THE FIFTIES # 304: EDNA LUNA, JOSE ROMULO, CORAZON RIVAS IN "EL JUGADOR" (1955)

"El Jugador" (1955)

Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date August 18-27, 1955/ Life

Direction Nemesio E. Caravana

Cast Edna Luna, Jose Romulo, Corazon Rivas, Lauro Delgado, Ramon D'Salva, Ruben Rustia, Ltio Anzures, Neonita Bona

THE FIFTIES # 303: MARIO MONTENEGRO AND NIDA BLANCA IN "INDIAN PANA" (1955)

"Indian Pana" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date August 13- 22, 1955/ Dalaisay

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Story and Direction F. H. Constantino

Cast Mario Montenegro, Nida Blanca, Ike Jarlego, Jr., Tessie San Juan, Jose Vergara, Ven Medina, Patring Carvajal, Perla Garcia, Doro de los Ojos

THE FIFTIES # 302: RIC RODRIGO, LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, NORMA VALES IN "ROSANA" (1955)

"Rosana" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date August 8- 17, 1955/ Life

Story Ben Gallardo

Serialized in Bulaklak Magazine

Music Nestor Robles

Direction Armando Garces

Cast Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Norma Vales/ Introducing Daisy Romualdez

THE FIFTIES # 301: DAVID BRIAN, MARSHA HUNT, HUGH CORCORAN AND IKE JARLEGO, JR. IN "NO PLACE TO HIDE" (1955)/ Re-posted

"No Place To Hide" (1955)

LVN Pictures & Lebran-Movietec

Release Date July 28- August 7, 1955/ Lyric and Life

Original Screenplay Norman Corwin

Music Hershel Gilbert

Direction Josef Shaftel

Cast David Briam, Marsha Hunt, Hugh Corcoran, Ike Jarlego, Jr. and Candy( the wonder dog)/ Guest star: Celia Flor/ with Manuel Silos, Eddie Infante, Alfonso Carvajal, Oscar Keese, Pianing Vidal, Jose de Cordova, Vicenta Advincula, Jose Avellana and Lou Salvador

Did you know that Marsha Hunt, a popular American film, theater, and television actress who was blacklisted by Hollywood movie studio executives in the 1950s, appeared in a Filipino-American movie titled, No Place to Hide? Director Josef Shafter & Co. collaborated with LVN Pictures and Lebran-Movietec to come up with a beautiful movie shot entirely in the Philippines. Filipino child star Ike Jarlego, Jr. had a memorable major role in the movie as one of the two boys on the run carrying a deadly gelatine-coated capsules, mistaking them for marbles. These capsules when released would wipe out a whole city.

Controversial Hollywood star Marsha Hunt graced the cover of Literary Song-Movie Magazine in 1955

During the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Marsha Hunt (b.1917) signed a number of petitions promoting liberal ideals. She was also a member of the Committee for the First Amendment. Because of this association her name appeared in the pamphlet Red Channels. And although she and her husband, Robert Presnell, were never called before the House Un-American Activities Commission (HUAC), like Charlie Chaplin, their names were put on the blacklist, and they found it extremely difficult to find work. On October 27, 1947, she flew with a group of about 30 actors, directors, writers, and filmmakers (including John Huston, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Danny Kaye), to Washington D.C. to protest the actions of Congress. When she returned to Hollywood three days later, things had changed. She was asked to denounce her activities if she wanted to find more work, but she refused. For her, the issue here was not Communism, but freedom of speech, privacy of opinion, freedom of advocacy, and freedom of democracy. She did keep working until the publication of Red Channels, but afterwards it became very hard.

She had worked steadily from 1935 until 1949, appearing in fifty-two films. After being blacklisted, she appeared in only three films in the next eight years. In 1957 she started getting more work, appearing in six films the next three years, at which time she semi-retired in 1960. Since then she has appeared only in small roles in five films and numerous television shows, including an episode of the ABC medical drama Breaking Point. (wikipedia)

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ 1955

THE FIFTIES # 300: JOSE PADILLA, JR. AND EFREN REYES IN CLODUALDO DEL MUNDO'S "PALTIK" (1955): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ Re-posted

"Paltik" (1955)
Premiere Productions, Inc.
Release Date July 24- August 2, 1955/ Dalisay
Story Clodualdo Del Mundo
Direction Cirio H. Sabtiago
Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Efren Reyes, Arsenia Francisco, Virginia Montes, Mario Barri, Nello Nayo

photo above (from Internet source)

"Paltik"
Nobela ni Clodualdo del Mundo
Guhit ni Fred Carrillo

---Unang Labas---

click images to enlarge

From the Collection of Steve Santos/
Unang Labas Blog

THE FIFTIES # 299: ARMANDO GOYENA, NITA JAVIER, NENITA VIDAL, MANDING CLARO IN "BANDA UNO" (1955)

"Banda Uno" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date July 19-28, 1955/Life

Music Polding Silos

Direction Tony Santos

Cast Armando Goyena, Nita Javier, Nenita Vidal, Manding Claro, Alfonso Carvajal, Bayani Casimiro, Oscar Obligacion, Hector Reyes, Miniong Alvarez

THE FIFTIES # 298:CARMEN ROSALES, OSCAR MORENO, RIC RODRIGO, MYRNA DELGADO IN "R.O.T.C." (1955)

"R.O.T.C." (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date July 4-23, 1955/ Dalisay

Story Pablo S. Gomez

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Carmen Rosales, Oscar Moreno, Ric Rodrigo, Myrna Delgado

THE FIFTIES # 297: GLORIA ROMERO, LUIS GONZALES AND DOLPHY IN "DESPATSADORA" (1955)

"Despatsadora" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date July 9-18, 1955/ Life

Direction Tony Cayado

Cast Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Dolphy, Rosa Mia, Aruray, Bella Flores, Eddie Garcia, Panchito Alba, Etang Discher

THE FIFTIES # 296: NIDA BLANCA AND NESTOR DE VILLA IN MANUEL CONDE'S "ANG IBONG ADARNA" (1955)

 "Ang Ibong Adarna" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date July 4, 1955/ Dalisay

Production Design Carlos V. Francisco

Direction Manuel Conde

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Carlos Salazar, Nita Javier, Cecilia Lopez, Jose Vergara

Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa

Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa

THE FIFTIES # 295: LEILA MORENA, JOSE ROMULO IN PABLO S. GOMEZ' "PANDORA" (1955): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ Re-posted

"Pandora" (1955)
Premiere Productions, Inc.
Release Date June 29- July 8, 1955/ Life
Direction Cesar Gallardo
Cast Leila Morena, Jose Romulo, Carol Varga, Lopito, Neonita Bona, Abelardo Cortes, Belen Velasco, Francisco Cruz

"Pandora"
Nobela ni Pablo S. Gomez
(under the pseudonym of Carlos Gonda)
Guhit ni Federico Javinal

---Unang Labas---

click images to enlarge

From the Collection of Steve Santos/
Unang Labas Blog

THE FIFTIES # 294: CARLOS PADILLA, JR., ROSITA NOBLE IN MARS RAVELO'S "TORPE" (1955)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION

"Torpe" (1955)

Deegar Cinema, Inc.

Release Date June 24- July 3, 1955/ Dalisay

Story Mars Ravelo

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Carlos Padilla, Jr., Rosita Noble, Elvira Reyes, Corazon Noble, Tito Arevalo, Miguel Anzures, Vilma Soriano, Ruben Rustia, Rosita Fernandez, Rod Navarro

"Torpe (Inferiority Complex)"

Nobela ni Mars Ravelo

Guhit ni P.Z. Marcelo

Inilathala sa Hiwaga Komiks/ 1954

CHIQUITO: ON THE COVER OF SATURDAY MIRROR MAGAZINE/ NOVEMBER 22, 1957

Saturday Mirror Magazine

November 23, 1957

Article written by Nita U. Berthelsen

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

THE FIFTIES # 293: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND CHARITO SOLIS IN "NIÑA BONITA" (1955)

“Niña Bonta” (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date June 19- 28, 1955/ Life

Story Pierre Salas

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction F.H. Constantino

Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Charito Solis (first movie), Milagros Naval,Gil de Leon, Eusebio Gomez, Arturo Moran, Johnn Legarda

To make a Filipino adaptation of Frank Capra's It Happened One Night, LVN launched a search for a new face, an instant star so to speak, and that new face turned out to be Charito Solis. The film was a hit and Charito became the 'Cinderella Star' and eventually one of Philippine cinema's most enduring icons.

In Niña Bonita, Charito portrays a rich but very spoiled girl who insists on marrying a man who is obviously only after her money. While holed up in their vacation house in Baguio, Charito manages to escape and in a bus, meets a seasoned newspaper reporter (Jaime de la Rosa), who is in dire need of a scoop.

Their road adventure opens the young girl's eyes to life outside her sheltered existence, and she realizes she's got a lot of growing up to do. (synopsis-Kabayan Central)

photos (LVN Archives)

THE FIFTIES # 292: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ARSENIA FRANCISCO, OLIVIA CENIZAL, CAROL VARGA IN "PANGAKO NG PUSO" (1955)

"Pangako ng Puso" (1955)

Premiere Productions/ Larry Santiago Production

Release Date June 14-23, 1955/ Dalisay

Music Josefino Cenizal

Direction Artemio Marquez

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Arsenia Francisco, Olivia Cenizal, Carol Varga, Ruben Rustia, Baby Zobel, Lito Anzures, Mely Vetales, Guillermo Carls, Baby Carmelita

THE FIFTIES # 291: CARLOS SALAZAR, EMMA ALEGRE, LEROY SALVADOR IN "PASIKAT" (1955)

"Pasikat" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date June 9-18, 1955/ Life

Story Gemiliano Pineda

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Direction Fred Daluz

Cast Carlos Salazar, Emma Alegre, Leroy Salvador, Fely Acuna, Naty Bernardo, Jose de Cordova, Jose Troni

THE FIFTIES # 290: ALICIA VERGEL, RAMON REVILLA, VAN DE LEON AND DOLPHY IN "BALISONG" (1955)

"Balisong" (1955)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date June 4- 13, 1955/ Dalisay

Music Ariston Avelino

Direction Conrado Conde

Cast Alicia Vergel, Ramon Revilla, Van de Leon, Dolphy, Manolo Noble, Maria Cristina, Jose de Villa, Panchito Alba, Bert Olivar, Martin Marfil, Pablo Raymundo, Totoy Torrente

THE FIFTIES # 289: EFREN REYES, EDNA LUNA, JOHNNY MONTEIRO IN "ESKRIMADOR" (1955): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ Re-posted

Likened to some of Hollywood’s top swordsmen like Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks or even Basil Rathbone, 50s action greats Efren Reyes (Sr.) and Juan ‘Johnny’ Monteiro starred in an action- adventure epic aptly titled Eskrimador. The two popular stars displayed their dashing mantle of swordplay, debonair acrobatics and daring stunts. Their mastery of the sword thrilled their fans and seeing them leaping over parapets, rescuing exotic princess with one hand and effectively foiling the opposition with adept thrusts of the sword.

The movie was based from a komiks serial by Clodualdo del Mundo serialized in Hiwaga Komiks.

"Eskrimador" (1955)

Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date May 30- June 8, 1955/ Life

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Efren Reyes, Edna Luna, Juan Monteiro, Corazon Rivas, Lauro Delgado

(click images below to enlarge)

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ May 1955

Hiwaga Komiks/ 1955

click images to enlarge

Komiks materials-
from the private collection of Steve Santos