THE SEVENTIES # 192: PERRY BALTAZAR, GINA LAFORTEZA, MILA DEL ROSARIO, PABO AND TINTOY AS AGENT FLINTOY (THE ADVENTURER)" (1970)

Comedian Tintoy, Chiquito's sidekick, had his own taste of superstardom in 1970 when he portrayed the titular role of "Agent Flintoy," a spoof of James Coburn's "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint."

"Agent Flintoy (The Adventurer)" (1970)

Alvarez Productions, Inc.

Release Date November 23, 1970/ Center

Screenplay Efren Pinon

Music Carlos Rodriguez

Producer Luz G. Alvarez

Direction Hermie (Boy) Alvarez

Cast Perry Baltazar, Gina Laforteza, Mila del Rosario, Pabo and Tintoy (in the title role)/ Also Starring Roberto Talabis, Ely Roque, Angel Confiado/ Co-starring Rudy Dominguez, Bobby Miller, Robert Talby, Boy Quiambao, Czar Bakal, Rey Santos, Jess Santos, Danny Riel, Ding Villa and the SOS Daredevils/ Featuring Mila Marcos, Mitos Gallardo/ Special guest artists- Silvio Ramiro, Protacio Dee

"DESTINATION: VIETNAM" (1968): THE FIRST FILIPINO FILM IN CINEMASCOPE

Poor Philippines, local cinema tasted its first Filipino film in CinemaScope only in 1968, when CinemaScope was in a decline.

CinemaScope, a widescreen movie format, was used from 1953 to 1967. Anamorphic lenses allowed the process to project film up to a 2.66:1 aspect ratio, twice as wide as the conventional format of 1.33:1. Although CinemaScope was shortly made obsolete by new technological developments, the anamorphic presentation of films initiated by CinemaScope in the 1950s has continued to this day.

The Robe, the first movie filmed in wide-screen CinemaScope, had its world premiere at the Roxy Theater in New York City on September 16, 1953.

"Destination: Vietnam" (1968)- Stars Amalia Fuentes, Leopoldo Slacedo, Kieu Chinh, Vic Vargas, Helen Thompson, Vic Silayan, Bert Olivar/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana

MOVIE TRIVIA # 14: LUZ VALDEZ AS "SUZIE WONG"?

Did you know that in 1960, LVN star Luz Valdez was being considered for a role in a Hollywood movie? She was among the three talents being eyed by Twentieth Century Fox to play the role of Suzie Wong. Everyone knows that actress Nancy Kwan snatched the coveted role and teamed up opposite handsome William Holden, in now classic “The World of Suzie Wong.”

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ March 1, 1960
---to read, click image to enlarge---

Luz Valdez started her career under LVN Pictures in 1957 as a replacement to Nenita Vidal, another prized talent. She played second leads in various movies until her big break in Combo Festival (1958), opposite Lou Salvador Jr. and Chinita (1959), her first solo starrer opposite Nestor de Villa.

"Combo Festival" (1958)- Stars Lou Salvador, Jr., Hector Reyes, Chona Sandoval, Luz Valdez, and Pugo/ Directed by Manuel Silos

"Chinita" (1959)- Stars Nestor de Villa, Lou Salvador, Jr. and Luz Valdez in the title role/with Angie Lee, Sonia Velez, Manny Ojeda, Pianing Vidal/ Directed by F.H. Constantino

MOVIE TRIVIA # 13: "W" (1983)

Did you know that "W" (1983) is the shortest movie title in the history of Philippine cinema? It's a futristic movie made in the mold of Mad Max. It stars Anthony Alonzo under Wilfredo Milan direction.

"W" (1983)- Stars Anthony Alonzo, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Alicia Alonzo, Ada Alberto, Joonee Gamboa, Renato del Prado, Edwart Bronet, Paul Vance, Al Alonzo, Linda Castro, Den Montero, Rommel Valdez, Robert Miller, Jimmy Santos/ Directed by Wilfredo Milan

PAQUITO DIAZ WAS ONCE AN ATENEO BLUE EAGLE

"Basta't Basketball" (1971)
Stars Paquito Diaz and Romy Diaz/ with Pablo Virtuoso, Dencio Padilla and Rosanna Ortiz/ Directed by Manuel Cinco

Trivia: Did you know that top character actor Paquito Diaz was once a popular basketball star before he entered the movies? Yes, Paquito also made a name for himself in local hoopdom when he skippered the FEU High basketball team to three (1951-54) consecutive championships in the UAAP basketball tournament and also when he played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles (senior team) in 1955-56.

"Mr. Basketball"(1958)
Stars Bob Soler, Edna Luna, Jose Romulo, Cielito Legaspi, Chiquito/ with Mr. Carlos Badion and other nation's outstanding basketball stars/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

During his basketball days, Paquito and Cirio Santiago (producer and director of Premiere) were teammates at the Ateneo Blue Eagles team. The two became friends. In 1958, during the filming of Mr. Basketball, Cirio offered Paquito a bit role in the film together with other outstanding cagers of the country. Impressed by Paquito’s good looks in the movie, Cirio lost no time in casting him in other films in which Paquito emoted with much gusto. That's how Paquito started his career in acting

MOVIE TRIVIA # 12: MANUEL CONDE'S "BAHALA NA" (1956)

Manuel Conde‘s cast and crew were shooting for about a month without even a working title for the film they were making. Barely a week or two before the wrap-up of the movie, Conde was summoned by Doña Sisang (LVN Pictures, top honcho) and was asked for the title of the movie he was about to put in the can. Flustered for a response, he stammered out the words, “Bahala na…” The phrase became the title of the 1956 moneymaker from LVN.

A Movie Album Quizbook
By Jessie B. Garcia

More on Movie Trivia

MOVIE TRIVIA # 11: BROCKA'S "TUBOG SA GINTO" (1971)

Tubog sa Ginto (1971)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Garcia, Luis Gonzales, Hilda Koronel, Jay Ilagan, Marissa Delgado, Mario O'Hara, Veronica Palileo/ Directed by Lino Brocka


As early as the early seventies, there have already been offers to exhibit a Lino Brocka movie at an international film festival. In 1972, an Italian by the name of Luciano Marzouli had approached Lino to show Tubog sa Ginto in the Venice Film Festival. However, its star Jay Ilagan, had problems with his home studio. For that reason alone, Lea Productions did not send the film to Venice. Lino was downhearted. This was one of the reasons why he left Lea Productions. (Agustin L. Sotto)

A Movie Album Quizbook
by Jessie B. Garcia

More on Movia Trivia

MOVIE TRIVIA # 10: TOO LATE THE HERO (1970)

The island of Boracay was a sparsely populated forest island when it first caught world attention in 1969. Hollywood filmmakers, who were scouting for possible location on their forthcoming project, were stunned and amazed with its beauty and decided to use the locale to shoot the movie, “Too Late the Hero.” The movie, which starred Cliff Robertson, Toshiro Mifune and Michael Caine, was shot partly on the airstrip in Caticlan on the mainland and in the still pristine island of Boracay.

MOVIE TRIVIA # 9: WHO IS RUDOLF HISTCOCK?

Did you know that in 1965, a certain Rudolf Histcock directed a Pinoy spy film, Scarface at Al Capone: Espiya sa Ginto? Who really is Rudolf Histcock? Yes, Histcock is the pen name of top ace comedian Dolphy, (Rudolf from his real name Rodolfo and Histcock from the Hollywood film director Alfred Hitchcock). This is probably Dolphy's first uncredited directorial job.

Do you want another Dolphy Trivia? see link

"Scarface at Al Capone: Espiya sa Ginto" (1965)- Stars Dolphy,
Berting Labra, Nova Villa, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia
and Eva Darren/ Special Participation-Panchito/
Directed by Rudulf Histcock

MOVIE TRIVIA # 8: ADVENTURES OF DI-13 (1955)

Pinoy viewers were introduced to James Bond in 1962 in the movie Dr. No. But did you know that 7 years earlier, in 1955, Premiere Productions produced a similar type of movie---ala-James Bond? The film was Adventures of DI-13, with Jose Romulo playing the intrepid Filipino sleuth. The blurb says "You'll be gasping for breath as you follow the dangerous, romantic, hilarious adventures of DI-13" --- a typical James Bond formula.

More on Movie Trivia

Adventures of DI-13 (1955)- Stars Arsenia Francisco, Rosita Noble, Lopito, Ramon D' Salva and Jose Romulo as DI-13/
Directed by Cesar Gallardo

MOVIE TRIVIA #7: AKO'Y ALIPIN NG OPIO (1961)

Did you know that Premiere Productions' Ako'y Alipin ng Opio was the first serious Tagalog movie made on the subject of drug addiction? It was produced and released in 1961 during the height of Times reporter Rodolfo Reyes’ expose of a drug den in Malabon. Based on that year’s top headlines, the movie tried to uncover and expose the evils of narcotics.

See Rod Reyes expose on drug den

More on Movie Trivia

Ako'y Alipin ng Opio (1961)- Stars Efren Reyes,
Johnny Monteiro, Eddie Mesa, Leonor Vergara/
Directed by Efren Reyes

MOVIE TRIVIA #6: CHIQUITO AS "JAMES BANDONG" (1964)

Did you know that ace comedian Chiquito had the longest, uninterrupted kissing scene in Philippine movies history? The 1964 Pinoy movie spoof of James Bond, James Bandong, had Chiquito (in the lead role) wrestling and kissing a bikinied Miriam Jurado for about 6 long minutes.

Source: Jessie B. Garcia/ A Movie Album Quizbook/ 2004

Hmmm! How about that!!! That's something for the Guinness Book of World Records.

More on Movie Trivia

James Bandong (1964)- Stars Chiquito, Miriam Jurado, Sylvia Gumabao, Maya Moreno, Josephine Beaty and Pamela Ponti/ Guests-Dulce Lucban, Menggay, Tintoy and Ben Perez/ Directed by Luis San Juan

MOVIE TRIVIA #5: THE 25th CAVALRY (1965)

Hollywood sexy star Ursula Andress (Sean Connery's leading lady in Dr.No) was making a movie, The 26^th Cavalry, in the Philippines when her husband, John Derek photographed her in the nude in Pagsanjan Falls for Playboy magazine. The movie was released locally in 1965. It was later retitled No Toys for Christmas during its worldwide release.

Source: Jessie B. Garcia/

A Movie Album Quizbook/ 2004

Note that the cast include Rod Lauren, the same Rod Lauren Strunk, the husband of the late Nida Blanca. Lauren was an American actor and singer before he met the Filipina actress. Strunk was facing trial for the murder of Blanca when he committed suicide on July 11, 2007, by jumping from a second-floor balcony of the Tracy Inn in California.

More on Movie Trivia

The 26th Cavalry (1965)- Stars Ursula Andress, John Derek,
Greg Martin, Richard Jaekel, Rod Lauren, Rin Ely
and Jock Mahoney (Guest Star)/ with Renato Robles,
Allen Pinson, Nello nayo, Fred Galang, Andres Centenera/
Directed by John Derek

MOVIE TRIVIA #4: BURGESS MEREDITH IN EDDIE ROMERO'S "MAN ON THE RUN" (1958)

Did you know that the 1958 movie, Eddie Romero's Man on the Run, starring Hollywood actor Burgess Meredith and local actor Zaldy Zshornack prominently features the City of Manila? The blurb says “Kidnapped!--- and a gigantic search uncovers Manila’s palaces of pleasure and its hot spots of sin.” Produced by Cirio H. Santiago Film Organization and Halcyon Productions for international release, the film showcases such familiar landmarks like Tutuban Railroad Station, the Central Market, Dewey (now Roxas) Boulevard, Manila Hotel, and the ruins of the Walled City, among others.

Source: Jessie B. Garcia/

A Movie Album Quizbook/ 2004More on Movie Trivia

Man On The Run (1958) [released in USA in 1964 as The Kidnappers] Stars Burgess Meredith (Louis Halliburton), Olivia Cenizal (Chrisitine Hall), William Phipps (Jay), Paul Harber, Carol Varga, Amado Cortez, Johnny Monteiro, Theodore Bikel and Zaldy Zshornack/ Directed by Eddie Romero

MOVIE TRIVIA #3 : SI BINO GARCIA!!! SIYA....BIDA???

Who??? Bino Garcia!!! Bida??? Syanga nga, wala ng iba! Yes!, Bino Garcia, a bit player, extra, a goon, henchman, was the lead star in a 1967 movie, The Son of Dyango Meets Dorango Kid. I also recalled another movie which he starred, in Bino and Clyde (a spoof of Hollywood's Bonnie and Clyde).

More on Movie Trivia
See Max Alvarado and Paquito Diaz

The Son of Dyango Meets Dorango Kid (1967)- Stars Bino Garcia, Eli Salas Renato del Prado, Apeng Daldal, Popoy, Anna Ledesma and Merle Fernandez/ Directed by Wilthor

MOVIE TRIVIA #2: TO BE A MAN (1963)

I always admired actor Van Heflin. Though not as handsome as Gregory Peck, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, or Rock Hudson, Heflin nevertheless played intelligent, determined, often complex heroes and turned in many fine performances as the star of both dramas and action films. In Shane (1953), Heflin played a homesteader being intimidated by a mob of cattlemen. A mysterious stranger and gunslinger (Alan Ladd) came to his aid; 3:10 to Yuma (1957) was one of the best gripping and suspenseful 1950s western, where farmer (Heflin) needing the money agreed to hold captured outlaw (Glenn Ford) until the train arrives, but Ford started to psych him out: In Act of Violence (1949), a film noir, Heflin was pitted against equally talented actor Robert Ryan. A young soldier (Ryan) tried to track down an informer (Heflin) who wronged them during their capivity in a Nazi prison camp.

Did you know that...
Van Heflin starred in a 1963 film, To Be a Man, which he co-starred with Filipino stars Leopoldo Salcedo, Liza Moreno, Oscar Roncal, Oscar Keesee, Ruben Rustia and Vic Silayan. The movie, which was co-produced by Eddie Romero, was released in the United States as Cry of Battle.

For details of the movie, see Andrew Leavold blog:
Eddie Romero Filmography

More on Movie Trivia

To Be a Man (1963)- Stars Van Heflin, Leopoldo Salcedo, James MacArthur, Liza Moreno, Vic Silayan, Mike Parsons and Rita Moreno/ Directed by Irving Lerner

MOVIE TRIVIA #1: FPJ and DOLPHY

Did You know that sometime in the 60s, FPJ and Dolphy formed a movie outfit which they called RR Productions? R and R stand for Ronald or Ronnie for Fernando Poe, Jr. (real and nickname of FPJ) and Rodolfo for Rodolfo V.Quizon (real name of Dolphy). It produced and released 5 films, mostly starred in by the King of Comedy himself.

More on Movie Trivia