The case of the ‘missing’ 34 films
Unlike the heirs (Lilibeth Nakpil, et
al) of Sampaguita Pictures, Regal Matriarch Lily Monteverde and Da King Fernando Poe Jr. who have preserved their films (FPJ kept them in an aircon room at his Tagaytay home), Pascual siblings William and Baby (who died early this year) were not able to save any of the 34 movies produced by their family-owned companies Baby Pascual Films and Melrose Films, just like Premiere/ Peoples Productions that turned most the master negatives into torotots used to make noise on New Year’s Eve.
“We didn’t foresee the advances of technology,” William admitted during an intimate dinner with friends Mars Lu, Ed Instrella and your Funfarer hosted by businesswoman/part-time actress Rosalind Wee (and also one of this year’s PeopleAsia magazine’s People of the Year winners) at the spanking new Rizal Park Hotel Monday night. “Sayang
na sayang. Had we known, we could have saved those films in DVDs…all 34 of them.”
Yes, what a big waste! Like FPJ and Mother Lily, William and Baby could have earned millions by selling the rights to their films to a TV network (early on, ABS-CBN bought the rights to Regal movies and then FPJ movies from Da King’s widow Susan Roces).
“Isn’t there a way for us to gather copies of our films?” wondered William whose company built up the likes of Jaclyn Jose and Julio Diaz. “Many of our films starred the industry’s big stars”…find out who’s who as you read on… “and they are collectors’ items. I hope and pray that your (STAR) readers are reading this and they can help us locate our ‘missing’ films.”
Here’s the complete list (and lead actors), some of them directed by William himself (as indicated): 1. Wanted: Alex San Diego, Rudy Fernandez;
2. Juramentado, Ramon Revilla Sr. and Rosemarie Sonora;
3. Magdalena (Buong Magdamag), Claudia Zobel and Karla Kahlua;
4. Di Maghilom ang Sugat, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Cristina Crisol and Gino Antonio (directed by William Pascual himself); 5. Brusko, Lito Lapid and Eddie Garcia; 6. Babae sa Ulog, Jean Saburit and Ricky Belmonte;
7. Chikas, Jaclyn Jose, Lovely Rivero, Rachel Ann Wolfe and Tanya Gomez (by William Pascual);
8. Hulihin si Boy Sputnik, Jess Lapid Jr., Liz Alindogan and Roderick Paulate;
9. Beach House, Al Tantay, Bembol Roco and Cherie Gil;
10. Sex Object, Charito Solis, Stella Suarez Jr., Julio Diaz and Liza Lorena;
11. Asal Hayop, Bembol Roco, Michael de Mesa, Dante Varona, Deborah Sun, Pia Moran and Rosemarie Gil;
12. Commandos, Dante Varona and Jess Lapid Jr.;
13. Home Sweet Home, Janice de Belen, Sheryl Cruz, Ricky Belmonte and Charito Solis (by William Pascual);