Movie titles with religious words (1925-1996)

Years back when the Lenten Season came around, I would watch The Ten Commandments over and over again at the big theaters (before the mall cinemas virtually wiped them out), and never got tired of it, marveling at Charlton Heston’s Moses parting the Red Sea in such spectacular style that I don’t think advanced filmmaking technology can top it.

And what Baby Boomer can ever forget Danilo Jurado as the child-friend of Christ in Marcelino Pan y Vino? Or Jennings Sturgeon (said to be an atheist) and later Mat Ranillo III as the perennial Christ in the annual senakulo, the former at the Manila Grand Opera House (demolished, replaced by a hotel) and the latter at the CCP? 

Now, are you old enough to recall any of the movies with religious words in the titles that Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas has painstakingly collected in a list?

Here are some (with the companies that produced them):

• Nepomuceno: Krus na Lihim (1925); Mary, I Love You (The Miracles of the Virgin of Antipolo, 1926); Kamay ng Diyos (1934); Krus na Bato (1934); and Ang Langit sa Lupa (1967).

• Malayan: Sa Pinto ng Langit (1932) and Ang Lumang Simbahan (1932).

• Filippine: Sa Tawag ng Diyos (1934), Anak ng Birhen (1935), Himala ni Bathala (1935), Hatol ng Langit (1935), Sor Matilde (1935), Ang Birheng Walang Dambana (1937), Ilaw ng Langit (1937), Via Crucis (1937), Biyaya ni Bathala (1938) and Mayroon Nga Bang Diyos? (1939).

• Parlatone: Sa Paanan ng Krus (1936), Milagro ng Nazareno sa Quiapo (1937), Susi ng Kalangitan (1937), Langit sa Karimlan (1939) and Tanikala ng Langit (1940).

• X’otic: Hatol ng Mataas na Langit (1938), Tatlong Pagkabirhen (1939), Palaboy ng Diyos (1939), Ang Kaban ng Tipan (1939), Lihim ng Lumang Simbahan (1940), Alaalang Banal (1940) and Puting Dambana (1941).

• Sampaguita/VP: Pasang Krus (1939), Kapilya sa May Daang Bakal (1947), Ang Kamay ng Diyos (1947), Dalawang Dambana (1948), Sor Remedios (1948), Simbahang Pawid (1948), Milagro ng Birhen (1949), Apoy sa Langit (1949), Makasalanang Banal (1950), Anghel ng Pag-ibig (1951), Luha ng Birhen (1954), Anak sa Panalangin (1954), Mga Anak ng Diyos (1957), Anino ni Bathala (1958), Ulilang Anghel (1958), Mga Angel sa Lansangan (1959), Sa Hardin ng Diyos (1960), Limang Misteryo ng Krus (1960), Ipagdarasal Kita (1960), Bilanggong Birhen (1960), Nakasakdal sa Langit (1961), Limos na Dalangin (1961), Pitong Kalbaryo ni Inang (1962), Siyam na Langit (1962), Ang Rosaryo at Tabak (1964), Birhen sa Lupa (1965), Kapag Langit ang Umusig (1966), Dalawang Mukha ng Anghel (1968), Pitong Krus ng Isang Ina (1968), Pitong Pagsisisi (1969) and And God Smiled At Me (1972).

• LVN: Angelus (1946), Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo (1947), Hampas ng Langit (1948), Huling Dalangin (1948), Sa Paanan ng Nazareno (1952), Krus na Bakal (1953), Pasiya ng Langit (1953), Dambanang Putik (1954), Tinalikdang Dambana (1954), Banal o Makasalanan (1955), Limang Dalangin (1958), Sa Puso ni Bathala (1961), Tatlong Panata (1961) and Hampaslupang Anghel (1962).

• Premiere: Anghel sa Lupa (1948), Magkapilas na Langit (1949), Santa Cristina (1951), Luha ng Langit (1952), Sta. Rita de Casia (1958), Nakausap Ko Ang Diyos (1960), Pautang ng Langit (1960) and Milagrosang Kamay (1961).

• FPJ: Anghel sa Aking Balikat (1965), Langit at Lupa (1967), Mga Anghel na Walang Langit (1970, FAMAS Best Picture), Ang Kampana sa Sta. Quiteria (1971) and Santo Domingo (1972).

• LEA: Nagaapoy na Dambana (1967), Kaibigan Ko’ng Sto. Niño (1967), Lumuha Pati Mga Anghel (1971), Sambahin Ang Ngalan Mo (1971) and Ang Gangster at ang Birhen (1971).

• Regal: Sinner or Saint (1984); Sister Stella L. (1984, FAP, Urian and Star Best Picture); Hinugot Sa Langit (1985, Star Best Picture); Bunsong Kerubin (1987); Nakausap Ko Ang Birhen (1988); Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos (1988, FAMAS Best Picture); Bilangin Mo Ang Bituin Sa Langit (1989, FAMAS and FAP Best Picture); and Makiusap Ka Sa Diyos (1991).

Leo is the King

BREAKING NEWS: Leo Valdez (photo) will play the King in the Resorts World Manila staging of The King And I, with Monique Wilson as Anna, from September to December. The roles were immortalized on the big screen by Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. Leo and Monique are both alums of Miss Saigon in which he played The Engineer (“My best Engineer,” gushed Saigon mega-producer Cameron Mackintosh) and she as the original Kim (alternating with Lea Salonga). After playing The Engineer (“More than a thousand times,” he counted) in London, Australia and Manila, Leo has come home to take it easy. Late last year, he did a concert at Resorts World Manila which was an SRO-hit even if Metro Manila was submerged in floods.

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