HISTORY OF RP MOVIES: THE VAMPS AND VILLAINS (by Joe Quirino)

THE VAMPS AND VILLAINS

by Joe Quirino

Source:  The Times Journal, June 25, 1974

               Vol. II, No. 247

               "History of RP Movies"

"Talent is nice

           Experience more so,

      The principal thing

      However, is torso.

The visit here of Jayne Mansfield, that superstructured actress from Hollywood, in 1967 proved that there is something more to the come hither away and the heaving bosom that meets the eye  This is why more and more cheesecake scenes are included in local pictures and fans are getting more appreciative of sex in the movies.

A Filipino movie pioneer once remarked:  "In the realm of Philippine movies, the other woman is ubiquitous and indispensable character without whom the leading lady, for want of feminine competition, would appear stale and unworthy of heroic attention of the handsome and brave hero.

On the other hand, it would indeed be a lousy movie where the hero succeeds in his mission or wins his lady fair without undergoing any kind of struggle to merit the final applause of a sympathetic audience.

Every story should have conflict and the best people to furnish this element of the dramatic photoplay are the movie vamps and the movie villains.

The Philippines has its own Marilyn Monroes, Jayne Mansfields, Gina Lollobrigidas, Claudia Cardinales, Sophia Lorens and Brigitte Bardots.  But while foreign films cast the vamps as heroines or, to be more specific, in sympathetic roles, local sweater girls are, more often than not, made to portray Cleopatra and her infinite variety.

Thus we have such sex queens as Divina Valencia, Stella Suarez, Gina Laforteza, Lucita Soriano, Merle Fernandez and Rosanna Ortiz.  Even such top dramatic stars like Rita Gomez and Charito Solis are not averse to disrobing scenes provided these are done with finesse and provided they are absolutely necessary for the development of the film's plot.

It is a paradox that while the Filipino audience stomps in glee when it sees a vamp portraying the heroine role in foreign photoplays, it still prefers local heroines to be of the clinging vine variety, the virginal and Gentle Berth type.

But tastes are changing and even what taboo before is now taken for granted.

It was Jose Nepomuceno, the 'Father of Philippine Movies', who revolutionized Philippine movies by including kissing scenes in TATLONG HAMBUG, a silent film, at a time when the movie kiss was unknown in local movies.  Later, he cast sexy contra-vidas in pictures to add spice to his photoplays.

Among the prominent villainesses of yesteryear were Antonia Santos (ANG MONGHITA and ANG ITINAPON), Naty Rubi (ANAK NG KADILIMAN, LAGABLAB NG KABATAAN, MILAGRO NG NAZARENO, and ANG KAMBAL), Angelita Rhumba Rey (GAGAMBA), Edna Stagner (sister of Rosa del Rosario) and Dolly Garcia.

Before the war, the best known villainesses were Pacita del Rio, Naty Ruby and Mina de Gracia who later graduated to sympathetic roles and became Paraluman.

Post-war vamps

The post-Liberation period saw the proliferation of sexy villainesses.

Some of them are:  Carol Varga, who is married to an American airline executive and now resides in Las Vegas; Rosa Rosal, who has graduated to more sympathetic roles, Lily Marquez now Mrs. Ronald Remy, Aida Cariño, best remembered for her torrid kissing scenes with Oscar Moreno in OBJECTIVE: PATAYIN SI MAGSAYSAY; Mercy Guia, known as the Sherry North of the Philippines; Mona Fernandez, the sweater girl of HANGGANG SA DULO NG DAIGDIG; Pacita Arana, Zeny Zabala, and Bella Flores.

Many of yesteryear's vamps became full-fledged stars  Mina de Gracia became Paraluman; Lita Gutierrez, popularized the term Alembong, for flirt; and Rebecca del Rio won the Asian filmfest award for best character actress for her able portrayal of a drunken mother in MALVAROSA.

The country's most durable contra vida is Bella Flores, whose real name is Remedios Limson.  This actress has made good by being bad - on the screen, that is.

"It is easy for me to be as mean as a cobra in my pictures," says Bella. "I just remember my unhappy childhood and I become a tigress ready to scratch out the leading lady's eyes."

Local moviedom's villains are even more colorful than their female counterparts.  These are the screen's worst scoundrels whose primary business is skulduggery.  Screen scallawags all, these 'ornery critters' make things difficult for the hero and the heroine.

"Without bad men to fight and conquer, there wouldn't be heroes," says Eddie Garcia, the most successful among all Filipino villains.

Garcia has won over a dozen trophies, including this year's FAMAS best supporting actor award for his performance in NUEVA VISCAYA.

"Screen ruffians", he continued, "provide the necessary ingredients that make a film more exciting and enjoyable."

It's a tough racket, indeed, where villains have to contend against both the hero and the audience.

Local cinema addicts, especially those in the barrios, give vent to their spleen by hissing and booing the villains when the latter are at their worst. Fans applaud and cheer the conquering hero who arrives just in time to save the leading lady from being seduced by the villain.

Indeed, Philippine films are fond of using seduction scenes just to make the villain appear more villainous.

How can Rosa Mia and other tearjerkers appear pitiable without an ornery critter to give her the works?  A touch of villainy also makes comedy pictures funnier.  What can be funnier than a toughie being given the works by a comedian?

But movie villains can also inject pathos in a comedy picture.  Take the scene in BONDYING (1954) where the father of Fred Montilla, who plays the title role, tears up the picture of Bondying's late mother.  Try topping that for villainy.

Movie scallawags, too, give creditable performances.  Aside from Eddie Garcia, other meanies who have won awards include Gil de Leon, Ruben Rustia, Panchito Alba (now a comedian and the sidekick of Dolphy, and Ramon D'Salva.

Moviedom's villains often graduate to leading roles and even become directors.  Van de Leon, 1957 FAMAS awardee for best actor, started as a screen toughie.  Fred Montilla, who won the 1954 FAMAS best actor award, and Tony Santos, now a TV producer, are former movie villains.

Max Alvarado, who is the personification of evil on the silver screen, is a comedian in real life.

Other movie toughies include:  Ric Bustamante, also a stuntman; Johnny Reyes, Joe Sison, Vic Diaz, Paquito Diaz, Romeo Diaz, Bruno Punzalan, Flor Bien, Martin Marfil, Bert Olivar, and Ding Tello, who's a dead ringer for the late President Ramon Magsaysay.

Joseph de Cordova, another durable movie villain, has met all kinds of deaths in his pictures.

Movie desperadoes who have crosses the Great Divine include:  Mario Bari, Fernando Royo, Jaime Castelvi, Gregorio Ticman (who was also a comedian), and Bert Leroy, who was killed by the Japanese.

Movie villains of the past who are now engaged in other trades include:  Manuel Barbeyto, now a salesman; Andres Centenera, now a boxing referee; Miguel Anzures, father of the late child star Narding Anzures, now in radio and television; Salvador Zaragoza, now a private entrepreneur; and Ben Rubio, now in the night club business.

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