THE FIFTIES # 343: NIDA BLANCA, NESTOR DE VILLA, WITH NITA JAVIER, NATY BERNARDO, OSCAR KEESEE, VAL CASTEO 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 # 329: NIDA BLANCA, NESTOR DE VILLA, NENITA VIDAL, MANDING CLARO, WITH OSCAR KEESEE, NATY BERNARDO, JOSE VERGARA AND INTRODUCING VAL CASTELO IN "IKAW KASI" (1955)/ UPDATED

 "Ikaw Kasi" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date December 23, 1955- January 4, 1956/ Life

Music F. Buemcamino, Jr. and Juan Silos, Jr.

Story and Direction Manuel Conde

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Nenita Vidal, Manding Claro, Oscar Keese, Naty Bernardo, Jose Vergara, Mario Roldan, Pianing Vidal, Ben Castillo, Greg Urbano and Aida Carino/ Introducing Val Castelo

THE FIFTIES # 308: CARLOS SALAZAR, EMMA ALEGRE, CARMENCITA ABAD, LEROY SALVADOR IN "KARNABAL" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Karnabal" (1955)

LVN Pictures

Release Date September 7- 16, 1955/ Life

Story Johnny Legarda

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Joe Climaco

Cast Carlos Salazar, Emma Alegre, Carmencita Abad, Leroy Salvador/ Also Starring Oscar Keesee, Bayani Casimiro, Ludy Carmona, Ramon Monroy, S. Pajarillo

THE FIFTIES # 301: DAVID BRIAN, MARSHA HUNT, HUGH CORCORAN, IKE JARLEGO, JR AND CANDY (THE WONDER DOG) IN "NO PLACE TO HIDE (HUNTED)" (1955)/ UPDATED

"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 # 285: ROGELIO DELA ROSA, EMMA ALEGRE, WITH IKE JARLEGO, JR., OSCAR KEESEE, JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS, VIC SILAYAN, EDDIE RODRIGUEZ, CYNTHIA GOMEZ IN "HIGIT SA LAHAT" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Higit sa Lahat"(1955)
LVN Pictures
Release Date April 30- May 9, 1955/ Life
Story Mario Mijares Lopez
Music S.S. Suarez
Direction Dr. Gregorio Fernandez
Cast Rogelio dela Rosa, Emma Alegre, Ike Jarlego, Jr., Oscar Keese, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Vic Silayan, Eddie Rodriguez, Cynthia Gomez

Stills/ LVN Pictures

Higit sa Lahat tells of a father’s love for his family, making a supreme sacrifice to give them a new lease on life. Directed by Dr. Gregorio Fernandez, the movie won numerous awards--- five Famas awards (best picture, actor, story, editing and sound) and two awards in the 1956 Asian Film Festival (director and actor).
Screen legend Rogelio dela Rosa is Roberto, a principled man and scion to a wealthy family, who inherits nothing when he defies his father’s wishes and marries Rosa (Emma Alegre). Not enough money to support his wife and two kids (Cynthia Gomez and Ike Jarlego, Jr.), Roberto ends up as a hired help in a laboratory factory. An explosion occurs in the factory and Roberto is believed to have perished in it, together with the other workers. Fortunately, at the time of the accident, he is in a province on an errand and learns of the insurance money, a P10,000 death benefit enough for his family to get a better chance at living--- a new home, education for the children, among others. He decides to stay away from his family and assumes a new identity. It’s a supreme sacrifice on his part. But not for long--- the family is first and foremost in his mind. When he read of his wife‘s engagement to another man, he finally comes home. 

Literary Song-Movie Magazine/April 1955

THE FIFTIES # 264: DELIA RAZON, MARIO MONTENEGRO, PRISCILLA CELLONA, WITH OSCAR KEESEE, JOHNNY REYES, VEN MEDINA, VIC SILAYAN IN LAMBERTO AVELLANA'S "LAPU-LAPU "(1954-55): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION /UPDATED

"Lapu-Lapu" (1955)

LVN Pictures
Release Date January 15- 24, 1955/Dalisay
Story Francisco V. Coching
Music F. Buencamino
Direction Lamberto Avellana
Cast Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Priscilla Cellona, Oscar Keese, Johnny Reyes, Ven Medina, Vic Silayan, Jose Vergara, Eusebio Gomez, Oscar Obligacion

LVN's top stars Mario Montenegro and Delia Razon were reunited for the nth time in this 1955 Lamberto Avellana's monumental epic, Lapu-Lapu. Based from the celebrated Francisco V. Coching's Pilipino Komiks serial novel, the movie tells of the courageous and fierce stand put up by Lapu-Lapu and his men against the Spanish invaders led by Ferdinand Magellan in what was dubbed as the 'Battle of Mactan'.

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

Lapu-Lapu - Story and penned by Francisco V. Coching/ serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1954/ Komiks covers courtesy of Gerry Alanguilan

Ika-6-na labas

click images to enlarge

Ika-7-na labas

click images to enlarge

THE FIFTIES # 223: JOSE PADILLA, JR., EDDIE DEL MAR, ROSITA NOBLE, FERNANDO ROYO, ELVIRA REYES, OSCAR KEESEE, LOPITO, VICENTE LIWANAG, LYDIA RESMA, LEONORA RUIZ, MARIO BARRI IN "SEX GANG" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Boldly filmed to stop Flesh-Traffic and to protect the honor of our Maria Claras," says the blurb of the 1954 movie, Sex Gang. Where as sex trade and human trafficking are so rampant nowadays, I never expected that a movie like this existed way back in the 50s.

"Sex Gang" (1954)

Golvel Pictures

Release Date August 9- 18, 1954/ Center

Direction Mike Velarde

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Eddie Del Mar, Rosita Noble, Fernando Royo, Elvira Reyes, Oscar Keesee, Lopito, Vicente Liwanag, Lydia Resma, Leonora Ruiz and Mario Barri

THE FIFTIES # 212: EDNA LUNA, JUAN 'JOHNNY' MONTEIRO, WITH OSCAR KEESEE, RAMON D' SALVA, LAURO DELGADO, JOSE ROMULO, NELLO NAYO, LUIS FERRER IN "PALADIN" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Paladin" (1954)

Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date June 21-28, 1954/ Dalisay

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Clodualdo del Mundo

Direction Eduardo de Castro

Cast Edna Luna, Juan 'Johnny' Monteiro, Oscar Keese, Ramon D'Salva, Lauro Delgado, Jose Romulo, Nello Nayo/ Introducing Luis Ferrer

THE FIFTIES # 159: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, WITH LETICIA OJEDA, ELEANOR MEDINA, JOE RAMOS, OSCAR KEESEE, DON DANON, PEDRO FAUSTINO, ROMY BRION, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN "TAMPALASAN" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Tampalasan" (1953)

LGS Productions

Release Date October 22- 31, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction LG Salcedo

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Leticia Ojera, Eleanor Medina, Joe Ramos, Oscar Keese, Don Danon, Pedro Faustino, Romy Brion, Dely Atay-Atayan

THE FIFTIES # 180: OSCAR MORENO, ERLINDA CORTES, WITH OSCAR KEESE, CONRADO CONDE, JUAN MONTEIRO, ANDRES ITURBI, ETANG DISCHER, NORMA BUENAOBRA IN "MAY ISANG TSUPER NG TAXI" (1953)/ UPDATED

"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 # 153: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ARSENIA FRANCISCO, CARLOS PADILLA, WITH OSCAR KEESE, PATRIA PLATA, RAMON D'SALVA, ROSITA NOBLE, NATY RUBI, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN "SA HIRAP AT GINHAWA" (1953)/ UIPDATED

"Sa Hirap at Ginhawa" (1953)

Maria Clara Pictures

Release Date June 8-18, 1953/ Life

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Arsenia Francisco, Carlos Padilla, Oscar Keese, Patria Plata, Ramon D' Salva, Rosita Noble, Naty Rubi, Dely Atay-Atayan, Don Antonio de la Mogueis, Luis San Juan, Benny Mack and Engracio Ibarra

THE FIFTIES #161: ANITA LINDA, EDUARDO DEL MAR, WITH OSCAR KEESEE, FERNANDO ROYO, PATRIA PLATA, ELENA MAYO, NELLO NAYO, JOHNNY MONTEIRO, EDNA LUNA, RITA GOMEZ, RUBEN RUSTIA IN "AGILANG ITIM" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Agilang Itim" (1953)

Premiere Productions

Release Date May 10-19, 1953/ Life

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Anita Linda, Eduardo del Mar, Fernando Royo, Oscar Keese, Patria Plata, Elena Mayo, Maria Norma, Johnny Monteiro, Edna Luna, Rita Gomez, Ruben Rustia, Tony Tolman

THE FIFTIES # 145: NORMA BLANCAFLOR, REYNALDO DANTE, ROSITA NOBLE, OSCAR KEESE, EDDIE INFANTE, TITA MUNOZ, ROLANDO LIWANAG, ANDRES ITURBI IN "ANG PAGSILANG NG MESIYAS" (1952)/ UPDATED

"Ang Pagsilang ng Mesiyas" (1952)

Lebran Productions

Release Date December 16- 25, 1952/ Dalisay

Direction Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Norma Blancaflor, Reynaldo Dante, Rosita Noble, Oscar Keese, Eddie Infante, Tita Munoz, Rolando Liwanag, Andres Iturbi

A nativity scene from the movie "Ang Pagsilang ng Mesiyas" (1952)--- Photo shows Norma Blancaflor as Mother Mary and Tirso Cruz III as Baby Jesus