THE INCOMPARABLE MANUEL CONDE

Manuel Conde (born Manuel Urbano/ October 9, 1915- August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, writer, director and producer. He was taking up geological engineering and entering the movies was farthest from his mind. It was just accidental. He was a bit player, stuntman, laboratory assistant and a ventriloquist (a puppet named Kiko). He made his first film, Mahiwagang Biyolin in 1935 then later signed a contract for LVN Pictures, where he made almost three dozen films, both as an actor and director. As an actor, he used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s. His first directorial assignment was Sawing Gantingpala in 1939. After the war, Conde directed Orasang Ginto in 1946, considered the "first post-war Filipino picture before and after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor."

Conde made his mark in 1950, with the landmark movie, Genghis Khan, believed to be the best screen adaptation of the legendary Mongol conqueror. He directed other big-budgeted adventure movies --- Seite Infantes de Lara (1950), Sigfredo (1950) and Krus na Kawayan (1956). He was also known for his Juan Tamad series which he lambasted and made fun of the politicians and society’s ills and foibles. He was also best remembered on the several successful Nida Blanca- Nestor de Villa musical comedies he directed like Ikaw Kasi and Bahala Na.

See Manuel Conde as Juan Tamad

Orasang Ginto (1946)- Stars Mila del Sol, Rodrigo 'Bimbo' Danao, Domingo Principe and introducing Elvira Reyes/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Si Juan Tamad (1947)- The first Juan Tamad- Stars Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Nabasag ang Banga (1947)- Stars Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Ben Rubio/ Story and direction by Manuel Rubio

Prinsipe Paris (1949)- Stars Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Luningning/ Directedby Manuel Conde

Siete Infantes de Lara (1950)- Stars Manuel Conde, Mario Montenegro, Johnny Monteiro, Eddie Garcia/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Genghis Khan (1950)- Stars Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Inday Jalandoni, Jose Villafranca/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Apat na Alas (1950)- Stars Manuel Conde, Johnny Monteiro, Mario Montenegro, Johnny Reyes/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Sigfredo (1951) Stars Manuel Conde, Eriinda Cortez, Elvira Reyes, Fernando Royo, Gil de Leon, Johnny Monteiro/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Satur (1951)- Stars Jaime de la Rosa, Delia Razon and Manuel Conde in the title role/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana

Krus na Kawayan (1956) Stars Manuel Conde, Aida Carino, Ding Tello, Myrna Mirasol, Bruno Punzalan/ Directed by Manuel Conde

Selected Filmography:

Sawing Gantimpala (1939) LVN Mila del Sol, Ely Ramos
Maginoong Takas (1939) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Precioso Palma
Binatillo (1939) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Narding Anzures
Villa Hermosa (1940) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Fred Cortez, Precioso Palma, Lirio del Valle
Ararong Ginto (1940) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Carlos Padilla, Sr., Deanna Prieto
Caviteño (1949) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo
Hiyas ng Dagat (1941) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo
Prinsipe Teñoso (1941) LVN Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo
Ang Ibong Adarna (1941) LVN Mila del Sol, Fred Cortez, Deanna Prieto, Ester Magalona, Vicente Oliver, Ben Rubio, ipinailalim sa pangalan ni Vicente Salumbides
Orasang Ginto (1946) LVN Mila del Sol, Bimbo Danao, Elvira Reyes
Alaala Kita (1946) LVN Mila del Sol, Bimbo Danao
Prinsipeng Hindi Tumatawa (1946) LVN Rogelio de la Rosa, Mila del Sol
Doon Po Sa Amin (1946) Mabuhay Pictures Leopoldo Salcedo, Carlos Padilla, Sr., Fernando Royo, Elvira Reyes, Tolindoy
Nabasag ang Banga (1947) Oriental Pictures Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Ben Rubio
Si Juan Tamad (1947) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes
Si Juan Daldal (Anak ni Juan Tamad) (1948) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Lirio del Valle
Vende Cristo (1948) Manuel C Conde, Linda Estrella, Lirio del Valle, Gil de Leon
Prinsipe Paris (1949) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, ipinailalim sa pangalan ni Horace C. Curry
Apat na Alas (1950) LVN Manuet Conde, Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Johnny Reyes, Juan Monteiro, Lou Salvador, ipinailalim sa pangalan ni Prudencio Mariano
Siete Infantes de Lara (1950) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Mario Montenegro, Eddi&Garcia, Johnny Monteiro, ipinailalim sa pangalan ni Manuel Urbano Jr. Genghis Khan (1950) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Lou Salvador, Sr., ipinailalim sa pangalan ni Lou Salvador Sr.
Sigfredo (1951) Lebran Manuel Conde, Eriinda Cortez, Elvira Reyes, Fernando Royo, Gil de Leon, Johnny Monteiro
Señorito (1953) LVN Manuel Conde, Delia Razon, ipinailalim sa pangalan ni Vie Nayve
Pilipino Kustom - No Touch (1955) LVN Mario Montenegro, Emma Alegre, Leroy Salvador
Ang Ibong Adarna (1955) LVN Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa
Ikaw Kasi (1955) LVN Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Nenita Vidal, Manding Claro
Handang Matodas (1956) LVN Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa
Krus na Kawayan (1956) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Aida Carino
Bahala Na (1956) LVN Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Leroy Salvador
Tingnan Natin (1957) LVN Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa
El Robo (1957) LVN Armando Goyena, Delia Razon
Basta Ikaw (1957) LVN Carlos Padilla Jr., Emma Alegre
Casa Grande (1958) LVN "Heredero" episode – Armando Goyena, Mario Montenegro
Venganza (1958) LVN Mario Montenegro, Carmencita Abad, Peria Bautista
Juan Tamad Goes To Congress (1959) Manuel Conde Productions Manuel Conde, Adorable Liwanag, Tessie Quintana
Juan Tamad Goes to Society (1960) LVN Manuel Conde Tessie Quintana
Bayanihan (1960) LVN Nestor de Villa, Carmencita Abad
Molave (1961) Manuel Conde Pictures Manuel Conde, Rosita Noble, Leroy Salvador
Si Juan Tamad at si Juan Masipag sa Pulitikang Walang Hanggan (1963) Manuel Conde Productions, Manuel Conde Tessie Quintana
Tadhana: Ito ang Lahing Pilipino (1977) NMPC pre-spanish episode

Source: Urian Natatanging Gawad 1979