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| LIPS-TO-LIPS: Evolution of Kissing Scenes in Philippine Movies |
By the first 2 decades of the American Occupation in the Philippines, the influence of our new masters had become more pronounced, even in our forms of entertainment and leisure. For example, the rickety Spanish period cinematografo teatros—cinematographic theaters where short films were screened—were giving way to newer, more modern edifices.
Cine houses sprouted bearing American names: Empire, Majestic, Modern. Many existing theaters like Ideal and Cine Moderna were enlarged and updated with new acoustics to suit the latest trend in films--talking pictures—as well as to accommodate the growing number of star-struck moviegoers.
But when it came to film choices, traditions die hard. Filipinos clung to Spanish-influenced themes, which they believed reflected their own culture and values. As such, religious pictures depicting biblical characters and stories—like “Passion Play”, Los Milagros de la Virgen de Antipolo--- were the most popular in the early years of Philippine cinema. In 1911, “Life of Moses” was the blockbuster film for the year 1911.
OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS. A Hollywood made film that tackled the controversial subject of the “loosening of youth morals”, never before seen in local cinemas. It was shown in 1929 at the Ideal Theater. Starring the flirtatious Joanne Crawford and John Mack Brown. Before the 1920, religious themed-movies were the most popular. Image: Graphic Magazine, July 1929.
This pattern would change when Hollywood stars came to town, overshadowing the European performers. These larger-than-life screen figures would not only become the new idols of the movie masses, but their films would also be powerful mediums of Americanization.
A far cry from the plot-less, disjointed films of old, American films, with their superior production, were windows to the changing ways, mores and attitudes of the modern world. Depictions of sex on screen, under the cloak of harmless amusement, provided sensual fulfillment, among others.
Ideal, for example, showed MGM films that would captivate even the morality-conscious Filipinos—fiery love stories like “Woman of Affairs”, and “Our Dancing Daughters”—that tackled “the loosening of youth morals”.
A WOMAN’S AFFAIRS. A Greta Garbo-Gilbert Roland starrer, first shown in 1929 at the Ideal Theater. Just 3 years before, the same stars indulged in the first open mouth kissing on screen, which shocked audiences worldwide. Hollywood Films such as this would change Filipino attitudes towards overt displays of affection such as kissing. Image: Graphic Magazine, August 1929 issue.
Filipino males ogled at early sex sirens Theda Bara, Clara Bow, and later, Great Garbo. Women secretly admired the bedroom charms of Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Ramon Novarro, and John Gilbert.
Filipino film makers foresaw the lucrative future of this new art, with Jose Nepomuceno (b. 15 May 1893 ‘ d. 1 Dec. 1959) at the helm. Known today as the “father of Philippine Movies”, Nepomuceno exhibited his first dramatic feature, “Dalagang Bukid”, in 1917, followed by a string of usual Spanish-titled films. Two fires destroyed his studios and equipment, but Nepomuceno would rebuild his business in 1924 with the help of a University of Southern California law graduate and Hollywood-trained actor and director, Dr. Vicente Salumbides.
Salumbides not only introduced new techniques in screenwriting, design, editing, and cinematography, but also dared defy guardians of morality—including movie censors—by showing on the big silver screen, the first ever kiss in Philippine movie history.
THE KISS THAT STARTED IT ALL. Couple May Irwin and John Rice re-enact the kiss from the musical “The Widow Jones”, captured on film in April 1986. Image: wikimedia.commons
The world’s first kissing scene captured on film was shot in April 1896, a re- enactment of the kiss from the stage musical “The Widow Jones”, between May Irwin and John Rice, at the Edison Studios, New Jersey. The 18 second kiss—which includes sweet nuzzling and short pecks—shocked the Catholic Church and called for its censorship. But not only was this ignored; instead, the film spawned three copycat film versions: Negro Kiss (1898), The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899) and The Kiss (1900).
LEARNING FRENCH. The first open-mouth French kiss, performed by reel-real life lovebirds, Greta Garbo and Gilbert Roland in the movie “The Flesh and the Devil”. Image: Alex Castro Photo Archives
In due time, passionate displays of affection were routine in American movies. But the most explicit was performed by reel and real life lovers, Greta Garbo and Gilbert Roland in the movie, “The Flesh and the Devil” shown in 1926. Their torrid, open-mouth kissing was the first French kiss in an American film. Their lip-smacking moments were photographed by William Daniels, using natural lighting (such as a lit match stick), and were described as “very erotic”.
That very same year, Salumbides began a film project with the title “Tatlong Hambog”, a silent romantic comedy starring the hunky Luis Tuason, a nationally-ranked boxer and the Filipina-American actress Isabel Rosario (Elizabeth) Cooper (aka “Dimples Cooper” on the bod-a-bil stage) .
FIRST MOVIE KISS IN PHILIPPINE CINEMA. Luis Tuason and Isabel Cooper (aka “Dimples”) made history by smooching for the silver screen in “Tatlong Hambog”, a silent picture produced by Jose Nepomuceno in 1926. Cooper later became a mistress of Gen. Douglas Macarthur. Image: Motion Pictures in the Philippines, by Vicente Salumbides. 1952.
The story called for a kissing scene, which, ordinary Filipino directors would simulate, using such tricks as fading out the lights before the lips of the actors could touch, or shooting from the back so as to hide the actors’ lips.
Salumbides and his stars dared break the kissing taboo by performing the real thing—a full mouth-to-mouth kiss, that was shot against the ruins of the old Guadalupe Church in Makati. It is, today, recognized as the first historic osculation in Philippine movies.
An undated silent picture, “La Hija de la Revolucion”, starring Mary Walter and Gregorio Fernandez, also featured a kissing scene between the two stars. Though no photo exists, Walter, said in a 1962 magazine interview: “It was a kiss and there was no faking about it”.
Director Salumbides began shooting another movie later in the year entitled “Fate or Consequence”. This time, he would not just direct a film, but would also star in it. Written into the script was another intense kissing scene.
The Manila Carnival of 1926 had just ended, and Salumbides convinced some of the candidates to appear in his film, including Muslim princess and former Miss Cotabato, Sofia Lota (real name: Pinaganda Magadi Sinambal Malibatang). Also cast in the film was Miss Pampanga, Rosario Panganiban, whom Salumbides had been squiring for some time. They had met through Vicente’s niece, Nanita, who was a classmate of Rosario at Centro Escolar de Señoritas.
A WHOLE LOTA LOVE: The exotic Mindano beauty queen, Sofia Lota, locked lips with Vicente Salumbides in the 1926 film, “Fate or Consequence”. Salumbides was also the director of the film. Image: Motion Pictures in the Philippines, by Vicente Salumbides. 1952.
When the cameras began rolling, Salumbides and Lota embraced and locked lips—much to the chagrin of Panganiban, who was watching the shoot. She was livid.
“When I saw you (Vicente) kissing Miss Cotabato”, Rosario recalled,” I suffered the worst feeling of jealousy although we were not engaged at that time. I don’t want to experience another attack of that sort. It’s better to be away from temptation”.
Needless to say, that movie kiss fast-tracked the wedding nuptials of Salumbides and Panganiban. As for Lota, “the exotic find from the untamed regions of Cotabato” would pucker up again in her next movie, “Lumang Simbahan”, doing it this time with Gregorio Fernandez. Lota would rise to become one of the most sought after star in the showbiz circuit.
MOUTH-WATERING. Fernando Poe Sr. and Rosa del Rosario caroused and kissed underwater, and on land in this 1937 classic movie directed by Eduardo Castro. Image: (Zamboanga Movie 1937) Robert G. Published on Jul 14, 201 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWb6fo8ZbYI
It would take over a decade before another much-talked about kissing scene would happen. This time, it was in the 1937 “ Zamboanga”, the first Philippine full color movie from Filippine Films which famed director Frank Capra proclaimed as “the most exciting and beautiful picture of native life I have ever seen on screen.”
The story about the seafaring southern tribes starred Rosa del Rosario as Minda, and Fernando Poe Sr., as Danao. It featured the first underwater kissing scene, and more smooching on land.
Of her kissing scenes in that movie, del Rosario would later muse: “My underwater sequence with Fernando Sr., were nothing compared to my kissing scenes with Johnny Mack Brown in Hollywood westerns”. Del Rosario was referring to the 1946 cowboy photoplay, “Border Bandits”, where she was cast as Mack Brown’s love interest.
Not to be outdone, the 1939 Visayan talkie, “Bartoldo Balodoy”, featuring leading man Ben Ollada, paid lip service to her leading lady. But so defective was the sound system of Cebu’s Vision Theater where the movie was screened, that a crackling smack was loudly heard all over the cinema.
KISS ME, JOE!. Matinee idols Rogelio dela Rosa and Norma Blancaflor had their kissing moment in the 1946 rom-com movie, “Victory Joe”.Image: (1946 Victory Joe B&W 97 minutes Directed by Manuel Silos), Citizen Jake, https://vimeo.com/328659457
After the war, producers had more reasons to insert titillating kissing moments in their films. The 1946 romantic comedy from LVN pictures, “Victory Joe”, showed a long, romantic kiss between Norma Blancaflor and her suitor, Rogelio dela Rosa, just returned from the War.
WE KISS IN THE SHADOWS. Vic Oliver and Erlinda Cortes do some serious kissing in the 1947 movie “Dalawang Anino”.Image: Motion Pictures in the Philippines, by Vicente Salumbides. 1952.
When things had settled a year later, movie fans were treated to the provocative kiss performed by Vicente Oliver and Erlinda Cortes, complete with tight embracing and hair clutching. The 1947 blurb of the love-drama “Dalawang Anino” referred to this fervid display of feelings as the result of the “baliw na pagnanasang umabot sa sukdulan ng pagbubunyag” (crazed desire that had reached the point where it had to be revealed!).
KISS UNIVERSE. Armi Kuusela and Virgilio Hilario in their only movie based on their love story “Now and Forever” shown in 1953. Kuusela was a guest of the 1953 Philippine International Exposition when he met the dashing businessman, and became man and wife soon after. Image: Constantino, Ronald K., Lo, Ricardo F. The Golden Years: Memorable Tagalog Movie Ads 1946-1956. Published by Danny Dolor, Manila, 1944. P. 18.
By the 1950s, kissing in Philippines became more common, and in fact, more fashionable. The first Miss Universe Armi Kuusela and beau Virgilio Hilario showed them how it was done in their 1953 debut “Now and Forever”.
A VETERAN AT KISSING. In “Anak Dalita” (1956) Rosa Rosal plays a prostitute who falls for Vic, a war veteran, ably played by Tony Santos Sr. Image: (Anak Dalita) Gobitz, Published on Apr 18, 2011 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX2fiDZ8gPE
The Golden Harvest Best Film awardee at the 1956 Asia-Pacific Film Festival, “Anak Dalita” (1956), had, perhaps, the best horizontal position kiss administered by Tony Santos Sr., on screen vamp Rosa Rosal. In the film, Rosal was Cita, a prostitute with a heart of gold, who has fallen in love with a returning injured Korean war soldier, Vic, portrayed by Santos. The fleeting, loving kiss was just about the hopeful thing in a story filled with sorrow and squalor.
CARIÑO BRUTAL. Aida Cariño and Oscar Moreno were the star performers in “the most sizzling kissing scene ever shot for a Philippine film”, at least in 1957. This was in the movie, “Objective: Patayin si Magsaysay” . Image: Garcia, Jessie B., A Movie Album Quizbook. Erehwon Books & Magazines, © December 2004 by Jessie B. Garcia.
After reviewing local films, weekly magazine Variety voted the kissing-in-bed scene of film veteran Oscar Moreno and young actress Aida Cariño as “the most sizzling kissing scene in Philippine movies, to date”. The said scene was shot for Champion Pictures’ “Objective: Patayin si Magsaysay”, released in 1957.
It was also in the Fifties that American production outfits began discovering the Philippines as a perfect shooting location for war pictures that were all the rage at that time. Filipino actresses were often typecast as island girls who stole American soldiers’ hearts. It was not difficult to persuade our conservative actresses to kiss their American leading men--for the sake of art.
TAKE ONE KISSER. Filipino actress Alicia Vergel resisted a kissing scene in the 1957 movie “Day of the Trumpet” with American John Agar, but changed her mind and did the scene in one take. Agar asked for more, which sent her scurrying away. Image: Garcia, Jessie B., A Movie Album Quizbook. Erehwon Books & Magazines, © December 2004 by Jessie B. Garcia.
Alicia Vergel reluctantly complied when she was cast as John Agar’s love interest in the 1958 film, “Day of the Trumpet”, a joint Fil-American production. ”I didn’t like to do the kissing scene”, she said. But then she reconsidered when she realized that “the film would be dull in America without the kissing scene.”
Her only condition was that the kissing scene be done in one take. Vergel got a good “take one” kiss. But, as she related, “John Agar commented that he liked the kiss so much that he wanted one more take!”. Alicia demurred, and reacted by scampering away from the set, bawling all the while. She recalled later that John Agar came back to appease and humor her. “I feel insulted”, Agar said. “You are the first leading lady I kissed who cried.”
PARALUMAN SURRENDERS TO A KISS. German-Filipino actress Paraluman had a record 4 kissing scenes with American actorKeith ndes in the war movie, “Surrender Hell”, shot in 1958.Image: (Surrender Hell) VCIClassicMovies, Published on Nov 7, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeq_NcD8ckM
The lovely Paraluman had no qualms about
kissing a foreigner, and required no
persuasion. “As long as it is done with
finesse and the script calls for it, I do not object to it,”she declared like a
real pro.
When she was cast with American Keith Andes in the 1959 war action film “Surrender Hell” ( an Allied Artists movie based on Gen. Donald Blackburn’s exploits), Paraluman not just had one, but four serious smooching scenes with her leading man, an experience she enjoyed. “It’ all in a day’s work”, she quipped.
George Montgomery was already a big star of TV and the Silver Screen when he returned to the Philippines in 1961. He had previously been to the country in 1955 to shoot a guerrilla movie entitled “Huks”, with Mona Freeman.
This time around, Montgomery was set to direct--and star-- in yet another war film-- “The Steel Claw”. As the handicapped John Larsen whose right hand has been replaced by a hook, Montgomery meets a mestiza, Lolita Smith—played by Charito Luna.
SPLENDOR ON THE GRASS. Filipina Charito Luna and George Montgomery had some lovey-dovey moments in th 1961 war film “The Steel Claw”, that ended with some heavy kissing, dominated by Charito. Image: The Steel Claw: PizzaFlix, Published on Jul 10, 2013,: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v14Cpol3YQ8
In contrast to the shy, demure roles assigned to Filipinas, Luna’s character was more wordly and aggressive. As Lolita, she comes on strong to the captain, and soon, their small talk leads to some lolling on the grass, culminating in a meeting of lips, with Charito on top.
Two movies in the 60s made the tabloid news—and not just because they featured sensational kissing scenes. “The first local picture wherein kissing scenes will be consummated”…. “the first Tagalog movie with real, honest-to-goodness kissing scenes”, thus heralded the blurbs used to promote “Huwag Mo Akong Limutin”, Director Gerry de Leon’s 1960 opus.
KISSING LESSONS FROM THE SENIORS. The 1961 movie ”Huwag Mo Akong Limutin” ran afoul of the censor’s rules because of its controversial themes. But the theme won major awards at the FAMAS including acting awards for the kissing seniors, Oscar Keesee and Arsenia Francisco. Image: Mirana Medina Collection
As it turned out, it was not the double kissing scenes (performed by Oscar Keesee/Arsenia Francisco and Cesar Ramirez/Cynthia Zamora) that alarmed the local censors board, but the central themes of the flick: marital infidelity, kidnapping and abortion. The movie was briefly banned, until it was re-edited. De Leon was vindicated when the film dominated that year’s FAMAS, winning 8 awards, including Best Film and Best Director trophies. Senior kissers Keesee and Francisco won both supporting acting awards too.
KISS-KISS, BANG-BANG. Ronald Remy holds the distinction as the first Filipino actor to kiss an American actress full on the lips, He traded kisses with Sylvia Lawrence in the 1961 war movie, “Bus to Bataan”. Image. Video48 “The 60s #174. Ronald Remy, Liza Moreno, Paul Edwards, Sylvia Lawrence in Lamberto V. Avellana’s “Bus to Bataan” (1961).http://video48.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sixties-174-ronald-remy-liza-moreno.html
The next year (1961) , “Bus to Bataan”, another war film with Filipino and American stars hot the theaters to the thrill of movie fans. Filipino Ronald Remy turned the tables on Pinay-kissing American actors, by French-kissing American actress Sylvia Lawrence. Remy eventually became a born-again religious leader, while Lawrence shifted to costume design which won for her many Emmy awards and nominations.
After awhile, it seemed that every other film of different genres was inserting kissing scenes as part of the strory’s attraction. In 1964, the comedy spoof, “James Bandong” had funny man Chiquito, cavorting with sexpot Miriam Jurado. Their beach shore romp ends in a smooch that would go down in our film history as the longest, uninterrupted kiss in local cinema, that lasted for all of 6 minutes.
All hell broke loose at the onset of a the 70s decade as local producers took the counterculture slogan “Make love, not war” literally, by churning out soft-core movies known as “bomba” films. Considered as the first bomba film is “Uhaw”, the film, starring Merle Fernandez, was based on a komiks series touted as “the most daring and boldest story ever written”. Fly-by-night producers cashed in on the bomba trend, but pushed the envelope further by adding not just scandalous kisses of all kinds, but also real, hard-core sex.
But nothing prepared the audience for one of the most unexpected kisses ever to be seen on theater screens. In 1971, the multi-awarded director, Lino Brocka, made the film “Tubog sa Ginto”, a story about an unfulfilled woman married to a closet-gay husband Benito, who secretly carried an affair with his male driver.
The theme of the movie was controversial enough, but Brocka defied government censorship and religious censure by showing the first no-holds barred gay kissing scene on Philippine cinema, between the homosexual husband Don Benito (Eddie Garcia) and his young stud Diego (Mario O’Hara).
MAN-TO-MAN RESUSCITATION. Lino Brocka broke barriers by introducing the first gay kiss in the film, “Tubog sa Ginto” (1971) . Eddie Garcia and the late Mario O’Hara shared some daring kisses (as well as a shower), all done in the buff. Image: (Tubog sa Ginto), Cinema Retro, Published on 2017-05-01. https://reppeat.com/watch/?v=4ah2ajH_8aw
With a story written by the venerable comics legend Mars Ravelo, and shot under the helm of a respected director, no dissenting voice was heard, not even a whimper. “Tubog sa Ginto” was given the ultimate accolades during the FAMAS season, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and plus two other acting nominations.
The Garcia-O’Hara gay kiss was unprecedented in our media history, predating the first gay-themed drama series in Philippine television, “My Husband’s Lover” (2013), where the conflicted Tom Rodriguez (as Vincent) planted an oh-so-tender kiss on his object of affection, Dennis Trillo (as Eric). Unfortunately, the full kiss was not shown on TV, in deference to the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board); it is included, however in the DVD release.
Kissing in Philippine movies have now been featured for nearly a hundred years. Since then, every imaginable taboo, once unspoken and forbidden, have been depicted in graphic ways, especially in the internet age—involving transgenders, lesbians, bisexuals, husbands with multiple queridas, priests having affairs, mature women indulging in carnal pleasures with young men (remember the rough kissing of young Tom Labrusca and Angel Aquino in “Glorious”?), among others.
But there’s nothing like a fundamental kiss to incite and ignite the audience’s full range of emotions—from warming hearts, conjuring the magic of romance, arousing feelings of giddiness, naughty thoughts, and let’s face it, lust and sex. Movies give a sense of legitimacy in releasing those feelings with the imprimatur of the censors.
The audience can lose themselves and become, for a fleeting moment, the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, the tempestuous Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, the Sheik of Araby and his harem of lovers; or, closer to home, the conquering “Machete” or the insatiable “Curacha, ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga”. And since new love teams emerge every day from the silver screen, movies will never run out of kisses, because, just as the song reminds us-- the world will always welcome lovers…as time goes by.
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR ESQUIRE PHILIPPINES UNDER THE TITLE "LIPS TO LIPS" THE EVOLUTION OF KISSING SCENES IN PHILIPPINE MOVIES", posted on 12 June 2019.
SOURCES:
·
“First Philippine Movie Kiss”,
Sunday Times Variety, 1 May 1962. P. 3
·
GRAPHIC Magazine, July-August
1929 issues
·
“The History of the Kiss in
Philippine Cinema”. PIC, The Ultimate Magazine,
Vol. 1, No. 11, 1972.
·
Constantino, Ronald K., Lo,
Ricardo F. The Golden Years: Memorable Tagalog Movie Ads 1946-1956. Published
by Danny Dolor, Manila, 1944. P. 18.
·
Deocampo, Nick. CINE: Spanish
Influences on Tagalog Cinema, Chapter 5: On Viewership, published by The
National Commission for the Culture and the Arts. p. 298
· Garcia, Jessie B., A Movie Album Quizbook. Erehwon Books & Magazines, © December 2004 by Jessie B. Garcia.
·
Villasanta, Julianito, Tio
Ticong Pelikula at Pulitika (Vicente Salumbides) . 2002
·
Salumbides, Vicente. Motion
Pictures in the Philippines. © 1952, by the author. Ch. 18: Kising in the
Movies. P.137.
·
Best Movie Kisses of All Time, https://www.filmsite.org/filmkisses2.html
·
Mirana Medina Collection, for
the photo of Oscar Keesee and Arsenia Francisco from “Huwag Mo Akong Limutin”.
YouTube screen grabs:
·
Zamboanga: (Zamboanga Movie 1937) Robert
G. Published on Jul 14, 201
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWb6fo8ZbYI
· Victory Joe: 1946 Victory Joe B&W 97 minutes Directed by Manuel Silos, Citizen Jake, https://vimeo.com/328659457
· Anak Dalita: Gobitz, Published on Apr 18, 2011 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX2fiDZ8gPE
· Surrender Hell: VCIClassicMovies, Published on Nov 7, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeq_NcD8ckM
· The Steel Claw: PizzaFlix, Published on Jul 10, 2013,: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v14Cpol3YQ8
· Tubog Sa Ginto: Cinema Retro, Published on 2017-05-01: https://reppeat.com/watch/?v=4ah2ajH_8aw
