MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSA DEL ROSARIO, FERNANDO POE, GLORIA IMPERIAL IN "MINDA MORA" (1939)

"Minda Mora" (1939)

Filippine Films

Release Date October 1939

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Fernando Poe, Gloria Imperial

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, GLORIA IMPERIAL, WITH KATY DE LA CRUZ, BERT LE ROY, PACITA DEL RIO, JOSE CRIS SOTO, GREGORIO TICMAN, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, JAIME G. CASTELVI, GUILLERMO E. CARLS IN "MATAMIS NA KASINUNGALINGAN" (1939)

"The dramatic story of a woman's delightful lie!" says the blurb in this 1939 movie, "Matamis na Kasinungalingan." The movie, written and directed by Ramon A. Estella, starred Leopoldo Salcedo, Gloria Imperial, with Katy de la Cruz, Bert LeRoy, Pacita del Rio, Jose Cris Soto, Gregorio Ticman, Salvador Zaragoza, Jaime G. Castelvi andGuillermo E. Carls.

It was released and shown at Fox Theater, September 20, 1939.

"Matamis na Kasinungalingan" (1939)

Filippine Films

Release Date September 20, 1939

Written and Directed by Ramon A. Estella

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Gloria Imperial, with Katy de la Cruz, Bert LeRoy, Pacita del Rio, Jose Cris Soto, Gregorio Ticman, Salvador Zaragoza, Jaime G. Castelvi, Guillermo E. Carls

(Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: GLORIA IMPERIAL, BEN RUBIO, WITH ANTONIA SANTOS, CONCHITA TUDELA, RAUL DE ARAM, PEDRO FAUSTINO, ESTRELLA LUNA, PEDRO ADAO, JR. IN "HINDI KO AKALAIN" (1939)

Continuously playing to a full house, “Hindi Ko Akalain” now on its fourth day at the Fox promises to establish a new box-office record.

Millions will compare it with “Dolores” and find it even greater. The story taken out of life itself is filled with deep human understanding. A warm, vibrant love fired with the desires and conflicts of all youth--- a love that Ben could not forget--- a love that Gloria hoped to dedicate to God--- a love that survived all the unbelievable malicious and stinging gossips that aimed to wreck their young lives. He loved, and the rest was immaterial. The world might look askance for all he cared.

Capping her triumph in “Dolores,” Gloria Imperial heads the big cast in this picture, where she handles her role with a sure touch and an extremely appealing charm. Never has she been photographed to greater advantage than in the beautiful “ternos” and “balintawaks” she wore throughout this picture.

As Ben Rubio’s most ambitious starring performance, it is a safe bet that this young and handsome man will soon be causing much excitement among the ladies. More dashing, more winning than ever, he was perfect from beginning to end.

“

Hindi Ko Akalain” is a picture that does not make pretenses about elaborate settings and extravagant production expenses. But it is precisely this alluring simplicity of everything about it that will always make the film a success whether in a big city or in the smallest town. It is the kind of a picture that people tell their families about over and over again.

(The Tribune, May 21, 1939)

"Hindi Ko Akalain" (1939)

A Parlatone Production

Release Date May 18, 1939/ Fox Theater

Story Armando Villa

Direction Consuelo and Salvador Osorio

Cast Gloria Imperial, Ben Rubio, with Antonia Santos, Conchita Tudela, Raul de Aram, Pedro Faustino, Estrella Luna, Pedro Adao, Jr. and others

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: GLORIA IMPERIAL, REYNALDO DANTE, WITH ARMANDO CRIS, LINA ALVA, ROSA DEL MAR, LINA ROSALES AND MOTIO IN "DOLORES" (1939)

Picture a young mother roaming the streets – tears welling from dull eyes crazed with misery, laughter harsh and shrill from a breast numb with pain.

Picture a mad mother dogging little children in the streets, hoping each little girl was her own, believing each sleeping infant her dead baby.

Picture her stark mad, placed behind asylum bars, not because she was violent… she had hurt no one, but she disturbed the peace… her mind living over and over again a past dead . .of a home bright with childish laughter and filled with the love of a man who had to die at sea … of peace destroyed by vile minds and jealous tongues… and of dead! This is "Dolores" 

Gloria Imperial, whose poignant melancholic beauty had won for her the very dramatic role of the young insane mother, stamps her name henceforth with genuine greatness. You will cry with her in "Dolores”, it will be the only way to ease the pain with which she will touch your hearts. Reynaldo Dante, as the man whose love brings her both misery and happiness, stars with Miss Imperial. 

Lovely starlets, Lina Alva and Rosa del Mar add in no little way to the beauty and quality of this picture. Armando Cris and Antonia Santos give their usual vivid and excellent best to important supporting roles. Lina Rosales, whose heart is as lovable and sweet as she is ugly, will endear herself to more fans in "Dolores". She and Motio, that funny man, give splendid and well measured comedy relief.

C. and S. Osorio, that writing and directorial team, will win much praise and genuine appreciation from fans with this picture, their first production as a team.

(The Tribune, January 20, 1938)

The movie was released and shown at Fox Theater, January 20, 1939.

"Dolores" (1939)

A Parlatone Production

Release Date January 20, 1939/ Fox Theater

Story and Direction C. and S. Osorio

Cast Gloria Imperial, Reynaldo Dante, with Armando Cris, Lina Alva, Rosa del Mar, Lina Rosales and Motio

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: MARIA CLARA RUIZ, REYNALDO DANTE, GLORIA IMPERIAL, MONENG ILAGAN, ARMANDO CRIS, ROSA DEL MAR, CLARITA RUIZ IN "DALAGANG LUKSA" (1938)/ UPDATED

"A story of love and life and of their great and wondrous meanings! What makes life an eternity, an eternity a second in the lives of a man and a woman?" says the ad in this 1938 movie, "Dalagang Luksa."

From the screenplay and direction of Consuelo Ruiz, the movie starred Maria Clara Ruiz, Reynaldo Dante, Gloria Imperial, Moneng Ilagan, Armando Cris, Rosa del Mar, Clarita Ruiz.

The movie was shown at Fox Theater, December 7, 1938.

"Dalagang Luksa" (1938)

Parlatone Films

Release Date December 7- 16, 1938/ Fox Theater

Screenplay and Direction Consuelo Ruiz

Cast Maria Clara Ruiz, Reynaldo Dante, Gloria Imperial, Moneng Ilagan, Armando Cris, Rosa del Mar, Clarita Ruiz

(Image, courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSITA RIVERA, MARIO DE CORDOVA, GLORIA IMPERIAL, VIRGINIA SALCEDO IN "MAGANDANG KAMATAYAN" (1938)

"Magandang Kamatayan" opens with a chilling murder — Rosita Rivera’s brother is found dead, brutally slain by an unknown assailant. Clues begin to surface one after another, each more perplexing than the last, leaving the authorities completely baffled. As if this were not enough, a series of related crimes follow, clearly the work of the same calculating mind behind the original murder.

The case soon captures the public’s imagination, and a brilliant newspaper reporter joins forces with the police to unravel the mystery. What follows is a suspenseful manhunt filled with twists, excitement, and breath-holding sequences.

Audiences are promised a gripping and truly distinctive motion picture — unlike the typical local productions of its time. Mystery lovers and detective-story enthusiasts alike will find "Magandang Kamatayan" an unmissable masterpiece, penned by one of Tagalog literature’s foremost writers, Clodualdo del Mundo.

The movie starred Rosita Rivera, Mario de Cordova, Gloria Imperial and Virginia Salcedo. 

"Magandang Kamatayan" (1938)

Release Date October 29, 1938/ Fox Theater

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Cast Rosita Rivera, Mario de Cordova, Gloria Imperial and Virginia Salcedo

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSARIO MORENO, RUDY CONCEPCION, WITH TITA DURAN, ANDRES CENTENERA, NATI RUBI, MIGUEL ANZURES, SOLEDAD AQUINO IN "ALIPIN NG PALAD" (1938)

"Here's the most gripping story of a woman whose life rested between the cruel fangs of fate, blasting with agonizing misery and torturing tragedy!," says the ad in this 1938 romantic drama, "Alipin ng Palad."

Hailed as “the greatest dramatic hit of the year,” the film featured an impressive cast led by Rosario Moreno, Rudy Concepcion, and Tita Duran, with Andres Centenera, Nati Rubi, Miguel Anzures, Soledad Aquino, Carmen Martinez, Gloria Imperial, Tomasa Alvarez, and Enrique Espinoza, under the direction of Octavio Silos.

It was shown at Grand Theater, August 11, 1938.

"Alipin ng Palad" (1938)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date August 11, 1938/ Grand Theater

Written and Directed by Octavio Silos

Cast Rosario Moreno, Rudy Concepcion/ with Tita Duran, Andres Centenera, Nati Rubi, Miguel Anzures, Soledad Aquino, Carmen Martinez, Gloria Imperial, Tomasa Alvarez, Enrique Espinoza