Monday, October 20, 2008

VILMA SANTOS IN "THE LONGEST HUNDRED MILES" (1967)

In 1967, young Vilma Santos appeared briefly in The Longest Hundred Miles, an international movie starred in by Hollywood stars like Doug McCLure, Katherine Ross (The Graduates, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) and Ricardo Montalban (TV series' Fantasy Island). Ably supported by veteran Filipino talents--- Ronald Remy, Vic Silayan, Berting Labra, Vic Diaz, Danilo Jurado and Helen Thompson.

The Longest Hundred Miles (1967)- Stars Doug McClure, Katherine Ross and Ricardo Montalban/ with Ronald Remy, Helen Thompson, Berting Labra, Vic Silayan Vic Diaz, Vilma Santos, Danilo Jurado/ Directed by Don Weis




(Courtesy of happyslix)


Sunday, October 12, 2008

THE OTHER POE: ANDY / MOVIE ADS Circa 1967-72

Alamat ng 7 Kilabot (1967)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Joseph Estrada, Jess Lapid, Bob Soler and Zaldy Zshornack/ with Dan Moreno and Roberto Talabis/ Introducing Andy Poe/ Directed by Armando A. Herrera


Andy Poe is the real Fernando Poe, Jr. He was third of six siblings, born after Elizabeth, Ronald Allan and after Genevieve (or Jenny), Frederick and Evangeline. He had to assume another screen name when his real name was used by his brother, Ronald Allan Poe. He was introduced as Andy Poe in the 1967 western movie, Alamat ng 7 Kilabot, starred in by top action stars that time. In his second movie, Matimbang ang Dugo sa Tubig, he shared top billing with his brother, Da King himself, FPJ. He gained full stardom in Jingy and El Nino, both released in 1968.



Matimbang ang Dugo sa Tubig (1967)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Andy Poe, Perla Bautista, Lito Anzures, Victor Bravo and Quiel Segovia/ Directed by D'Lanor

Jingy (1968)- Stars Andy Poe, Paquito Diaz, Alicia Alonzo, Lito Anzures, Victor Bravo, Pablo Virtuoso, Dencio Padilla/ Directed by Efren Reyes


Dos Por Dos (1967)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Joseph Estrada, Andy Poe and George Estregan/ with Imelda Ilanan, Mary Ann Murphy, Paquito Diaz, Romy Diaz/ Directed by Armando Garces

El Nino (1968)- Stars Andy Poe, Pilar Pilapil, Berting Labra, Rocco Montalban, Resty Sandel, Joaquin Fajardo and Leticia Ojera/ Directed by D'Lanor

Ang Nabubuhay sa Baril (1969)- Stars Andy Poe, Liza Lorena, Lito Anzures, Victor Bravo, manolo Robles,Vic Varrion, Mario Escudero, Resty Sandel, Romy Diaz, Roberto Talabis, Dencio Padilla/ Directed by Jose De Villa

Brothers For Hire (1969)- Stars Andy Poe, George Estregan, Mario Montenegro, Imelda Ilanan, Mary Ann Murphy, Paquito Diaz and Romy Diaz/ Directed by Augusto Buenaventura

Mga Alabastro (1969)- Stars Bob Soler, Eddie Gutierrez, Andy Poe, Jojo Salvador, Ace York, Rosemarie Gil, Nova Villa/ Directed by Armando A. Herrera

Durando (1970)- Stars Andy Poe, Paquito Diaz, Eddie Garcia and Merle Fernandez/ with Ding Salvador, Ruel Vernal/ Introducing Daria Ramirez/ Directed by Leroy Salvador

Gonzales (1970)- Stars Andy Poe, Rosanna Ortiz, Eva Marie, Mona Lissa, Anna Ledesma/ Directed by Leroy Salvador



The Alvarados (1970)- Stars Andy Poe, George Estregan, Angelito Marquez and Leopoldo Salcedo/ with Rosanna Ortiz, Anita Linda, Berting Labra, Boy ALano/ Directed by Artemio Marquez


Bugoy (1971)- Stars Andy Poe, Paquito Diaz, Robert Jaworski, Rebecca, Lito Anzures, Victor Bravo, Nello Nayo/ Featuring Romy Diaz and Zernan Manahan/ Directed by D'Lanor




Dimasupil Brothers (1971)- Stars Andy Poe, Paquito Diaz, Robert Jaworski, Romy Diaz, Jumbo, Alberto 'Big Boy' Reynoso Freddie Webb and Lou Salvador, Sr./ Directed by Manuel Cinco

Bank Robbery (1971)- Stars Tony Ferrer, Andy Poe, Nick Romano and Rosanna Ortiz/ with Leopoldo Salcedo, Martin Marfil, Bruno Punzalan, Jose Vilafranca/ Directed by Armando de Guzman


Berdugo (1972)- Stars Andy Poe, Paquito Diaz, Robert Jaworski and Leopoldo Salcedo/ with Rebecca, Lito Anzures, Victor Bravo, Nello Nayo, Ruel Vernal/ Directed by D'Lanor

The Cat Patrol (1972)- Stars Andy Poe, Fred Galang, Ricky Rogers, Scarlett Revilla, Lorelei and Eva Linda/ Directed by Fred Galang

Kung Matapang Ka! (1972)- Stars Andy Poe, Romy Diaz, Pablo Virtuoso, Roderick Paulate and Divina Valencia/ with Martin Marfil, Avel Morado, Renato Del Prado/ Directed by Manuel Cinco

Friday, October 10, 2008

PINOY MOVIE HEROES # 5: BERNARD BONNIN AS CAPTAIN KARATE

Besides scaling the walls and doing dangerous stunts in countless unforgettable movies as Alyas Palos and Alyas Gagamba, one of country's 60s top action stars Bernard Bonnin also starred in another but less popular Pinoy movie hero--- as Captain Karate.

Captain Karate (1965)- Stars Bernard Bonnin, Max Alvarado, Bessie Barredo, Johnny Stuart, Margie Tanquintic, Tugak and the SOS Daredevils/ Directed by George E. Rowe


Target: Captain Karate (1968)- Stars Bernard Bonnin, Divina Valencia, Vic Silayan, Bert Olivar, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Elas Bouffard/ Directed by George Rowe

Monday, October 6, 2008

RITA GOMEZ AS FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "MALDITA" (1953) AND "TALIPANDAS" (1958): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION



When Sampaguita was in the process of scouting for an actress to play the role of Maldita, another popular F.V. Coching character in Pilipino Komiks, Coching insisted on Rita Gomez, whom he had seen in the Gerry de Leon film, Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (based on Amado Yasona komiks serial). His choice could not have been more apt as the film went on to become one of the top moneymakers in 1953. Gomez was herself on her way to becoming a fine performer, as attested to by her Famas Best Actress award in the 1958 adaptation of another Coching komiks serial Talipandas, playing the character of the bar girl with a heart of gold, which was also one of the country’s official entries to the Asian Film Festival that year.

Maldita (1953)- Stars Rita Gomez, Pancho Magalona, Boy Alano, Tony Cayado, Bella Flores, Aruray, Martin Marfil/ Directed by Enrique Moreno (or Eddie Romero)


Maldita- Story and penned by Franscico V. Coching/ serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1953



Left- Talipandas (1958)- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Van de Leon, Carlos Salazar, Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala, Pacita Arana, Ely Roque/ Directed by Conrado Conde

Right- Talipandas- Story and penned by Fransciso V. Coching/ serialized in Espesyal Komiks/ 1958


Thursday, October 2, 2008

FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S EARLY FILM VENTURES (Circa 1947-51)

Francisco V. Coching, illustrator and master storyteller, is a towering figure in the world of Philippine comics. A self-taught artist, Coching mesmerized his readers with his remarkable and stunning pen-and-ink illustrations for four decades--- from Hagibis in the late 40s to Pedro Penduko in the 50s, Tiagong Lundag in the 60s and El Vibora in the 70s.


Hagibis (1947)- Stars Fernando Poe, Sr., Erlinda Cortez, Pacita del Rio, Rolando Liwanag, Rosa Mia/ Music by Lucio San Pedro/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana


Coching’s first serialized novel and probably the first in the history of Philippine comics to be filmed was Hagibis in 1947, starring Fernando Poe, Sr. Hagibis, which ran in the pages of Liwayway magazine from 1947 to 1950 was to become a big hit at the tills. Inspired by the characters of Kulafu by Francisco and Pedrino Reyes and Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan, Hagibis proved to be so popular that it was followed by five adventure-filled sequels. With the phenomenal success of Hagibis, Coching’s fame was secured.

Bertong Balutan (1950)- Stars Fernando Poe, Sr., Patricia Mijares, Fred Penalosa, Salvador Zaragosa

Also adapted into the big screen was the 1950 movie, Bertong Balutan, another Fernando Poe starrer. But Coching’s more successful early film venture was Satur, an LVN production directed by National Artist Lamberto Avellana. With Manuel Conde playing Satur, the devil incarnate and masquerading as a handsome dapper young man in cape, the film further made Coching novels an excellent source of film material.

Source: A Filmic Flight by Justino M. Dormiendo




Satur (1951)- Stars Jaime de la Rosa, Delia Razon and Manuel Conde/ with Alfonso Carvajal, Rosa Aguirre, Jose de Cordova/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana




Satur- serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1950


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

CIRIO H. SANTIAGO, 72



Filmmaker and producer Cirio Santiago died Friday night, September 26, of complications from lung cancer. He was 72. Santiago, who was diagnosed early this year, was pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m. at Makati Medical Center. His doctors declared respiratory failure as the immediate cause.

Santiago was born on January 18, 1936. His parents were Dr. Ciriaco Santiago and the former Adela Hermoso, who established Premiere Productions and later, People’s Pictures after the Second World War. Probinsiyana (1946), directed by Susana de Guzman was their first production.

Basketball was among his early passions, being a member of NCAA’s Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagle team in the 50s, but film was his bigger passion. He directed his first movie, Paltik in 1954 at the age of 19 and got a Famas nomination for it. Also that year, he won Asian Film Festival Best Story and Screenplay for Ifugao held in Tokyo, Japan. His achievements were recognized early in his career and he became a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) recipient in 1960.


He also did a lot of co-production ventures with other countries, among them, Day of the Trumpet (1957), Man on the Run (1958), Tokyo 1960, Kim, Big Doll House (1971), Women in Cages (1971), The Big Bird Cage (1972).



Cirio also directed some of FPJ memorable movies--- Laban sa Lahat (1958), Pepeng Kaliwete (1958), Hawaiian Boy (1959), Leon Marahas (1962), Masikip ang Daigdig (1962) and Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Mata (1963).

For more on Cirio H. Santiago, follow these links
andrewleavold.blogspot.com- farewell-cirio.html
andrewleavold.blogspot.com- Cirio H. Santiago Filmography

PAUL NEWMAN, 83


Paul Newman one of the last of the great 20th-century movie stars, died Friday at his home in Westport, Conn. He was 83. The cause was cancer, said Jeff Sanderson of Chasen & Company, Mr. Newman’s publicists.

If Marlon Brando and James Dean defined the defiant American male as a sullen rebel, Paul Newman recreated him as a likable renegade, a strikingly handsome figure of animal high spirits and blue-eyed candor whose magnetism was almost impossible to resist, whether the character was Hud, Cool Hand Luke or Butch Cassidy.


He acted in more than 65 movies over more than 50 years, drawing on a physical grace, unassuming intelligence and good humor that made it all seem effortless.

Yet he was also an ambitious, intellectual actor and a passionate student of his craft, and he achieved what most of his peers find impossible: remaining a major star into a craggy, charismatic old age even as he redefined himself as more than Hollywood star. He raced cars, opened summer camps for ailing children and became a nonprofit entrepreneur with a line of foods that put his picture on supermarket shelves around the world.


Mr. Newman made his Hollywood debut in the 1954 costume film “The Silver Chalice” Stardom arrived a year and a half later, when he inherited from James Dean the role of the boxer Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me.” Mr. Dean had been killed in a car crash before the screenplay was finished.

Mr. Newman’s filmography was a cavalcade of flawed heroes and winning antiheroes stretching over decades. In 1958 he was a drifting confidence man determined to marry a Southern belle in an adaptation of “The Long, Hot Summer.” In 1982, in “The Verdict,” he was a washed-up alcoholic lawyer who finds a chance to redeem himself in a medical malpractice case.



And in 2002, at 77, having lost none of his charm, he was affably deadly as Tom Hanks’ gangster boss in “Road to Perdition.” It was his last onscreen role in a major theatrical release. (He supplied the voice of the veteran race car Doc in the Pixar animated film “Cars” in 2006.)

Few major American stars have chosen to play so many imperfect men.

As Hud Bannon in “Hud” (1963) Mr. Newman was a heel on the Texas range who wanted the good life and was willing to sell diseased cattle to get it. The character was intended to make the audience feel “loathing and disgust,” Mr. Newman told a reporter. Instead, he said, “we created a folk hero.”

As the self-destructive convict in “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) Mr. Newman was too rebellious to be broken by a brutal prison system. As Butch Cassidy in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) he was the most amiable and antic of bank robbers, memorably paired with Robert Redford. And in “The Hustler” (1961) he was the small-time pool shark Fast Eddie, a role he recreated 25 years later, now as a well-heeled middle-aged liquor salesman, in “The Color of Money” (1986).


That performance, alongside Tom Cruise, brought Mr. Newman his sole Academy Award, for best actor, after he had been nominated for that prize six times. In all he received eight Oscar nominations for best actor and one for best supporting actor, in “Road to Perdition.” “Rachel, Rachel,” which he directed, was nominated for best picture.

The New York Times/
September 27, 2008