THE FIFTIES # 173: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, JOSE PADILLA, JR., WITH MARGARET MERRITT, ANGELA LUNA, CAROL VARGA (GUEST STAR), JOSE VILLAFRANCA, ELY NAKPIL, PEDRO FAUSTINO, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN KAMBAL NA LIHIM" (1953)/ UPDATED

Leopoldo Salcedo and Jose Padilla, Jr., two great movie icons of yesteryears appeared together for the first time in 1953 in the movie, Kambal na Lihm. Considered as a casting coup that time, the two popular actors were then the undisputed Kings of Philippines Movies. Problem with the billing was also evident in the ad layout. The movie, produced by Deegar Cinema, Inc., also starred Margaret Merritt, Angela Luna and Carol Varga, under Ricardo Brillantes direction.

"Kambal na Lihim"(1953)
Deegar Cinema, Inc.
Release Date May 5-9, 1953/ Life
Direction Ricardo Brilliantes
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Jose Padilla, Jr., Margaret Merritt, Angela Luna, Carol Varga, Jose Villafranca, Pedro Faustino, Leon Timog, Dely Atay-Atayan, Casupang/ Guests: Bebong Osorio, Hector Reyes

THE FIFTIES #144: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, ERLINDA CORTES, WITH DON DAVID, LOPITO, GREGORIO TICMAN, NATY RUBI, AFRICA DE LA ROSA, SALVADOR ZARAGOSA, ESTER BAUTISTA IN "TINIG NG TAGUMPAY" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Tinig ng Tagumpay" (1953)

Lebran Productions 

Release Date April 30- May 4, 1953/ Life

Direction Enrique H. Davila 

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Erlinda Cortes, Lopito, Gregorio Ticman, Naty Rubi, Africa de la Rosa, Salvador Zaragosa, Ester Bautista with Don David/ Guests Teresita de Alba and Jose Luis Medina, the child Caruso

THE FIFTIES # 155: GLORIA ROMERO, RAMON REVILLA, WITH CHICHAY, TONY CAYADO, REBECCA DEL RIO IN "COFRADIA (ANG MAHIWAGANG SINDERELLA)" (1953)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

Billed as 'Ang Mahiwagang Sinderella,' Cofradia was probably inspired by the popular fairy tale character named Cinderella. The 1953 movie was based from a komiks novel created by Dominador Ad. Castillo and appeared on the pages of Mabuhay Komiks in 1952. It is a heart-touching story, as the blurb says, of a girl (played by Gloria Romero) who was afraid to love because---she was black. She becomes the subject of ridicule and humiliation and the butt of jokes, mockery and extreme embarrassments from people around her. But like the fairy tale Cinderella, Cofradia turns into a beautiful young lady with the lighting of a mysterious candle.

Left- Kislap Magazine/ April 29, 1953

Right- "Cofradia" (1953)- Stars Gloria Romero, Ramon Revilla, Chichay, Tony Cayado, Rebecca del Rio, Priscilla Concepcion, Precy Ortega/ Directed by Artemio B. Tecson

"Cofradia"(1952)/ Mabuhay Komiks/
Nobela ni Dominador Ad Castillo/ Guhit ni Ben S. Maniclang

Komiks materials-
From the collection of Steve Santos

THE FIFTIES # 163: ARMANDO GOYENA, EVELYN VILLAR, WITH MILAGROS NAVAL, EUSEBIO GOMEZ, JOSE VERGARA, OSCAR DEL ROSARIO, MIGUEL LOPEZ, MARIO ROLDAN, MENANDRO RAMOS IN "KAPITAN KIDLAT" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Kapitan Kidlat Ngayon!" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 20-29, 1953/ Life

Story Leonardo Abutin

Music Carlos Aguilar

Direction Oscar del Rosario

Cast Armando Goyena, Evelyn Villar, Milagros Naval, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Vergara, Oscar del Rosario, Miguel Lopez, Mario Roldan and Menandro Ramos as Ramon

Pinoy version of America's Captain Marvel, Kapitan Kidlat was introduced to Pinoy viewers in the 1950s with screen idol, Armando Goyena playing the title role. Kapitan Kidlat, created by Leonardo Abutin, was based on a popular DZRH radio program.

"Inocencio Santos was a shy and humble man who worked at a police station, until he was granted incredible powers by Zeus, "the Supreme God", to aid the innocent and helpless against criminals. By uttering the phrase "Kidlat Ngayon" or "Kapitan Kidlat Ngayon", he would transform into the heroic Kapitan Kidlat !"

THE FIFTIES # 168: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, PARALUMAN, BEN PEREZ, CAROL VARGA, WITH ROLANDO LIWANAG, ROSA AGUIRRE, MIGUEL ANZURES, ROMY BRION, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN "HIGHWAY 54" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Highway 54" (1953)

LGS Productions

Direction Ben Calasanz

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Paraluman, Ben Perez, Carol Varga, Rolando Liwanag, Rosa Aguirre, Miguel Anzures, Romy Brion, Dely Atay-Atayan

THE FIFTIES # 146: CARMEN ROSALES, GLORIA ROMERO, WITH RUDY FRANCISCO, VAN DE LEON, TONY CAYADO IN "MAY UMAGA PANG DARATING" (1953)/ UPDATED

"May Umaga Pang Darating" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures 

Release Date April 10-19, 1953/ Life 

Serialized in Bulaklak and Alimyon Magazines

Story Dr. Fausto J. Galauran 

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Carmen Rosales, Gloria Romero, Rudy Francisco, Van de Leon, Tony Cayado

THE FIFTIES # 170: ANITA LINDA, EFREN REYES, AMADO CORTES AND JOHNNY MONTEIRO IN "CARLOS TRECE" (1953)/ UPDATED

Screen legends Anita Linda, disguised as a young and dashing eskrimador, Efren Reyes and Johnny Monteiro, both top swordsmen in Philippine cinema, display their fencing skill as they fight it out for "the crown, throne and kingdom."

The movie, Carlos Trece, broke all existing box-office records during its theatrical run in 1953. The 15-minute sword fight, a duel to the end, between Reyes and Monteiro took the production crew two weeks of rigorous practice and training and one week to shoot.

"Carlos Trece" (1953)
Premiere Productions
Release Date March 30- April 9, 1953
Direction Nemesio E. Caravana
Cast Anita Linda, Efren Reyes, Johnny Monteiro, Amado Cortes/ 

Kislap Magazine/ April 1, 1953
(click image to enlarge)

THE FIFTIES # 158: NIDA BLANCA, NESTOR DE VILLA AND PUGO IN "TUMBALIK NA DAIGDIG" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Tumbalk na Daigdig" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date March 21-30, 1953/ Life

Direction Tony Arnaldo

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa and Pugo

Photos, courtesy of  Casa Grande, LVN Pictures 

THE FIFTIES # 684: FRED MONTILLA, NORMA VALES, CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, RAMON REVILLA IN MARS RAVELO'S "GORIO AT TEKLA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Gorio at Tekla" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date March 16- 25, 1953

Serialized in Tagalog Klasiks

Story Mars Ravelo

Direction Olive La Torre

Cast Fred Montilla, Norma Vales, Chichay, Tolindoy/ Co-starring Ramon Revilla

THE FIFTIES # 154: MARIO MONTENEGRO, EVELYN VILLAR, WITH TONY SANTOS, GIL DE LEON, NATY BERNARDO, OSCAR OBLIGACION, NORA DY, ARTURO MORAN, FLORENTINO BALLECER, CASMOT IN "LUHA AT MUSIKA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Luha at Musika" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date March 11- 20, 1953/ Life and March 6-15, 1953/ Bagong Dalisay

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Jose Domingo Karasig

Music F. Buencamino Sr.

Direction Tony Arnaldo

Cast Mario Montenegro, Evelyn Villar, Tony Santos, Gil de Leon, Naty Bernardo, Oscar Obligacion, Nora Dy, Arturo Moran, Florentino Ballecer, Casmot, Minda Miranda/ Introducing Myrna Quizon

THE FIFTIES # 575: CESAR RAMIREZ AND GLORIA ROMERO IN CLODUALDO DEL MUNDO'S "HERCULES" (1953)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

"Hercules" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Cast Cesar Ramirez and Gloria Romero

(no other details available)

"Hercules (1953)

Katha ni Clodualdo del Mundo

Guhit ni Fred Carrillo

Inilathala sa Pilipino Komiks

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

THE FIFTIES # 138: OSCAR MORENO, JOAN PAGE, RUDY FRANCISCO, WITH CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, SYLVIA LA TORRE, BOY ALANO, BELLA FLORES IN "ANG ASAWA KONG AMERIKANA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Ang Asawa kong Amerikana"
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date January 19- 29, 1953/ Life
Music Juan Silos, Jr.
Screenplay Luciano Carlos

Direction Enrique Moreno (Eddie Romero)
Cast Oscar Moreno. Joan Page, Rudy Francisco, Chichay, Tolindoy, Sylvia La Torre, Boy Alano, Bella Flores, Aring Bautista, Horacio Morelos, Marcela Garcia, Herminia Caranza, Eddie Earcia, Apolonia Aguilar

THE FIFTIES # 665: JOSE PADILLA, JR., CELIA FLOR, WITH ALFONSO CARVAJAL, CARLOS SALAZAR IN "MARIA MERCEDES" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Maria Mercedes" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 15- 24, 1953/ Dalisay

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Angel Fernandez

Music Maj. Antonio Buenaventura

Direction Nemesio E. Caravana

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Celia Flor/ Also Starring Alfonso Carvajal, Carlos Salazar/ Also Starring Annie Sales, Patsy Mateo, Nora Linda, Minda Miranda, N.E. Caravana, Agnes Rey

THE FIFTIES # 664: ARMANDO GOYENA AND TESSIE QUINTANA, WITH TONY SANTOS, CARLOS SALAZAR, GIL DE LEON IN "PHILIPPINE NAVY" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Philippine Navy" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 5- 14, 1953/ Dalisay

Serialized in Magong Buhay Magazine

Music Josefino Cenizal

Direction Dr. Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana/ Also Starring Tony Santos, Carlos Salazar, Gil de Leon/ Co-starring Frankie Gordon, Ben Medina, Arturo Adams, Natoy Katindig, Miniong Alvarez

See: Armando Goyena- Tessie Quintana Screen Tandem: Love Team of the 50s

THE FIFTIES # 662: MILA DEL SOL, JAIME DE LA ROSA, NIDA BLANCA, NESTOR DE VILLA, TONY SANTOS, WITH JOHNNY REYES, ELENA ACOSTA, BEN MEDINA, JOSE DE CORDOVA IN AVELLANA'S "HARING SOLOMON AT REYNA SHEBA" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Haring Solomon at Reyna Sheba" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 21- 30, 1952/ Life

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Mila del Sol, Jaime de la Rosa/ Also Starring Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Tony Santos/ Co-starring Johnny Reyes, Elena Acosta, Ben Medina, Jose de Cordova, Arturo Moran, Mario Roldan