Mona Lisa movies in the ’40s

Moviegoers nowadays best remember Mona Lisa for the movies she made in the ’70s and ’80s, playing mostly mother roles. A few of her outstanding films were directed by Lino Brocka, among them: Insiang, Cain at Abel, Kapit sa Patalim.

In the late ’30s and ’40s, the actress (Florida Lerma Yapco offcam) was a such sought-after leading lady opposite the likes of Fernando Poe Sr., Serafin Garcia, Angel Esmeralda, Fernando Royo, Leopoldo Salcedo, Fred Montilla.

Lisa’s movies in the ’40s include Sunset Over Corregidor, Matimtiman, Binatang Maynila, Maria Kapra, Siyudad sa Ilalim ng Lupa, Palaris, Tinangay ng Apoy, Viuda Alegre.

She was earlier billed Fleur de Liz, the name the actress used in the first movie of LVN, Giliw Ko. But her screen name was Mona Lisa in 1940, when she starred opposite Garcia in Tinangay ng Apoy. — RKC