First “Honest-to-Goodness” Kissing Scene in Tagalog Movies

As I’ve posted in my previous blog, I’d publish details of Director Gerardo de Leon films whose brochures I still have with me. Nasunog kasi bahay namin e!! Buti na lang nasa U.P. Anyway,  I will find time to do all that– one by one — before his Centennial Year ends on September 12.  As they say… it’s better late than never. The diversity/variety of the films he made are represented in my small collection.

So I’ll start with HUWAG MO AKONG LIMUTIN [1960], a dramatic film on illicit affairs starred in by Arsenia Francisco, Oscar Keesee, Cesar Ramirez, Cynthia Zamora, etc. Robert Arevalo was first introduced in this movie.

“Huwag Mo Ako Limutin”, the most talked-about film of the year; FAMAS Best Picture in 1960.

It must have been very controversial and a much-awaited movie at that time having bragged before it was released as “the first local picture wherein kissing scenes will be consummated” and “the first Tagalog movie with real honest-to-goodness kissing scenes”. [Take note: Real na honest to goodness pa!] The stress was such because in earlier Philippine movies kissing scenes used “tricks.” Lips were not actually touching during the shoot. The actor and the actress were positioned in front of the camera in such a way that they would appear as if they were actually kissing. Pero sa totoo daya lang. Though the first kissing scene in Philippine movies was reportedly done by Elizabeth Cooper and Luis Tuason in  Ang Tatlong Hambog (1926), the description used by Premiere Productions was clearly more to describe the intensity of the act and possibly the realistic performances of the actors. The word “torrid” was used to describe the scene.

Huwag Mo Ako Limutin’s 8-page brochure published by Premiere Productions, Inc.

Furthermore, the brochure above states that: “For the first time in Filipino movies, down-to-earth kissing scenes will be seen by moviegoers who have been waiting for realistic motion pictures.” The marketing of the film obviously relied heavily on the kissing scenes. Touching on a delicate subject and having handled by an excellent director, I could only but imagine a truly realistic and dramatic movie then that have rocked the industry in the 60’s, more than, if not equally as the Beatles did in the music industry!!!

[L] Oscar Keese and Arsenia Francisco; [R] Cesar Ramirez and Cynthia Zamora

SYNOPSIS

CREDITS

Aside from being awarded as FAMAS Best Picture, Gerardo de Leon was adjudged as the Best Director; Best Supporting Actress for Arsenia Francisco; Best Supporting Actor for Oscar Keese; Best Cinematography for Ricardo Marcelino Best Editing for Gerardo de Leon; Best Musical Score for  Tito Arevalo and Best Sound for Demetrio de Santos.

For more on “Huwag Mo Akong Limutin,” please click the link to Video 48 File.

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