLANCAFLOR, ELVIRA REYES, CAROL VARGA, FERNANDO ROYO, BEN RUBIO, JUAN MONTEIRO AND JENNINGS STURGEON IN "KALBARYO NI HESUS" (1952)/UPDATED

I grew up watching Kalbaryo ni Hesus in the 60s. I've seen it countless times and I still recalled Fernando Royo playing the role of Judas, Norma Blancaflor as the Blessed Mother Mary, Juan 'Johnny' Monteiro as Simon Bilibit and a foreign actor named Jennings Sturgeon as Jesus Christ. The movie, released in 1952, was an all-star cast that included among others, Carol Varga, Rita Rivera, Elvira Reyes, Ben Rubio, Teddy Benavides, Ramon D' Salva. The production design was done by National Artist Carlos 'Botong' Francisco and ably directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa.

"Kalbaryo ni Hesus" (1952)
Lebran Productions
Release Date March 26- April 4, 1952
Production Design Carlos V. Francisco
Music Prof. J. Esteban Anguita
In Charge of Production Carlos R. Garcia
Direction Carlos Vander Tolosa
An All-Star Cast - Norma Blancaflor, Elvira Reyes, Carol Varga, Fernando Royo, Ben Rubio, Juan (Johnny) Monteiro, Teddy Benavides, Africa dela Rosa, Lupe Velasco, Sweet Williams, Andres Centenera, Cecilio Joaquin, Ramon D' Salva, Rita Rivera, Gracita Dominguez, Fred Penalosa, Bert Olivar, Don Dano, Manuel Barbeyto, Oscar Keese, Ric Bustamante and Jennings Sturgeon (as Jesus Christ) and many others

Reissued in 1954

THE FIFTIES # 119: PANCHO MAGALONA, LINDA ESTRELLA, RUDY FRANCISCO IN "LIHIM NG KUMPISALAN" (1952)/ UPDATED

When I first saw this ad, I thought the movie was based from Hitchcock's "I Confess." I was wrong, the movie, shown in 1952 was one year ahead of Hitchcock's which was released in 1953. The two movies, probably based on a 1902 French play by Paul Anthelme titled Nos Deux Consciences, had similar plot, that of a killer confessing to a crime in the confessional and instead the priest became the primary suspect. Because of the seal and secrecy of the confessional, the priest is bound not to disclose anything to the authorities. What if his life is at stake?

"Lihim ng Kumpisalan" (1952)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date March 21-30, 1952/ Dalisay

Direction Olive La Torre

Cast Pancho Magalona, Linda Estrella, Rudy Francisco

THE FIFTIES # 671: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, LOTA DELGADO, BEN RUBIO IN "IRISAN" (`1952)/ UPDATED

"Irisan" (1952)

RDR Productions

Released thru LVN Pictures

Release Date March 16-26, 1952/ Life

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Lota Delgado, Ben Rubio

THE FIFTIES # 670: ERNESTO BOHOL, PACITA FRANCISCO, WITH TEODORO KALAW KATIGBAK, LILLIAN LAING, FIDEL SICAM, JOSEFINA LEANO, VICKY CASTILLO, RUBEN LACSAMANA IN "ANG LIMPIA BOTA (THE BOOTBLACK)" (1952)/ UPDATED

The movie, "Ang Limpia Bota (The Bootblack)" told with great realism, was the first Filipino Educational Picture. It was based on the true-to-life story of a bootblack, Ernesto Bohol (who played as himself in this film), who worked his way up to become a college president. National Artist for Music, Lucio D. San Pedro did the musical scoring. 

"Ang Limpia Bota (The Bootblack)" (1952)

Far East Films

Released by Lebran Inc.

Release Date March 11- 20, 1952/ Dalisay

(In English and Tagalog Dialogue)

Story Ernesto Bohol

Musical Score Lucio D. San Pedro

Direction T. D. Agcaoli

Cast Ernesto Bohol , Pacita Francisco/ Also Starring Teodoro Kalaw Katigbak, Lillian laing, Fidel Sicam, Josefina Leano, Vicky Castillo, Ruben Lacsamana, Mike Melo, Neonora Ruiz, Ric Valdez/ Guest players- Judge Bienvenido Tan, Gov. Lino Castillejo, Fiscal Nicanor Nicolas, Prf. Vicente Quimbo

THE FIFTIES # 118: ARMANDO GOYENA, TESSIE QUINTANA, WITH LILA LUNA, NIDA BLANCA, FRANK GORDON, ROSA AGUIRRE, AMADO CORTEZ, ARTURO MORAN, ETANG DISCHER IN "TIA LOLENG" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Tia Loleng" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date February 20-29, 1952/ Dalisay

Music Quin Velasco

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana, Lila Luna, Nida Blanca, Frank Gordon, Rosa Aguirre, Amado Cortez, Arturo Moran, Etang Discher, Miguel Lopez, Tony Dantes, J. Rodriguez

Did you know that movie actor Armando Goyena, a popular matinee idol during his time, a society boy and a dashing hero of countless romance and adventure films, had to play a woman in the '50s before he could become a star? The part was the title role in the 1952 comedy "Tia Loleng," also Goyena's favorite movie,  where he was made to dress up as a lady so he could be close to the woman he loved and adored. The woman was played by his perennial screen partner, Tessie Quintana (they made 15 movies together). The movie was filmed at least three decades before Dustin Hoffman made "Tootsie" and Robin Williams played "Mrs. Doubtfire." "They imitated us," Goyena chuckles in one of his interview. "The movie became a big hit, and that's how I made some money to marry." Goyena, now in his 80s, was married to the late Francisca Roses, also called Paquita, the first Camay soap model, with whom he had seven daughters and a son. Two of these daughters first became movie stars themselves-Maritess Revilla, who was also a soap model, and Tina Revilla, who later became a television host.

  

Tessie Quintana and Armando Goyena

THE FIFTIES # 98: ALICIA VERGEL, CESAR RAMIREZ, GLORIA ROMERO, WITH CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, TONY CAYADO, JOSE DE VILLA, PEDRO FAUSTINO, ARING BAUTISTA, PERCY ORTEGA IN "MADAM X" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Madam X"
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date February 10-19, 1952/ Dalisay
Writer Dr. Fausto J. Galauran

Direction Artemio Tecson

Cast Alicia Vergel, Cesar Ramirez, Gloria Romero, Chichay, Tolindoy, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Pedro Faustino, Aring Bautista, Precy Ortega

THE FIFTIES # 133: ARMANDO GOYENA, DELIA RAZON, WITH LILA LUNA, ENRIQUE JARLEGO, JR., NATY BERNARDO, MARIA CRISTINA, EUSEBIO GOMEZ IN "HARANA SA KARAGATAN" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Harana sa Karagatan" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date February 5- 14, 1952/ Life

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Joe Climaco

Cast Armando Goyena, Delia Razon, Lila Luna, Enrique 'Ike' Jarlego, Jr., Naty Bernardo, Maria Cristina, Eusebio Gomez, Armando Garces, Armando Cortes, Joe Climaco, Mario Roldan, Miniong Alvares

THE FIFTIES # 97: NENA CARDENAS, EDUARDO DEL MAR, LOPITO, OSCAR KEESE, WITH ARTURO LERMA, RUBEN RUSTIA, ROSITA NOBLE, AMELITA SOL IN "MALULOS" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Malulos"
Premiere Productions
Release Date January 31- February 9, 1952/ Dalisay

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Nena Cardenas, Eduardo 'Eddie' del Mar, Lopito, Oscar Keese, Arturo Lerma, Ruben Rustia, Rosita Noble, Amelita Sol, Dolly Garcia, Luis San juan, Nello Nayo, Francisco Cruz, Lito Anzures



THE FIFTIES # 667: PANCHO MAGALONA, TITA DURAN, TESSIE MARTINEZ, WITH BERT OLIVAR, TONY CAYADO, JOSE DE VILLA, CHICHAY, PEDRO FAUSTINO, TOTOY TORRENTE, MARTIN MARFIL IN FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "BARBARO" (1952)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

  Barbaro is an adventure komiks novel about Sabas, a man who was driven by cruelty and oppression to become the sworn enemy of the colonial government. Barbaro was Coching’s first epic tackling the theme of Filipinos revolting against their Spanish colonial masters and it became one of his most popular works. The komiks serial spawned a sequel entitled El Indio featuring Sabas’ son. (Komiklopedia)

It was adapted into the movies in 1952 and emerged as one of the top ten box-office hits that year. Playing Barbaro was Pancho Magalona with reel-and-real partner Tita Duran as his love interest. The movie was directed by Enrique Moreno, later to be known as Eddie Romero.

"Barbaro" (1952)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date January 25- February 4, 1952/ Life

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Enrique Moreno (or Eddie Romero)

Cast Pancho Magalona, Tita Duran, Tessie Martinez/ Also Starring Bert Olivar, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Chichay, Pedro Faustino, Totoy Torrente, Martin Marfil/ Guest- Olive La Torre

"Ang Barbaro" 

Katha't Guhit ni Francisco V. Coching

Inilathala sa Pilipino Komiks/ 1951

--- to read, click images to enlarge---

THE FIFTIES # 104: LANI PADILLA, ROBERTO RICO, PURA FLOR IN JOSE NEPOMUCENO'S "MGA BITUIN NG KINABUKASAN" (1952)/ UPDATED

 "Mga Bitiin ng Kinabukasan" (1952)

Nepomuceno Productions

Release Date January 21- 30, 1952/ Dalisay Theater

Direction Jose Nepomuceno

Cast Lani Padilla, Roberto Rico, Pura Flor