Basic Information: Directed: Emmanuel H. Borlaza; Story: Mars Ravelo; Screenplay: Emmanuel H. Borlaza; Cast: Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz, Jose Padilla Jr., Lilia Dizon, Romy Mallari, Jose Villafranca, Nela Alvarez, Yasmin Romero, Beth Manlongat, Dino Festin; Original Music: Restie Umali; Cinematography: Justo Paulino; Film poster: Video48
Plot Description: Mars Ravelos serialized comics directed by Emmanuel H Borlaza. Film with Edgar Mortiz.
Film Achievement: "...Borlaza gave Vilma Santos her very first best actress, winning the 1972 FAMAS for via Dama De Noche. He is also credited in narrowing the popularity gap between her and the musical era’s darling of the 70s, Nora Aunor. Total Number of Films in our list of VSR’s Top 50 films = 4 (#10 Lipad Darna Lipad 1973, #32 Dyesebel at ang Mahiwagang Kabibe 1973, #48 Darna and the Giants 1973, #49 Dama De Noche 1972)..." - RV (READ MORE)
"...By late 1969, movie producers had been tapping a Vilma Santos-Edgar Mortiz love team. Edgar was a Tawag ng Tanghalan winner. They started to be together in the movies, My Darling Eddie (1969) and The Jukebox King (1969)...In 1970, the love team of Vilma Santos and Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz was officially launched in the movie Young Love, together with the another popular love team during that time, Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III. The Vi and Bot love team went on to do 14 more movies in 1970—The Young Idols, Songs and Lovers, Sweethearts, Sixteen, Love Letters, Love is for the Two of Us, Mga Batang Bangketa, My Pledge of Love, Renee Rose, Baby Vi, Because You Are Mine, Edgar Loves Vilma, From the Bottom of My Heart, and I Love You Honey. All did well at the box-office..." - Rommel R. Llanes (READ MORE)
Film Reviews: "...Lilia was born Claire Strauss in Pampanga in 1928, the only child of Filipina Regina Dizon and German-American Abraham Strauss. We will remember Lilia Dizon for her memorable performances as a girl trapped inside a balloon in the fantasy flick “Tucydides”, as the rival of the late Anita Linda (who also just passed on June 10) over Jose Padilla Jr. in the drama flick “Perfidia: Kataksilan”, as the feisty gerilyera in “Kandelerong Pilak”, as the dying wife of Rogelio de la Rosa who adopts Nora Dy in “Ikaw ang Buhay Ko”, as the wronged wife of the philandering Eddie Garcia in “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”, as the sacrificing mother of Lourdes Medel and Mila Ocampo in “Awit ng mga Dukha” and as the domineering stage mom of Vilma Santos in “Renee Rose”. Let’s all pray for the repose of her soul..." - Mario Bautista, People's Journal, 16 June2020 (READ MORE)
"...Noong Dekada ’70, ang mga young stars ay kailangang marunong kumanta dahil yun ang uso kaya naman nagtayo ng sariling recording company ang nasirang manager ni Vi na si William Leary dahil ayaw niyang pahuhuli sa uso ang kanyang alaga. Ilan sa mga naging recording artists ng WILEARS RECORDS bukod kay Vi ay sina Edgar Mortiz, Ed Finlan, Sahlee Quizon, Hilda Koronel at Esperanza Fabon. According to Vi, kapag nagrerecord siya ng kanta ay nakatalikod siya sa dingding ng recording company at si Bobot ang umaalalay sa kanya. Ang SIXTEEN, na sinulat ni Danny Subido ang unang recording na ginawa ni Vi at ito ay flipsided by It’s So Wonderful To Be In Love. Ang SIXTEEN ay agad naging gold record at dahil dito ay gumawa ng pelikula ang Tagalog Ilang Ilang Productions, ang home studio ni Vi at ito ay ginawa nilang pamagat katambal si Edgar Mortiz. Hindi nyo naitatanong, muntik nang manalo si Vi bilang most promising singer sa AWIT AWARDS noong early ’70s..." - Alfonso Valencia (READ MORE)
"Lilia Dizon is one of the brightest stars of LVN Pictures in the 50s paired with the top leading men that time like Rogelio de la Rosa, Armando Goyena, Mario Montenegro and Jose Padilla Jr. Her real name is Claire Strauss (her dad is of German ancestry) and she started her acting career right after WWII in 1946...She would later play mother roles and one of the best dramas she did is “Awit ng mga Dukha”, where she played the mom of LVN actresses Lourdes Medel and Mila Ocampo. She also played the domineering stage mother of a teenage Vilma Santos in the Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions drama, "Renee Rose." When her son Christopher was discovered by Lino Brocka in 1974, she played his mom in the award-winning “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang.” She retired in the U.S. in the 80s (where her daughter Pinky still resides) but she later returned to Manila and stayed with her son Bro. Boyet..." - Mario E. Bautista, People's Journal, 25 April 2020 (READ MORE)
"...The loveteam of Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos endured a stiff competition from teeny bopper love team of Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III and came up with equal success with string of hit films during the musical era of the 70s. Together they did forgettable but commercial hits and also some hints of the years to come to Vilma Santos’ long career. The most notable one: Dama De Noche. Total Number of films with Vilma Santos – 25 (Young Love, Teenage Jamboree, Songs and Lovers, Renee Rose, My Pledge of Love, Mga Batang Bangketa, Love Is for the Two of Us, I Love You Honey, From the Bottom of My Heart, Baby Vi, Love Letters, The Wonderful World of Music, The Sensations, The Young Idols, Sweethearts, Sixteen, Leron-Leron Sinta, Edgar Love Vilma, Don’t Ever Say Goodbye, Dama de Noche, Anak ng Aswang, Because You Are Mine, Kampanerang Kuba, Kasalanan Kaya, Karugtong ang Kahapon..." - RV (READ MORE)
"...Si Edgar Mortiz ang unang nakapareha ni Vilma Santos as a teen star. Nakilala sila as the "Subok na Matibay, Subok na Matatag" loveteam called Vi and Bot at naging magka-steady sila sa tunay na buhay. Marami silang ginawang pelikula as teen stars in the early 70s..." - Showbiz Portal (READ MORE)
"...His films lack the arthouse style and social relevance that critics loves most in a Brocka or Bernal films but who cares about the critics when the paying public loves them. And the producers demand his service, from Doc Perez of Sampaguita Pictures, Atty. Esperidion Laxa of Tagalog Ilang Ilang Productions and later on, Vic Del Rosario of Viva Films and Lily Monteverde of Regal Films. Clearly, his films exists with one purpose, to entertain the masses not to depress or remind them with the country’s sad fate of economy or the below poverty line lives of many. The success of the Vilma-Borlaza films gave Vilma Santos versatility and preparation to a more serious acting career. It also narrowed the popularity gap between her and the musical era’s darling of the 70s, Nora Aunor. These are perhaps, the most significant contributions of Emmanuel Borlaza to Vilma’s career. Vilma who was considered only second to Nora couldn’t matched her singing talent and so, Borlaza countered this lack of singing with films that showcased Vilma’s acting versatility..." - RV (READ MORE)
RELATED READING:
- Vilma Santos-Edgar Mortiz Love Team Circa 1970
- Edgar Loves Vilma
- IMDB: Edgar Mortiz
- Edgar Mortiz From Wikipedia
- Vilma Santos-Edgar Mortiz Love Team Circa 1970
- If Vilma comes, can Edgar be far behind?
- Vi and Bot Photo Album
- Pelikula, ATBP’s Nostalgia 2: Vilma and Edgar
- Love Letters (1970)
- Vilma and Edgar Duet (Video)
