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Gerardo de León
Gerardo de León on a 2013 stamp of the Philippines
Born(1913-09-12)September 12, 1913
DiedJuly 25, 1981(1981-07-25) (aged 67)
Manila, Philippines
Occupation(s)Actor, film director
Years active1934–1976
SpouseFely Vallejo
Children2 daughters
Awards Order of National Artists of the Philippines

Gerardo de León (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981) was a Filipino film director and actor. He was posthumously conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film in 1982.

Biography

De León, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, was a member of the Ilagan clan of Philippine motion pictures, which includes Robert Arevalo, Conrado Conde, Angel Esmeralda, Eddie Ilagan, musical scorer Tito Arévalo, and his daughter Liberty Ilagan. De León was a medical doctor by profession, but his ultimate love for film won him over. [1] He made his acting debut in the 1934 film Ang Dangal. He acted in eight other films before becoming a director. The first film he directed was Bahay-Kubo (1939), starring Fely Vallejo, an actress whom he later married.

De Leon produced a number of anti-American propaganda films during World War Two, in collaboration with the occupying Japanese forces and Japanese director Abe Yutaka, who personally chose De Leon for the projects. De Leon was arrested and charged with treason after the Japanese were defeated, and was almost executed by the Filipino government. But at the last minute, he was pardoned when evidence came to light that all during the war, he had secretly assisted the Filipino resistance as well. [2]

Nicknamed "Manong", de León is the most awarded film director in the history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences' FAMAS Awards. From 1952 to 1971, he was awarded seven FAMAS Awards, three of them received consecutively. [3] His 1961 film The Moises Padilla Story was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 32nd Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. [4]

All of the films for which he won Best Director also won Best Picture at the FAMAS, namely Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952), Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig (1958), Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960), Noli Me Tangere (1961, adapted from the novel of the same title), El Filibusterismo (1962), Daigdig ng Mga Api (1965), and Lilet (1971). One of his unfinished projects was Juan de la Cruz (1972) with Fernando Poe Jr.

He is known to fans of cult horror films for the handful of 1960s horror movies he directed, some co-directed with his friend Eddie Romero and co-financed with American money. These films included Terror Is a Man (1959), The Blood Drinkers/ Blood Is the Color of Night (1964), [5] Curse of the Vampires/ Whisper to the Wind (1966), Brides of Blood (1968), and Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1969). [2] Roger Corman hired him in 1971 to direct his gritty Women in Prison film Women in Cages (1971), featuring Pam Grier as a sadistic prison warden [2] and Philippines sex symbol Sofia Moran. De Leon died on July 25, 1981, at age 67.

Personal life

He is married to Fely Vallejo (1918-2013), a pre-war actress who played a starring role in his directorial debut movie Bahay-Kubo (1939). Together they have 2 children, Liberty Ilagan (July 6, 1943-2020) [6] and Maria Fe "Baby" (born 1949), the widow of actor, Ronaldo Valdez. Liberty was an actress and was married to former actor/famous restaurateur Rod Ongpauco (screen-named Rod Evans) with whom she has 3 children. [7] [8] While her sister, Marife Ilagan married Ronaldo Valdez with whom they had two children, Janno Gibbs and Melissa, who are both actors. [9]

Filmography

Film (as Director)

Year Title Notes Production Company Ref(s):
1938 Bahay kubo Parlatone Hispano Filipino
1938 Mga sugar ng puso Parlatone Hispano Filipino
1938 Makiling Parlatone Hispano Filipino
1940 Estrellita
1941 Ang Maestra
1943 Dawn of Freedom
1947 Mameng, iniibig kita
1950 48 Oras
1951 Sisa
1951 Diego Silang
1952 Bagong Umaga
1952 Python at the Old Dome (Sawa sa lumang simboryo)
1954 Pedro Penduko
1954 Ifuago
1955 Sanda Wong
1956 Saigon
1957 Bakya mo Neneng
1957 Kamay ni Cain/ The Hands of Cain
1958 Hanggang sa dulo ng daigdig
1959 Terror Is a Man (1959) aka Blood Creature [10]
1960 Huwag mo akong limutin/Don't Let Me Forget
1960 Noli me tangere (Touch Me Not)
1961 The Moises Padilla Story
1961 Noli Me Tángere
1962 El filibusterismo
1962 I Am Justice (Ako ang katarungan)
1964 Anak nu Dyesebel
1964 The Walls of Hell (Intramuros)
1964 The Blood Drinkers a.k.a. Kulay dugo ang gabi/ Blood is the Color of Night; aka The Vampire People. [11] [12]
1965 Ang daigdig ng mga api (World of the Oppressed)
1966 Curse of the Vampires (Dugo ng vampira) a.k.a. Ibulong mo sa hangin (Whisper to the Wind), a.k.a. Creatures of Evil [13]
1968 Brides of Blood co-director with Eddie Romero.
1969 The Mad Doctor of Blood Island aka (Tomb of the Living dead) co-director with Eddie Romero. [14]
1971 Lilet
1971 Women in Cages
1975 Fe, Esperanza, Caridad (translation: Faith, Hope and Charity)
1975 Banaue: Stairway to the Sky
1976 Juan dela Cruz (unfinished)

References

  1. ^ "Order of National Artists: Gerardo "Gerry" de Leon". gov.ph. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Mark Holcomb. "de Leon, Gerardo". Sensesofcinema.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Did you know? National Artist for Film Gerardo de Leon. Newsinfo.inquirer.net (September 11, 2014). Retrieved on June 25, 2016.
  4. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  5. ^ White, Mike. "Cashiers du Cinemart - Issue 18 - Strong Coffee with a National Treasure : An Interview with Eddie Romero". Cashiers du Cinemart Magazine.
  6. ^ "Former Sampaguita star Liberty Ilagan dies at 76". PEP.ph. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "Liberty: No regrets having quit showbiz". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Lo, Ricky. "What was Liberty's biggest regret?". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Wang, Nickie (December 18, 2023). "Ronaldo Valdez tackles love in twilight years in last film". Manila Standard. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Terror Is a Man (1959) - Notes - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.com. TCM. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  11. ^ "Kulay dugo ang gabi". Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "Kulay dugo ang Gabi". Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Ibulong mo sa hangin (Blood of the Vampires)(Creatures of Evil)(Whisper to the Wind) - Movie Reviews". Rottentomatoes.com.
  14. ^ Arena, Jim (2002). Mad Doctor of Blood Island (Media notes) (Liner notes). Image Entertainment. ID146211DVD.

External links