‘OVERLOOKED’ – Readers react to Highspeed’s item on Nora Aunor last Sunday, thankful that almost all her directors were mentioned. They say that some Aunor starrers were “overlooked” – those directed by Totoy Buenaventura, Chaning Carlos, and Pablo Santiago.
People remember the Nora Aunor films of the “usual suspects” – meaning the classics of Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka, Gil Portes, Joel Lamangan, Maryo J. de los Reyes, Eddie Garcia, Lupita Kashiwahara, Mario O’ Hara , Elwood Perez.
The truth is, readers say, Nora was a joy to watch in those “overlooked” movies. Maybe not classics but excellent entertainment just the same.
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TOTOY BUENAVENTURA – He directed Nora in “Erap Is My Guy” (with Joseph Estrada, of course) and “Bakya Mo Neneng” (with Erap and Tirso Cruz III). “Erap Is My Guy” is comedy showing Guy’s perfect timing. Yes, Nora’s a fine comedienne. “Bakya Mo Neneng” is a drama about the lives of farmers.
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CHANING CARLOS – Megged Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon in “Bato-Bato sa Langit,” also starring Nida Blanca who provided terrific support to Guy and Pip. It gave Nida the first Metro Manila Film Festival best supporting actress award in 1975.
Also in the cast were Luis Gonzales, Nova Villa, and German Moreno.
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PABLO SANTIAGO’s “Bahay-Bahayan, Kasal-Kasalan” was the unexpected best picture in a Metro Manila filmfest years back. It starred Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III, Alma Moreno and Rudy Fernandez, playing newlyweds facing the trials and humor of loving and living independently. The four stars were terrific in their comic roles. The best picture award was unexpected, as earlier said, but very deserving.
So there you have the “overlooked” Aunor (and company) starrers.