Video 48: December 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

DECEMBER 30: RIZAL EXECUTION REENACTMENT

Actor Pancho Magalona as Jose Rizal did a re-enactment of the hero's execution during the rites commemorating Rizal's 66th death anniversary in 1962.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

"CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY" (1965)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!!

"Christmas Holiday" (1965)- Stars Eddie Mesa, Helen Gamboa, Jerry Pons, Joe de Castro, Ollie dela Pena, Dulce Lucban, Ponga/ Directed by Pablo Santiago

Sunday, December 20, 2009

"PASKO NG LIMANG MAGDALENA" (1965)

In the cold, chilly Christmas of 1965, filmgoers were treated not with fantasy, horror and other regular typical movies that we normally see during the Metro Manila Film Festivals, but with this irresistible, sizzling movie titled “Pasko ng Limang Magdalena.” The movie, billed as “an action and dramatic explosion in x’mas wrapping,” it starred five of the popular sex sirens of the 60s, Divina Valencia, Daisy Romualdez, Ruby Regala, Lucita Soriano and Miriam Jurado. The five were ably supported by five moviedom’s great character actors, Eddie Garcia, Robert Campos, Max Alvarado, Rodolfo ‘Boy’ Garcia and Rod Navarro.

"Pasko ng Limang Magdalena" (1965)- Stars Divina Valencia, Daisy Romualdez, Ruby Regala, Lucita Soriano and Miriam Jurado/ with Eddie Garcia, Robert Campos, Max Alvarado, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia & Rod Navarro/ Directed by Armando Garces

Friday, December 18, 2009

A VERY ELUSIVE NORA MOVIE AD

When I posted an entry on Nora and Vilma last year, I was hard-pressed to locate the newspaper ad of Nora’s And God Smiled at Me. This was to complement the blog entry I’ll be posting that time. It’s quite difficult for me to find one since the movie's opening date falls on October 15, right after the declaration of Martial Law (Sept. 21). All publications then were ordered closed.

However, I stumble this ad a couple of weeks ago and want to share it with you especially with the Noranians.

More on Nora---

The International Circle of Online Noranians, in cooperation with the UP Film Institute, will be commemorating the 25th anniversary of ’Merika, Condemned,and Bulaklak sa City Jail with a FREE screening of the films at the Videotheque of the UP Film Institute, UP Diliman, on December 19, 2009 (Saturday), starting at 1:00 pm.

The schedule is as follows:
1:00 pm, ’Merika
2:45 pm, Bulaklak sa City Jail
7:00 pm, Condemned

A program will be held—featuring a panel discussion with guests and the soft launch of the DVD of Bona and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos from NV Productions and Ivory Music & Video—between 4:30 and 7:00 pm at the UPFI Bernal Gallery. The public is invited

Thursday, December 17, 2009

A FILIPINO STEALS SCENE IN "OPERATION PETTICOAT" (1959)

An unknown Filipino actor appeared in a guest role as a farmer in the 1959 Cary Grant-Tony Curtis movie, "Operation Petticoat." He almost stole the scene from the two great Hollywood stars. Here’s that memorable film clip below---

Rear Admiral Matt Sherman (Cary Grant) visits the submarine Sea Tiger on the morning of its decommissioning and reminisces about his time as the first commander of the boat, in 1941. Three days after Pearl Harbor, the sub is damaged during an enemy air raid in the

Philippines

; rather than abandoning her, Sherman and his chiefs refloat the boat. He's forced to accept the services of Lt. Nick Holden (Tony Curtis), who has no sea experience. Curtis sneaks a handful of Philippine refugees and several gorgeous nurses into the all-male sub and all breaks loose. A very delightful Blake Edwards classic.

TV host and comedian Ariel Ureta, a popular TV personality in the 70s, started out as an advertising man. He got into television via noontime show, “Ariel Con Tina,” with co-host, teen star Tina Revilla in the early 70s, replacing “Stop, Look and Listen.” This was later replaced by another show called “Twelve O’clock High.”

The slogan that got him into deep trouble

What I remember most about Ariel was when he was made to ride a bicycle at CampCrame because he dared to say: “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, bisikleta ang kailangan,” instead of “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.” It happened during the early part of Martial Law. Ariel later sported a very short haircut when he appeared in his program, as part of the punishment, I suppose.

He also appeared in the movies early in his showbiz career, zooming as Superman in “Zoom, Zoom Superman” and as Popeye, Dracula and Dyango in “Si Popeye, atbp.” He went on to do more TV shows in the mid 70s, among this was the top rating early night show “Ariel & Co. After Six.”

Today, he hosted Todo-Todo Walang Preno, a top-rating and award-winning DZMM teleradyo program with Winnie Cordero. What keeps me glued to his program is Ariel’s vast knowledge of almost any topics which he shares with listeners and televiewers. He loves to crack jokes and share some of his funny experiences. As Ariel once said, “pag napatawa natin sila… boundary na ako!”

Two back-to- back top rating primetime shows of BBC Channel 2 in 1976--- "Ariel & Co. After Six" (6:30 pm) and "Nothing But the Truth"(8:30 pm) hosted by Inday Badiday.

TV Times/ 1976

(click images to enlarge)

"Zoom, Zoom, Superman" (1973)- Stars Ariel Ureta, Miss Rita Gomez, Boots Anson-Roa, Rosanna Ortiz, Liza Lorena, Celia Rodriguez, Edgar Mortiz, Gina ALajar, Max Alvarado and Gina Pareno/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal, Elwood Perez and Joey Gosiengfiao

"Si Popeye atbp" (1973)- Stars Ariel Ureta, Aurora Pijuan, Celia Rodriguez, Orestes Ojeda, Maricru Del Gallego, Mike Parsons, Cloyd Robinson, Dick Israel and Gina Pareno/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal, Elwood Perez and Joey Gosiengfiao

"Jack and Poy" (1977)- Stars Ariel Ureta and Nino Muhlach/ with Marilou Destreza, Paquito Diaz and Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia/ Direced by Luciano B. Carlos

Monday, December 14, 2009

BEHIND THE SCENES: "SA BAWA'T PATAK NG DUGO" (1960)

"Sa Bawa't Patak ng Dugo" (1960)- Stars Cesar Ramirez, Shirley Gorospe, Johnny Monteiro, Jose Romulo, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Aura Aurea, Teroy de Guzman, Teresita Mendez, Adorable Liwanag/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

“You see a movie and as the scenes roll before your eyes, you may wonder what it is like to be a movie star. On the screen, it seems to be lot of fun, but let us take you into these two double-spreads of scenes during the location shooting of “Sa Bawa’t Patak ng Dugo,” and you will see that a movie star’s life and work are no fun at all.”

click images to enlarge

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ 1960

Friday, December 11, 2009

AMALIANG MALI-MALI VS. SUSANANG DALDAL (1963)

Left- "Amaliang Mali-Mali" (1962)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Amalia Fuentes, Juvy cachola, Bert Le Roy, Jr., Jose Cris Soto, Aruray, Zeny Zabala/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

Right- "Susanang Daldal" (1962)- Stars Susan Roces, Dolphy, Panchito, Eddie Gutierrez, Jean Lopez, Lito Legaspi/ Directed by Romy Villaflor

One group that I love and enjoy so much is the Susan Roces Yahoo Group. This group binds together with one common interest--- their love and devotion to our idol, Ms. Susan Roces. Being a member and an observer, I happen to see how members discuss, interact, share, and comment on various topics--- her career, films, love, etc. They would discuss one topic, and then jump to another and it’s so fun reading their views that keep the site alive and bubbly.

I recalled one time that they have a lively discussion on one particular movie that starred both Susan Roces and Amalia Fuentes, both queens of Philippine Movies in the 6os. They were trying to figure out how the billing turned out in the movie, “Amaliang Mali-Mali vs. Susanang Daldal” or title should be the other way around, one claimed. That’s how the discussion started and I don’t know how it ended. James (dela Rosa) and I can’t find any ad of the said movie, one of the few movie ads missing in our list, more so its theatrical date. I decided to research on it and here it is--- The movie was dubbed as “the championship bout of the century…” goes the blurb and probably one of the wackiest movies that time. The tremendous successes of their respective solo starrers prompted Doc Perez to come up with this movie that delighted many of their fans. It’s a follow-up of their last movie, “Tulisan” in 1962. It went on to smash box-office records when it opened at Life Theater, March 23.

"Amaliang Mali-Mali vs. Susanang Daldal (1963)- Stars Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces, Jose Mari, Eddie Gutierrez, Juvy Cachola, Dindo Fernando, Aruray/ Directed by Romy Villaflor

Kudos to Bing, James, Kathy, Tina, Malou, Yuri, Glory, Glad, Jowana, Shery, our resource persons---Direk Boots & Ms. BabyK .

Thursday, December 10, 2009

JOSE MIRANDA CRUZ' S "HIWAGA SA BAHAY NA BATO" (1962-63): LOCAL TV FIRST TELESERYE

"Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato" (1962-63)/ Written and Directed by Jose Miranda Cruz/ Stars Dalton de Castro, Flora Cristobal, Eva Darren, Teddy Santos, Noel Nolasco, Estela Grande, Lita delos Reyes, Baby Bernardo, Ernesto Fajardo, Lina Chico and Ben David

We had our first television set sometime in 1961 or 62, a black-and-white RCA Victor (there's no color TV that time). I remember rotating the knob and tuning to Channel 3, watching old tagalog classics or Channel 7, with Uncle Bob’s Lucky 7 or reruns of Popeye animated cartoons. At this time, ABS-CBN Channel 3 premiered the first TV soap opera titled Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato. It was aired from Monday to Saturday, 6:30 to 7:00 pm. That was in the latter part of 1962 and as a little boy, I was horrified seeing a monstrous and disfigured hunchback who lived beneath the stone house unknown to the owner, a filthy rich hacendero (played by Dalton de Castro). The hunchback was played by a radio talent, Ben David, who later became popular for being overacting or "OA." He was known portraying Judas or Hudas in Lenten plays and would burst with phrases like “O…Hindi…” or “ngingit ng mga pangit”

Ben David’s love interest was the very young Eva Darren, who up to now is appearing in TV soaps (now called telenovelas or teleseryes). I considered Darren one of the pioneers as far as TV soap operas are concerned.

Hiwaga ran for about 4 to 5 months, from September 1962 to January 1963. It was one of the most successful early soap operas and made unheralded Director Jose Miranda Cruz a household name. Cruz went on to do more soap operas--- Prinsipeng Tulisan, Hanggang May Buhay, Larawan ng Pag-ibig, among others.

Courtesy of ABS-CBN

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

RICHARD ABELARDO: VISUAL EFFECTS MAN PAR EXCELLENCE

Left- "El Diablo" (1949)- Stars Leopoldo Salcedo, Rebecca Gonzales and Alfonso Carvajal/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

Right- "Mutya ng Pasig" (1950)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Rebecca Gonzales, Teody Belarmino and Delia Razon/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

The changing colors of the painted bird and the princes turning into stone in Ibong Adarna, the gangplank over a deep chasm in Prinsesa Urduja, the castle in the air in Prinsesa Basahan, the transformation of Jaime de la Rosa in Taong Paniki, the parting of the Red Sea in Tungkod ni Moises, and the rampaging monster in Tuko sa Madre Kakaw- these are some of the cinematic memories created by Richard Abelardo.

Richard Abelardo - or Mang Kandong to his intimates - is a visual effects man par excellence who pioneered in special effects in the late thirties to fifties and taught the craft to his relatives (brother-in-law Teody Carmona, brother Bayani Abelardo and nephew Benjamin Resella), later important film artists in this field. Richard was born on September 29, 1902 in Bulacan. He learned scene design from his father, Juan Abelardo, the sculptor of the Biak na Bato monument and the foremost scenic artist of his time. His father painted the backdrops of zarzuelas and stage presentations at the Zorilla and other theaters. Early in his teens, he became scenic artist for a photo studio. He was commissioned to do the sets of a silent film being photographed by Ricardo Marcelino. However, the production wasn't finished, but this firmed his resolve to go to Hollywood. He learned to play the saxophone in first cousin Nicanor Abelardo's orchestra and applied as musician in a band playing aboard a President liner. In 1923, he jumped ship in San Francisco and motored to Hollywood.
Because of his-artistic abilities, he became a Union member and was allowed to work in a number of Hollywood productions at Warner Brothers and Universal. Among the films he worked on are The Cat and the Fiddle, Footlight Parade (1933), One Night of Love and Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times.

Because he wanted to see his ailing parents, he went back to Manila in 1936. He was invited by Vicente Salumbides to work on his Florante at Laura (1939). For this, he created the domed palaces of the fictitious royalty. He worked at X'OTIC when it opened in 1939 and was later summoned by his kababayan Dona Sisang to work on Ibong Adarna. He introduced the crane to local filmdom in the movie Palaris and background projection in Ibong Adarna. After the war, he opted to stay in the

Philippines

, working for Palaris Productions, Fernando Poe Sr.'s movie company. He directed his first film for him in 1948 with Malikmata with Jaime de la Rosa. Dona Sisang got him to direct Engkantada (1948) for LVN, about archaeologists stumbling upon the fabled kingdom of Mu ruled by centuries-old Lilia Dizon. As it was the last film of Lilian Velez, it was a big hit at the box-office. His career as film director already established, he, however, continued to do special effects. In 1950, he worked on Fritz Lang's An American Guerrilla in the

Philippines

.
He collaborated with Botong Francisco on two films which he directed: Haring Kobra (1950) and Higit sa Korona (1956). For the former, the duo created stupas and other Balinese structures to visualize a mythical country south of the

Philippines

. For the latter, they recreated the

Egypt

of the Pharoah. They also worked on the big LVN movies directed by Gregorio Fernandez and Lou Salvador Sr. For Doce Pares, they built a Moorish palace atop Intramuros. For Rodrigo de Villa and Prinsipe Tenoso, they had mattes of medieval kingdoms.

"Ang Nuno sa Punso" (1950)- Stars Mila del Sol, Jaime dela Rosa, Gil de Leon, Eusebio Gomez, Lila Luna/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

Richard also pioneered in prosthetics with the hairy face of Jaime de la Rosa in Taong Paniki (1952) and the giant reptile in Tuko sa Madre Kakaw (1959). For Big Shot, he developed a special kind of trick photography that would show dancers atop a ceiling. Aside from films, Richard designed the sets of some theatrical productions, especially those of Bert Avellana's Barangay Theater Guild.

Clearly, Richard Abelardo's achievements have enriched Philippine cinema. (Agustin Sotto/ Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino)

Left- "Taong Paniki" (1952)- Stars Jaime dela Rosa, Delia Razon, Alfonso Carvajal, Frank Gordon, Rosa Aguirre, Gil de Leon/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

Right- "Anak ng Berdugo" (1955)- Stars Armando Goyena, Cecilia Lopez, Johnny Reyes, Oscar Keesee, Joseph de Cordova, Oscar Obligacion/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

Left- "Mariang Sinukuan" (1955)- Stars Mario Montenegro, Cecilia Lopez (first starring role), Milagros Naval/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

Right- "Higit sa Korona" (1956)- Stars Mario Montenegro, Delia Razon, Rosa Rosal/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

"Zarex" (1957)- Stars Carmencita Abad, Willie Sotelo, Jose Vergara, Alfonso Carvajal/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

"Tuko sa Madre Kakaw" (1959)- Stars Nita Javier, Willie Sotelo, Hector Reyes, Luz Valdez, Oscar Obligacion and Vic Diaz/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

"Lastik Man" (1965)- Stars Von Serna/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

"Miranda: Ang Lagalag na Sirena" (1966)- Stars Gloria Romero, Van de Leon, Bella Flores, Matimtiman Cruz, Menchu Morelli and Jing Abalos, Roger Calvin with Marifi (in the title role)/ Directed by Richard Abelardo