THE FIFTIES # 584: NITA JAVIER, WILLIE SOTELO, HECTOR REYES, LUZ VALDEZ, OSCAR OBLIGACION AND VIC DIAZ IN "TUKO SA MADRE KAKAW" (1959)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION

Considered the first of the popular ‘atomic mutation gone wild’ genre, Tuko sa Madre Kakaw caught the fancy and imagination of Pinoy viewers at the time it was shown in the late 50s. Shown in 1959, the same year, another movie, Anak ng Bulkan (about a monster bird in a rampage of destruction) was released.

Character actor Vic Diaz played the role of a mad biologist who plotted to conquer the world and destroy mankind by formulating a serum or formula that could increase the size of animals a hundred times. He tested it on a ‘tuko’ or gecko which turned into a giant menacing reptile.

Diaz reminded me of another bald-headed actor, Albert Dekker, the lead star in Dr. Cylcops (1940). Dekker, like Diaz also essayed the role of a mad scientist. Dekker, this time, shrinked human beings to a tiny size or a fraction of their normal size.

 "Tuko sa Madre Kakaw" (1959)

LVN Pictures

Release Date February 24-March 5, 1959/ Dalisay

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks

Music Lt. Col A. Buenaventura

Direction Richard Abelardo

Cast Nita Javier, Willie Sotelo, Hector Reyes, Luz Valdez, Oscar Obligacion and Vic Diaz/ with Elena Balmori, Caridad Sanchez, Priscilla Ramirez, Jose Troni, Mrs. Bagabaldo

"Tuko sa Madre Kakaw"

Nobela ni Clodualdo del Mundo

Guhit nina Fred Carillo at Teny Henson

Inilathala sa Hiwaga Komiks / 1958

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

THE FIFTIES # 560: NIDA BLANCA, CHARITO SOLIS, NITA JAVIER, LITA GUTIERREZ, MARITA ZOBEL IN "LIMANG DALANGIN" (1958)

"Limang Dalangin" (1958)

LVN Pictures

Serialized in Aliwan Magazine

Music Polding Silos

Story and Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Nida Blanca, Charito Solis, Nita Javier, Lita Gutierrez, Marita Zobel/ with Diomedes Maturan, Bernard Bonnin, Tito Garcia, Danny Villanueva, Noli Arroyo, Guy Donato, Marilou Torres

THE FIFTIES # 531: MARIO MONTENEGRO, NITA JAVIER, MANDING CLARO AND INTRODUCING BERNARD BONNIN IN SUSANA C. DE GUZMAN'S "AY, PEPITA!" (1958)

"Ay, Pepita" (1958)

LVN Pictures

Release Date July 13-22, 1958/ Life

Serialized in Aliwan Magazine

Story and Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Mario Montenegro, Nita Javier, Manding Claro, Milagros Naval, Ric Mojica/ Introducing Bernard Bonnin/ with Arturo Moran, Luz Valdez, Rafael Gutierrez, The Lover's Trio and Diomedes Maturan (guest artist)

THE FIFTIES # 502: NESTOR DE VILLA AND CHARITO SOLIS IN SUSANA C. DE GUZMAN'S "VILLA MILAGROSA" (1958)/ Re-posted

"Villa Milagrosa" (1958)
LVN Pictures
Release Date February 28- March 9, 1958/ Dalisay
Story Luz del Mundo
Serialized in Bulaklak Magazine
Music Lt. Col. A. Buenaventura
Direction Susana C. de Guzman
Cast Nestor de Villa, Charito Solis, Nita Javier, Eddie Rodriguez, Pianing Vidal, Dan Mesinas, Florentino Ballecer

Synopsis: Romy Penaflor (Nestor de Villa), a young physician in a Manila hospital, goes home to his paralytic old uncle who lives alone in Villa Milagrosa. The old man bequeaths the huge hacienda and the antiquated mansion to his nephew. Romy is stricken by the mysterious atmosphere of the Spanish mansion and is particularly intrigued by a room with its massive door locked against all inquisitive intruders.

The young doctor meets a beautiful young woman in the garden of his uncle’s mansion one moonlight night. He falls in love with her but she disappears. When he meets her again he manages to win her heart. But there is something mysterious about this girl who calls herself Virginia (Charito Solis). Romy can only see her in the garden, on Wednesday nights when she would pick flowers for the Lady of Perpetual Help.

Finally, he convinces her to attend a birthday party he was throwing. Virginia consents on condition that she could only be present up to twelve o'clock. At the appointed time she arrives. But before she could be introduced to the crowd, the clock strikes twelve and she disappears into the night. It was at this time that the old uncle learns of the true identity of Virginia. He tells Romy that she had died twenty years ago. She had been his sweetheart and had haunted him for years.

(Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ 1958)

THE FIFTIES # 480: JAIME DE LA ROSA, DELIA RAZON, NESTOR DE VILLA, CHARITO SOLIS IN "KRISALIS" (1957)

"Krisalis"

LVN Pictures

Release Date November 10-19, 1957/ Dalisay

Story and Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Delia Razon, Nestor de Villa, Charito Solis, Rebecca del Rio, Nita Javier, Naty Bernardo

Jaime de la Rosa and Charito Solis in "Krisalis" (1957)

Director Susana C. de Guzman (right) discusses the script with his star Charito Solis and  some of her production staff  (photo courtesy of Remembering Charito Solis FB)

THE FIFTIES # 473: CECILIA LOPEZ, NITA JAVIER AND VAL CASTELO AS "CONDE DE AMOR" (1957)

"Conde de Amor" (1957)

LVN Pictures

Release Date October 11- 20, 1957/ Dalisay

Direction Richard Abelardo

Cast Val Castelo, Cecilia Lopez, Nita Javier, Alfonso Carvajal, Jose de Cordova, Oscar Keese, Jose Vergara and Willie Sotelo

THE FIFTIES # 421: CECILIA LOPEZ, LEROY SALVADOR, NITA JAVIER, CARLOS PADILLA, JR., EDDIE RODRIGUEZ IN "CUATRO VIDAS" (1957)

 "Cuatro Vidas" (1957)

LVN Pictures

Release Date March 5-14, 1957/ Dalisay

Story Rico Bello Omagap

Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks

Music Lt. Col. A. Buenaventura

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Cecilia Lopez, Leroy Salvador, Nita Javier, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Eddie Rodriguez, Alfonso Carvajal, Rebecca del Rio, Oscar Obligacion, Eusebio Gomez, Ludy Carmona

 

 

 

"Cuatro Vidas"

Nobela ni Rico Bello Omagap

Guhit ni Alfredo Alcala

Inilathala sa Hiwaga Komiks

 

 

THE FIFTIES # 405: NIDA BLANCA AND NESTOR DE VILLA IN MANUEL CONDE'S "BAHALA NA" (1956)

Director 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. (Source: A Movie Album Quizbook by Jessie B. Garcia)



"Bahala Na" (1956)

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 25, 1956- January 3, 1957

Music Jusn Silos, Jr.

Story and Direction Manuel Conde

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Leroy Salvador, Nita Javier, ARturo Moran, Charito de Leon/ Introducing Elena Balmori



(l-r) Nita Javier, Nestor de Villa, Nida Blanca, Leroy Salvador

 Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa in a dance number







 

THE FIFTIES # 365: NENITA VIDAL, MANDING CLARO, NITA JAVIER, VAL CASTELO IN "PUPPY LOVE" (1956)

"Puppy Love" (1956)

LVN Pictures

Release Date July 3-12, 1956/ Life

Music Polding Silos

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Nenita Vidal, Manding Claro, Nita Javier, Val Castelo

Manding Claro and Nenita Vidal in LVN Pictures' "Puppy Love" (1956)
(photo courtesy of Cesar Hernando)

THE FIFTIES # 343: NIDA BLANCA AND NESTOR DE VILLA IN MANUEL CONDE'S "HANDANG MATODAS" (1956)/ UPDATED

"Handang Matodas" (1956)

LVN Pictures

Release Date March 10-19, 1956/ Dalisay

Story Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Manuel Conde

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Nita Javier, Naty Bernardo, Oscar Keese and Val Castelo

THE FIFTIES # 338: CHARITO SOLIS AND LEROY SALVADOR IN "CHARITO, I LOVE YOU!" (1956)

 "Charito, I Love You" (1956)

LVN Pictures

Release Date February 9- 18, 1956/ Dalisay

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction F.H. Constantino

Cast Charito Solis, Leroy Salvador, Nita Javier, Eddie San Jose

THE FIFTIES # 327: DELIA RAZON, CARLOS SALAZAR, NITA JAVIER IN "SALAMANGKERO" (1955)

"Salamangkero" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 16-25, 1955/ Life

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Serialized in Espesyal Komiks

Music Polding Silos

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Delia Razon, Carlos Salazar, Nita Javier, Vic Silayan, Eusebio Gomez, Chito Navarro, Miguel Lopez, Jose Troni, Tony Dantes, Ched Bermudez, Priscilla Ramirez/ Featuring Canuplin and Prof. Raydu

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