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| NIDA BLANCA & NESTOR DE VILLA in 'WARAY WARAY' |
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| CHARITO SOLIS |
YOU MIGHT NOT be aware of it but you can actually access lots of free movies on youtube and vimeo. One of our great finds is the Vimeo lineup of movies of LVN Pictures uploaded by Citizen Jake (which we suppose is Director Mike de Leon whose family owns LVN.)
Some of the movies in it we’ve seen before, but we were so young then in the 50s, so we don’t mind seeing them all over again. First is the iconic “Waray Waray”, starring the hit love team of Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa, who did so many hit romantic comedies for LVN like "Hiyasmin", "Talusaling", "Easy Ka Lang Padre", "Handang Matodas" and all their yearly anniversary extravaganzas filmed in full color.
“Waray-Waray” has an original theme song that was even recorded by Eartha Kitt. Nida’s impish charms is so fascinating and Nestor is really one of the handsomest matinee idols of his generation.
Also available are two acclaimed dramas starring a young and sexy Charito Solis. First is “Malvarosa”, based on a popular komiks novel and directed by Gregorio Fernandez, the father of Rudy and Merle Fernandez. Chato stars as the only girl in a family of untruly boys, with their mom, played by Rebecca del Rio, a hopeless alcoholic.
Then there’s “Kundiman ng Lahi”, with Chato symbolizing the sacrificing Filipino woman who undergoes many trials and tribulations but comes out triumphant in the end, as directed by Lamberto Avellana.
But the movie for which she won her first acting award, “Emily”, is not in the list. Wonder if it’s still available. We can’t forget it as it used the memorable theme song from “High Noon”.
Also available is “Higit sa Lahat”, also directed by Gregorio Fernandez, which won best picture in the Asian Filmfest in 1956 and with lead actor Rogelio de la Rosa winning as best actor in his role as a husband and father who makes it appear that he died in a fire so his wife (Emma Alegre) and son (Ike Jarlego Jr.) can claim the insurance money for his demise.
We also saw the original “Lapu Lapu” starring Mario Montenegro whos’ very convincing in the title role. It was a big production for its time as it’s a costume flick, but they use such flowery Tagalog words in the screenplay.
Go check youtube and Vimeo while we’re on lockdown and you might find lots of classic films to your liking.
