Dell Martin | Star For All Seasons

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Basic Information: Directed: Abraham Cruz; Story: Felipe Baron; Screenplay: Felipe Baron; Cast: Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz, Esperanza Fabon, Romy Mallari, Baby De Jesus, Bobby Roldan, Alona Alegre, Victor Wood, Baby Alcaraz, Cloyd Robinson, Ernie Vega, Dell Martin, Wilma Landicho, Azucena Guevarra, Imelda Alonzo, Norma Blancaflor; Original Music: Danny Subido; Cinematography: Avelino Peralta; Film Editing: Teofilo de Leon; Art Design: Greg Alcid Jr.; Sound: Flaviano Villareal; Film poster: Video48

Plot Description: Film-Am Edgar falls in love with Vilma. The two had a set back that ended with Edgar returning all Vilma’s love letters that he regreted and wanted it back. He went to Vilma’s house to retrieve it but was caught and accused of stealing. The whole misunderstanding ended up in court but was settled eventually. Edgar left the country but returned for Alona Alegre’s wedding to Victor Wood. He also reunited Vilma.

An early Vilma Santos-Edgar Mortiz romantic musical also featuring the old gang – Romy Mallari, Esperanza Fabon, Baby de Jesus, Bobby Roldan, Alona Alegre and jukebox king Victor Wood. The story is about young love, with all its anxieties and conclusion. It dramatizes the pains of growing up and the need to follow romantic ideals. An infectious trip down memory lane, with the original D’Sensation gang the way they were! Directed by Abraham Cruz for Tagalong Ilang-Ilang Productions. – Trigon Video

Film Achievement: An Entry to the 1970 Manila Film Festival

Film Review: Love Letters is a musical films specially made for the fans of “teeny-bopper” stars – Vi and Bot. The film was probably shot with improvisations, which means, without a written script. This was noticeably clear as the film’s main characters and the actual names of the actors were not change at all. The film’s main plot was the the stealing of love letters that ended in court, followed by picket line (ala-“Occupy” Wall Street) that was hard to believe. And also the one-after the other testimonies of Edgar, Vilma and both parents that were irritatingly funny. Although we are used to Vilma’s tolereable singing, we’re more surprise to see a singing Alona Alegre! She looked more like Eugene Domingo (clearly before her sexy films/image). One more thing, Alona’s wedding gown was worth a second look, its not like your ordinary wedding gown. The head piece was a beaded hood that covers her hair and neck. With so much singing, Baby De Jesus’s voice stands out among the girls but her piano playing acting was over the top. Victor Wood’s duet with Edgar Mortiz, “Beautiful Dreamers” is worth downloading. Danny Subido was responsible for inserting all the musical numbers that was quite a tasks particularly without a well written musical screenplay. The film was shot in Baguio City and cinematographer, Avelino Peralta’s did a wonderful job showcasing the city on Vilma’s day dreaming except for the akward courtscenes. Love Letters was produced by Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Production and directed by Abraham Cruz, a forgettable film that only a die hard Vi and Bot fans (and those who loves film nostalgia) can only appreciate. – RV, (READ MORE)

“…The filmfest saw the entry of neophyte Lino Brocka into the Philippine movie mainstream with his first directorial assignment under Lea Productions’ Wanted Perfect Mother. It introduced for the first time child sensation Snooky (Serna). Teen superstars Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos have their respective entries: Nora had two entries, Nora in Wonderland (with Manny de Leon) for Tower Productions and Young at Heart (with Tirso Cruz III) for Sampaguita Pictures, while Vilma with his lone entry, Love Letters with Edgar Mortiz for Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions. Capping the list were 4 action movies— Tony Ferrer as Tony Falcon, Agent X-44 in Crisis, Zaldy Zshornack and Vic Vargas teamed up in Mga Batong Buhay, Rex Lapid in Shotgun Kid and Jun Aristorenas in Dimasalang; two comedy films, Up, Up and Away with Dolphy and Servillano Zapata with Chiquito, the Jukebox king Eddie Peregrina with his entry Your Love, bombshell Rossana Marquez in Modelong Ginto and Eddie Rodriguez with another dramatic performance in Bakit Pa Ako?…” – Video 48 (READ MORE)

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Basic Information: Direction: Leonardo L. Garcia; Cast: Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz/ Also Starring Perla Bautista, Nello Nayo, Nick Aladdin, Mary Walter, Metring David, Yazmin Romero, Dell martin and Ben David/ Featuring Jess Lapid, Jr., Joji Mercado, Bernadine Escolar, Wilma Landicho, Cherry Lachica, Noly Ong, Marissa Magadia, Rico Villa, Chito Liwanag, Romy Brieding; Story and Screenplay: Rico Bello Omagap; Music Eddie Mataranas; Production Company: Jela Productions; Release Date: September 27, 1970/ Globe; Film poster: Video48

Plot Description: Daughter of a nightclub singer, Vilma met Edgar whose father, like Vilma’s mother is also single parent. While dating, their parent also fell in love. Some twists of events happened, like the sudden break-up of their parent due to Edgar’s grandmother’s disapproval of her son’s relationship to Vi’s mother who is a night club singer, which was a societal taboo for the upper class during those days (the 60s-70s). Another twist was the kidnapping of Vilma. But all we’re ironed out in the end, just in time for the final musical production number, showing the whole gang dancing and singing to Vilma’s hit song, “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Love You!”

Film Achievement: No Available Data

Film Reviews; “…By late 1969, movie producers had been tapping a Vilma Santos-Edgar Mortiz love team. Edgar was a Tawag ng Tanghalan winner. They started to be together in the movies, My Darling Eddie (1969) and The Jukebox King (1969)…In 1970, the love team of Vilma Santos and Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz was officially launched in the movie Young Love, together with the another popular love team during that time, Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III. The Vi and Bot love team went on to do 14 more movies in 1970—The Young Idols, Songs and Lovers, Sweethearts, Sixteen, Love Letters, Love is for the Two of Us, Mga Batang Bangketa, My Pledge of Love, Renee Rose, Baby Vi, Because You Are Mine, Edgar Loves Vilma, From the Bottom of My Heart, and I Love You Honey. All did well at the box-office…” – Rommel R. Llanes (READ MORE)

“…Noong Dekada ’70, ang mga young stars ay kailangang marunong kumanta dahil yun ang uso kaya naman nagtayo ng sariling recording company ang nasirang manager ni Vi na si William Leary dahil ayaw niyang pahuhuli sa uso ang kanyang alaga. Ilan sa mga naging recording artists ng WILEARS RECORDS bukod kay Vi ay sina Edgar Mortiz, Ed Finlan, Sahlee Quizon, Hilda Koronel at Esperanza Fabon. According to Vi, kapag nagrerecord siya ng kanta ay nakatalikod siya sa dingding ng recording company at si Bobot ang umaalalay sa kanya. Ang SIXTEEN, na sinulat ni Danny Subido ang unang recording na ginawa ni Vi at ito ay flipsided by It’s So Wonderful To Be In Love. Ang SIXTEEN ay agad naging gold record at dahil dito ay gumawa ng pelikula ang Tagalog Ilang Ilang Productions, ang home studio ni Vi at ito ay ginawa nilang pamagat katambal si Edgar Mortiz. Hindi nyo naitatanong, muntik nang manalo si Vi bilang most promising singer sa AWIT AWARDS noong early ’70s…” – Alfonso Valencia (READ MORE)

“…The loveteam of Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos endured a stiff competition from teeny bopper love team of Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III and came up with equal success with string of hit films during the musical era of the 70s. Together they did forgettable but commercial hits and also some hints of the years to come to Vilma Santos’ long career. The most notable one: Dama De Noche. Total Number of films with Vilma Santos – 25 (Young Love, Teenage Jamboree, Songs and Lovers, Renee Rose, My Pledge of Love, Mga Batang Bangketa, Love Is for the Two of Us, I Love You Honey, From the Bottom of My Heart, Baby Vi, Love Letters, The Wonderful World of Music, The Sensations, The Young Idols, Sweethearts, Sixteen, Leron-Leron Sinta, Edgar Love Vilma, Don’t Ever Say Goodbye, Dama de Noche, Anak ng Aswang, Because You Are Mine, Kampanerang Kuba, Kasalanan Kaya, Karugtong ang Kahapon…” – RV (READ MORE)