by Ronald Constantino
On July 20, 2012, art patron Danny Dolor, who loves Filipino movies, mounted a photo exhibit of movie ads billed the First Golden Years of Philippine Cinema 1936-1941 at the CCP Main Theater Lobby in cooperation with Cinemalaya and CCP.
The exhibit which lasted for more than three weeks was very successful, smash hit…to use showbiz lingo. People, especially young people, realized the glorious years of the mid-‘30s and early ‘40s in the history of the local movies. That those years ought not to be forgotten.
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LOOKING BACK – Let’s look back at the CCP exhibit by reading this article, incidentally written by this columnist. It reads in part:
From 1936 to 1941.
Six glorious years of filmmaking which saw the emergence of great stars, directors, producers, writers, composers, and other cinema artists and craftsmen. They collaborated in making memorable movies, some of which were influenced by Hollywood films.
The Philippines was then an American colony and the United States had a big impact on the country’s economy, lifestyle, fashion, art, culture, including cinema.
The exhibit billed The First Goden Years of Philippine Movies (1936-1941) captures that era through movie ads from the collection of Danny Dolor.
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STUDIOS – In 1937, Sampaguita Pictures was set up, with “Bituing Marikit” as its maiden offering, topbilled by Elsa Oria, Rogelio de la Rosa, and Ely Ramos, and directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa.
In 1938, Excelsior Pictures was established, with “Ang Maya” as opening film, starring Consuelo Salazar and directed by Jose Nepomuceno.
In 1939, LVN was founded with “Giliw Ko” as its first movie, starring Mila del Sol, Ely Ramos, Fernando Poe, and Fleur de Lis (later renamed Mona Lisa), and directed by Vander Tolosa.
The other big movies studios during the ‘30s and the ‘40s were X’Otic Films, Parlatone Hispano-Filipino Inc., and Filippine Films.
While there were big studios during The First Golden Years of the Philippine Movies, most of the films were independently produced. Indies they are called these days.
By then, watching movies had become a national past time of Filipinos.
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STARS – The biggest and brightest stars of those golden years were Carmen Rosales, Rosa del Rosario, Rogelio de la Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo, Elsa Oria, Ely Ramos, Rosario Moreno, Rudy Concepcion, Mila del Sol, Fernando Poe, Arsenia Francisco, Jose Padilla Jr. and brother Carlos, Lucita Goyena, Angel Esmeralda, Yolanda Marquez, Corazon Noble, Mona Lisa, Norma Blancaflor, Fely Vallejo, Mary Walter, Purita Sta. Maria, and Tita Duran, then a child star.
The compositions Constancio de Guzman, Francisco Buencamino, Miguel Velarde, and Josefino Cenizal were used as theme songs and background music of movies of the ‘30s and ‘40s.
The popular comedians included the tandem of Pugo& Togo, Billy “Surot” Vizcarra, Vicente Ocampo, MonangCarvajal, Menggay, Manuel “ Sano” Silos.
Silos was also one of the top directors of the ‘30s and beyond, along with his brother Octavio. The other noted directors : Carlos Vander Tolosa, Gerardo de Leon, LambertoAvellana, Gregorio Fernandez, Manuel Conde, Ramon Estella, Lorenzo Perez Tuells, Tor Villano, and Carmen Concha, known as the first woman director.
In 1942, Japanese forces invaded Manila and the rest of the country, cutting short The First Golden Years of the Philippine Movies.
