1966 – Soliman Brothers (Emar Pictures)
[Release date 13th May 1966]
Director Augusto Buenaventura Story/Screenplay Nestor St Roy [poster lists "Writer" as Augusto Buenaventura] Producer [uncredited] Joseph Estrada Executive Producer Emilio Ejercito Assistant Executive Producer Jesus M. Ejercito Cinematography Fredy Conde Music Restie Umali Editor Atilano Salvador Sound Manuel C. Daves Production Coordinator A.C. Montesines Production Manager Raul Aranda Assistant Director Simplicio Pajarillo Makeup Artist Baby Maclang Field Soundman Godofredo de Leon Assistant Cameraman Manuel C. Roxas Jr Schedule Master Roger Bonagua Assistant Editors Rogelio Salvador, Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao Laboratory Antonio Camato, Ananias Latagan Printers Zeny Ambos, Nelfa Arce Titles "MRL" Stills Francisco Salanga
Cast Joseph Estrada (Joe Soliman), Jess Lapid [Sr] (Jessie Soliman), Jun Aristorenas (Johnny Soliman), Paquito Diaz (Bernie), Imelda Ilanan, Gina Laforteza (Gina), Rebecca (Elisa), Renato Robles, Larry Silva, Avel Morado, Ben Dato, Max Alvarado (Rosco), Romy Diaz (Iscarella), Angel Confiado, Ben Bernal, Bobby Gianzon, Rudy Samoy, SOS Daredevils, Ike Fernando, Jose Padilla Jr (Diego Soliman), Anita Linda (Carmen)
ACTION
NOTES: Executive Producer Emilio Ejercito is Joseph Estrada's father, while his assistant Jesus M. Ejercito is Joseph's youngest brother
Equal parts romance, comedy, fisticuffs, back-alley knifings and family melodrama as the Soliman boys - Sixties action icons Joseph Estrada, Jess Lapid Sr and Jun Aristorenas - defend their poor Manila neighbourhood from the Syndicate, while released felon Bernie (Paquito Diaz) reignite their father's (Jose Padilla Jr) criminal ties. Brother Joe (Estrada) is primarily concerned with maintaining the family's dignity in its poverty; his siblings are more interested in climbing the social ladder - the hotheaded but terminally shy Jesse (Lapid, playing against his usual confident type) trying to impress the boss' daughter (Rebecca), gigolo Johnny (Aristorenas) strutting around rich girl Gina (Laforteza), whose father, another past associate of Bernie, is being blackmailed by henchman Iscarella (a young, clean-cut Romy Diaz). Anita Linda is fantastic as Carmen, fallen woman and consort of Soliman Sr, as well as mama-san at Carmen's Place where Joe's girlfriend (Imelda Ilanan) works and observes the unfolding tragedy, and Max Alvarado, Larry Silva and the SOS Daredevils help with the regulation goons. Soliman Brothers' slum dramatics are underscored by Restie Umali's terrific, frenetic jazz, surf and pop numbers, strictly by the numbers and, as formulaic Sixties goon actioners go, impressively so.
