THE FIFTIES # 188: CESAR RAMIREZ, MYRNA DELGADO, NORMA VALES, RIC RODRIGO IN "TRES MUSKITERAS" (1954)

"Tres Muskiteras" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date February 9- 18, 1954

Direction Nardo Vercudia

Cast Cesar Ramirez, Myrna Delgado, Norma Vales, Ric Rodrigo, Aruray, Bayani, Precy Ortega

THE FIFTIES # 187: PANCHO MAGALONA AND GLORIA ROMERO IN "MUSIKONG BUMBONG" (1954)

"Musikong Mumbong" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date February 3-12, 1954/ Center

Story Dr. Fausto J. Galauran

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Pancho magalona, Gloria Romero, Boy Alano, Rosa Mia, Rebecca del Rio, Etang Discher, Horacio Morelos

THE FIFTIES # 186: LILIA DIZON AND ARMANDO GOYENA IN "TUCYDIDES" (1954)

"Tucydides" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 30- February 8, 1954/ Dalisay

Story Dominador Ad Castillo

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Artemio Marquez

Cast Lilia Dizon, Armando Goyena, Milagros Naval, Cecilia Lopez, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Florentino Ballecer, Victor Blanco, Pacita Corrales, Belen Velasco

Armando Goyena and Lilia Dizon in LVN Pictures' "Tucydides" (1954)

THE FIFTIES # 185: JAIME DE LA ROSA, TESSIE QUINTANA AND PRISCILLA CELLONA IN "DALAWANG PANATA" (1954)

"Dalawang Panata" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 20-29, 1954/ Dalisay

Story A.C. Bagabaldo

Music S.S. Suarez

Direction Billy Icasiano

Cast Jaime dela Rosa, Tessie Quintana, Priscilla Cellona, Carmencita Palma, Oscar Obligacion, Chito Navarro, Miguel Lopez, Roger Nite, Zenny Garcia, Nora Dy, Baby Zenny

THE FIFTIES # 184: OSCAR MORENO AND PARALUMAN IN "SARAWAK" (1954)

"Sarawak" (1954)

Palanca Bros. Productions

Release Date January 8-13, 1954/ Times

Story Potenciano A. Palanca & Jesus Esguerra

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Oscar Moreno, Paraluman, Elvira Reyes, Sonia Reyes, Restie Sandel, Basilio de Luis, Nilda Balmori, Linda Martinez

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARMEN ROSALES AND ROGELIO DE LA ROSA IN "LAMBINGAN" (1940)

"Lambingan" (1940)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date July 7-16, 1940/ Grand Theater

Direction Lorenzo P. Tuells

Cast Carmen Rosales, Rogelio de la Rosa, Precioso Palma, Bert Le Roy, Juanita Angeles, Rosa Aguirre, Jaime Castellvi

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO AND NORMA BLANCAFLOR IN "FLORES DE MAYO" (1940)

"Flores de Mayo" (1940)

Filippine Films Productions

Direction by Nick Osmena 

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Norma Blancaflor, Precioso Palma, Mina de Gracia (or Paraluman)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ELSA ORIA, ERNESTO LA GUARDIA AND LILIAN VELEZ IN L.V. AVELLANA'S "INDAY" (1940)

"Inday" (1940)

Filippine Films

Story Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana 

Cast Elsa Oria, Ernesto La Guardia, Lilian Velez, Gregorio Ticman, Guilermo Carls, Vicenta Fernandez, Nati Rubi, Letty Perez, Vicente Ocampo, Fidel de Castro, Jerry & His Romancers, Socorro Campillos

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: FERNANDO POE AND LUCITA GOYENA IN "DALAGANG PILIPINA" (1940)

"Dalagang Pilipina" (1940)

X'otic Films

Release Date May 29- June 6, 1940/ Metropolitan

Story Fausto Galauran

Direction Eduardo Castro

Cast Fernando Poe, Lucita Goyena, Manuel Eloriaga, Cecilio Joaquin, Luningning, Domingo Principe, Sonia Reyes, Jose Troni, Martina Jimenez, Anotnia Santos

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: SERAFIN GARCIA AND MONA LISA IN "TINANGAY NG APOY" (1940)

"Tinangay ng Apoy" (1940)

X'Otic Films, Inc.

Release Date September 24- 29, 1940/ Fox

Story Hilaria Labog

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Serafin Garcia, Mona Lisa, Amanding Montes, Prima Vera, Armando Cris, Sonia Reyes, Juanito Lazaga, Pugo & Togo

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: FERNANDO POE, PARALUMAN AND MONA LISA IN "PARALUMAN" (1941)

"Paraluman"

X'otic Films, Inc.

Release Date February 12-19, 1941/ Grand

Story Susana de Guzman

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Fernando Poe, Paraluman, Mona Lisa, Salvador Zaragoza, Amanding Montes, Manuel Eloriaga, Jose Troni, Lina Rosales, Martina Jimenez

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA AND ROSARIO MORENO IN "INANG MAHAL" (1939)

“Inang Mahal” (1939)

Sampaguita Pictures

Cast Rosario Moreno, Rogelio de la Rosa, Soledad Aquino, Teddy Benavides, Carmen Martinez, Melquiades Francisco, Freddy Querry, Mariano Adan, Rolando Liwanag, Ramon Escudero

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSARIO MORENO AND ERNESTO LA GUARDIA IN "MAHAL PA RIN KITA" (1940)

“Mahal Pa Rin Kita” (1940)

Excelsior Pictures, Inc.

Release Date September 21 -27, 1940/ Grand Theater

Story Agustin V. Reyes

Music Constancio de Guzman

Direction  Jesus Carreon

Cast Rosario Moreno, Ernesto La Guardia, Nati Rubi, Guillermo E. Carls, Pedro Faustino, Franco Garcia, Joaquin Gavino, Mercedes de Gavino, Consuelo Menendez, Digna Amor

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA AND CORAZON NOBLE IN "PASANG KRUS" (1939)

"Pasang Krus" (1939)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date May 30- June 12, 1939/ Grand Theater

Story Susana de Guzman and Mateo Cruz Cornelio

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Corazon Noble, Rogelio de la Rosa, Rosa Aguirre, Naty Rubi, Justina David, Billy Vizcarra, Carmen Martinez, Salvador Tinsay, Francisco Monroy

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ATANG DE LA RAMA IN "MAHIWAGANG BINIBINI (ANG KIRI)" (1939)

"Mahiwagang Binibini (Ang Kiri)" (1939)

Diwata Films

Release Date April 5-11, 1939/ Grand Theater

Cast Atang de la Rama, Precioso Palma, Carmen Rosales, Nilo Barredo, Gregorio Ticman, Flor Ballecer, Conrado Santiago

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: GERARDO DE LEON AND TITO AREVALO IN "AMA AT ANAK" (1939)

National Artist for Film, Gerardo 'Gerry' de Leon, both as Actor and Director---

"Ama at Anak" (1939)

Parlatone Productions

Release Date June 22- July 2, 1939/ Fox

Direction Gerardo de Leon 

Cast Gerardo de Leon, Tito Arevalo, Lilia Vizconde, Virginia Salcedo, Armando Cris, Eduardo Infante, Edy Nagali, Laling Talti

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSA DEL ROSARIO AND LEOPOLDO SALCEDO IN " ANG KUMPISALAN AT ANG BATAS" (1937)

"Ang Kumpisalan at ang Batas" (1937)

Filippine Films

Release Date July 1, 1937/ Fox

Direction Rod Avlas

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Leopoldo Salcedo, Gregorio Fernandez

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: CARLOS PADILLA IN "GAGAMBA" (1937)

“Gagamba” (1937)

Parlatone Hispano-Filipino, Inc.

Release Date May 31, 1937/ Fox

Story Gregorio C. Coching

Direction Mar I. Esmeralda

Cast Carlos Padilla, Maria Clara Ruiz, Angelita Rey, Exequiel Segovia, Alfredo Javier, Teddy Benavidez

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 38: LUNINGNING AND SERAFIN GARCIA IN "HALIMAW" (1941)

 "Halimaw" (1941)

X-Otic Films

Release Date August 19- 27, 1941/ Dalisay 

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Luningning, Serafin Garcia, Patring Carvajal, Nena Serrano, Martina Jimenez, Jose Troni, Manuel Eloriaga, Armando Cris, Salvador Zaragosa, Jose Cris Soto, Bayani Casimiro

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 37: FERNANDO POE AND LUCITA GOYENA IN "BIYAK NA BATO" (1939)

"Biyak na Bato" (1939)

X-Otic Films

Release Date Dec. 30, 1939- Jan. 9, 1940/ Metropolitan

Story Dr. Fausto Galauran 

Direction Jose Nepomuceno 

Cast Fernando Poe, Lucita Goyena, Luningning, Serafin Garcia, Precioso Palma, Cecilio Joaquin, Rolando Liwanag, Martina Jimenez, Juanito Lazaga, Matty Torres, Pedro Martinez, Andres Cetenero

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 36: JOSE PADILLA, JR. IN "ANG KAMAY NA BAKAL" (1938)

"Ang Kamay na Bakal" (1938)

Filippine Films Production 

Release Date June 6- 13, 1938/ Fox

Direction Ernesto C. Lopez 

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Lilia Vizconde, Andres Guevara, Patria Rosal, Salvador Zaragoza, Miguel Anzures, Juanita Angeles, Guillermo E. Carls, Ben de Luna 

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 35: ROSA DEL ROSARIO AND GREGORIO FERNANDEZ IN "TAONG DEMONYO" (1937)

"Taong Demonyo" (1937)

Filippine Films

Release Date August 24, 1937/ Fox

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Gregorio Fernandez, Domingo Principe, Rita Rica, Leopoldo Salcedo, Pedro Faustino

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor 

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 34: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA AND LUCITA GOYENA IN "TENIENTE ROSARIO" (1937)

 "Teniente Rosario" (1937) 

Parlatone Hispano-Filipino, Inc. 

Release Date June 17, 1939/ Fox & Savoy 

Direction Octavio Silos 

Cast Lucita Goyena, Rogelio de la Rosa, Andres Centenera, Silvia Rosales, Precioso Palma, Teddy Benavides 

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

RARE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS # 33: ROSA DEL ROSARIO AND ROGELIO DE LA ROSA IN "TIANAK" (1932)

"Tianak" (1932)
Release Date September 30, 1932/ Tivoli
Direction by Jose Nepomuceno
Cast Rosa del Rosario and Rogelio de la Rosa 
Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

THE FIFTIES # 183: ARMANDO GOYENA AND EVELYN VILLAR IN "KAPITAN KIDLAT NGAYON!" (1953)

"Kapitan Kidlat Ngayon!" (1953)

Sequel to "Kapitan Kidlat"

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 1-10, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Oscar del Rosario

Cast Armando Goyena, Evelyn Villar, Alfonso Carvajal, Oscar del Rosario, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Casmot, Carmencita Abad, Arturo Moran, Miguel Lopez, Florentino Garcia, Helen Nazario & Menandro Ramos

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 124: JOSE PADILLA, JR. AND AMPARO KARAGDAG IN "LIHIM NA BAYANI" (1949)

"Lihim na Bayani" (1949)

Premiere Productions

Release Date January 1- 10, 1949/ Life

Direction Ramon A. Estella

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Amparao Karagdag, Virginia Montes, Frankie Gordon, Ding Tello, Angel Suntay

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 123: NORMA BLANCAFLOR AND TONY ARNALDO IN "HULING DALANGIN" (1948)

"Huling Dalangin"

LVN Pictures

Release Date October 10-21, 1948/ Center

Music Constancio de Guzman

Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Norma Blancaflor, Tony Arnaldo, Rosa Rosal, Victor Svilla, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Engracio Ibarra, Justina David, Eliseo Carvajal, Mike Accion, Constancio de Guzman, Juanito Montes, Leonor Carmona, Pablo Virtuoso

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 122: ARSENIA FRANCISCO AND TEDDY BENAVIDEZ IN "DOLOROSA" (1948)

"Dolorosa" (1948)

Leyte Motion Pictures

Release Date June 11- 16, 1948/ Center

Music Josefino Cenizal

Direction Estrella Alfon- Rivera

Cast Arsenia Francisco, Teddy Benavidez, Pacita del Rio, Rafael Jimenez, Jose Cris Soto, Pedro Faustino, Billy Liliput, Jesse Fernandez, Africa dela Rosa

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 121: CARLOS PADILLA AND ERLINDA CORTES IN "ITANONG SA BULAKLAK" (1948)

"Itanong Mo sa Bulaklak" (1948)

Premiere Productions

Release Date June 8- 2, 1948/ Dalisay

Music Antonio Maiquez

Direction Paquito Bolero

Cast Carlos Padilla and Erlinda Cortes

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 120: ARSENIA FRANCISCO AND ANGEL ESMERALDA IN "PIPIT-PUSO" (1948)

"Pipit-Puso" (1948)

Mabuhay Pictures

Release Date July 15- 23, 1948/ Boulevard

Story Jesus Esguerra

Music Conrado Conde

Direction Col. Jacinto B. Chong

Cast Arsenia Francisco, Angel Esmeralda, Gil de Leon, Tito Arevalo, Tolindoy, Lily Miraflor, Jose Luz Bernardo, Africa dela Rosa, Candida Valderama, Florentino Lapus, Simeon Reyes, Rosario Gatmaitan

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 119: TEDDY DENAVIDEZ AND MONA LISA IN "PAG-IBIG AT PATALIM" (1948)

"Pag-ibig at Patalim" (1948)

GLM Prodyctions

Release Date June 14- 22, 1948/ Boulevard

Music Ray Alinsod

Direction Ernesto C. Lopez

Cast Teddy Benavidez, Mona Lisa, Amparo Aquino, Salvador Zaragosa, Luis Vizconde

THE FIFTIES # 182: DELIA RAZON AND MARIO MONTENEGRO IN "3 LABUYO" (1953)

"3 Labuyo" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date April 5- 14, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Richard Abelardo

Cast Delia razon, Mario Montenegro, Tony Santos, Alfonso Carvajal, Casmot, Letty Alonso, Jose Corazon de Jesus

THE FIFTIES # 181: TITA DURAN, PANCHO MAGALONA AND DOLPHY IN "SA ISANG SULYAP MO TITA" (1953)/ Re-posted

"Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita" (1953)
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date August 8-17, 1953
Music Tirso Cruz and his Manila Hotel Orchestra
Direction Armano Garces
Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Dolphy, Aruray, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Aring Bautista, Consuelo P. Osorio, Bert Guinto, Eddie Garcia, Bert Olivar, Ricardo Mirasol, Artemio Tecson


Courtesy of Sampaguita Pictures

I finally got to see "Sa Isang Sulyap Mo Tita" (1953), dubbed as one of the biggest and spectacular musical movies in the 50s and starring the country's popular reel-and-real life sweetheart and husband-and-wife tandem in Philippine movies, Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. With the backdrop and setting in the life in the navy, it reminds me of two of my favorite Hollywood musical classics--- "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) and "On the Town" (1949)

. Pancho Magalona and Dolphy as the navy men or sailors, ala-Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, are in days off and they’re out to have lots of fun, singing, dancing and drinking. As they say, they're out to "paint the town red."

Dolphy, probably his first major movie role as Pancho’s buddy, exhibits his awesome dancing skills (see movie clip below).

Courtesy of Sampaguita Pictures

"Anchors Aweigh" (1945) / "On the Town" (1949)

THE FIFTIES # 180: OSCAR MORENO AND ERLINDA CORTES IN "MAY ISANG TSUPER NG TAXI" (1953)

"May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi" (1953)

Lebran Productions

Release Date July 14- 23, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Oscar Moreno, Erlinda Cortes, Oscar Keese, Conrado Conde, Juan Monteiro, Andres Iturbi, Etang Discher, Norma Buenaobra, Noemi de Leon, Paquito Legaspi, Ric Balmori, Ching Macabasco

THE FIFTIES # 179: NIDA BLANCA AND NESTOR DE VILLA IN L.V. AVELLANA'S "HIYASMIN" (1953)

"Hiyasmin" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 31, 1953- January 9, 1954

Story Gemiliano Pineda

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Tony Santos, Gil de Leon, Johnny Reyes, Arturo Moran, Carmencita Abad, Casmot, Vic Silayan, Priscilla Ramirez

Photo, courtesy of LVN Pictures

THE FIFTIES # 178: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND CELIA FLOR IN AVELLANA'S "LOIDA: ANG AKING PAG-IBIG" (1953)

"Loida: Ang Aking Pag-ibig" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date May 5- 14, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Jaime de la Rosa and Celia Flor

THE FIFTIES # 177: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND EDNA LUNA IN MARS RAVELO'S "DYESEBEL" (1953)

 "Dyesebel"
Premiere Productions
Release Date July 4- 13, 1953/ Dalisay 
Story Mars Ravelo
Direction Gerardo de Leon
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Carol Varga, Fernando Royo and Edna Luna in the title role

Dyesebel first appeared in the pages of Pilipino Komiks in the 50s. Created by renowned and prolific Filipino novelist Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres, the komiks novel has been adapted into movies in 1953, 1973, 1978, 1990 and 1996. A sequel was made in 1964, “Anak ni Dyesebel.” Here's the first and last installments of that original version of Dyesebel, as it made its memorable run in 1952 to 53.

Unang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1952

click images to enlarge

Katapusang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

click images to enlarge

Source: Komiks materials from

the collection of Steve Santos