Lebran: One of the Big Four in the '50s

MANILA, Philippines - Of the Big Four in the ‘50s, Lebran was the newest film outfit, having been established only in 1949 by Rafael Anton and business associates. The three others were set up earlier: Sampaguita, LVN and Premiere.

Aside from the local audience, Lebran also targeted the Asian market, producing films with Tagalog and English versions.

Its more important movies were He Promised to Return, His Darkest Hour, The Spell, Song of Santo Tomas, Romeo at Julieta, Sigfredo, Kalbaryo ni Hesus, Pagsilang ng Mesiyas, Buhay Alamang, No Place to Hide, Saigon, Aklat ng Pag-ibig, The Pirates Go to Town.

The stars of Lebran included Neil Young, Leopoldo Salcedo, Erlinda Cortes, Oscar Moreno, Jennings Sturgeon, Manuel Conde, Anita Linda, Fred Castro, Cris de Vera, Fernando Royo, Rosa Aguirre, Pedro Faustino, Berting Labra, Fara Lizardo, Ricardo Montes (Ric Rodrigo), Fred Montilla, Lirio del Valle, Rosa del Rosario, David Brian, Marsha Hunt. —RKC