MAY LAMOK SA LOOB NG KULAMBO... Wonderfully Comic

Posted by Jojo Devera , Labels: , , , , ,

May Lamok Sa Loob Ng Kulambo
Danny Zialcita's May Lamok Sa Loob Ng Kulambo (Essex Films) speaks of values that are much more contemporary. The film centers on two women, Ellen (Gloria Diaz), the wife and Emma (Lyka Ugarte), her husband's goddaughter. The husband is Lauro (Eddie Garcia). Zialcita explores the relationship between Ellen and Emma by offering the very defiant notion that the two women should not be at odds with each other because they actually share a common enemy, the man. Diaz herself a middle-aged woman, has found an equivalent in Ellen, who is not only the soul of this movie, but also one of the most refreshing female characters in recent Philippine cinema.  Ellen is beginning to have angsts about her sexuality, but she is gorgeous and Diaz, wonderfully comic, is a case in point for perfect casting. In one scene, she prances in her nighties, and the actress, by sheer magnificence of her presence, is a convincing paradox. How can a woman so beautiful think herself unsexual? The problem is not her,  she later realizes, but society, her husband included because of how it regards older women as less sexual than their male counterparts.

The joy of May Lamok is the way everything seems to be moving towards impropriety. Suddenly, Ester (Amy Austria), spies on Lauro, Doray (Suzanne Gonzales) and lover Andoy (Johnny Vicar), are both killed by her husband Cipriano (Ernie Ortega), then Emma gets pregnant and so on. The sequences involving Garcia are hilarious while Diaz's portrayal of Ellen is marvelous. Only Diaz can combine verbal wit and body movement in such an effective comic way. Making Austria act abnormally in the absurdist scenes is also a stroke of genius, it effectively bursts the stereotype of the haughty house maid. Ugarte, unfortunately, makes a fool of herself trying to do justice to a character which she doesn't understand. Zialcita makes everything seem natural, he keeps it fun, lively and witty without losing sight of the subject matter, sex. Sometimes, though, he pushes the film towards the slapstick with his exaggerating camera and most especially the musical score, punctuating every punchline with a vaudevillean horn sound. Because of this, the film sometimes has a cartoonish charm, but sometimes, regrettably, it is just plain cartoonish. After all the impropriety, though, May Lamok makes a full circle and returns to proper decorum. Ellen and Lauro make up and in turn, takes Manny's (Tommy Abuel) responsibility with Emma's baby but given due compensation. Because for all of the film's liberated ideas, it is traditional in one respect and in the end, everyone must do the right thing.

Directed By: Danny L. Zialcita
Screenplay: Benjamin Pascual And Danny L. Zialcita
Director Of Photography: Felizardo Bailen
Musical Director: Demet Velasquez
Film Editor: George Jarlego
Produced By: Essex Films
Release Date: May 8, 1984

Ang Lamok theme song from May Lamok Sa Loob Ng Kulambo performed by Jerry And Mandy

May Daga Sa Labas Ng Lungga

18 Response to "MAY LAMOK SA LOOB NG KULAMBO... Wonderfully Comic"

  1. dexter says:
    7:23 AM

    Thanks for this wonderful post,Jojo! I never get tired watching this film,and it's sequel,or any Danny Zialcita film.I cannot imagine this being remade today and make it half as funny the way DZ did. Perfect casting ang pelikulang ito. Unang pelikula ito ni Lyka Ugarte,hindi ba,so pwede na siguro siya for a newcomer? Did she get better in her succeeding movies?

  2. dexter says:
    7:28 AM

    Jo,who were the owners of ESSEX FILMS? Madami din silang na-produce na movies nun 1980s diba? Sila ba ang gumawa ng TBIRD AT AKO? I know they did Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba Ng Gabi,which i heard recently na gagawan daw ng remake with Gabby C.,Dina B. & Alice Dixson in the cast.

  3. dexter says:
    7:30 AM

    Summer 1984 pala ipinalabas ito. Isa ito sa mga pinaka sikat na pelikula that year. Dito ba nag-umpisa ang string of comedy films ni Manoy?

  4. dexter says:
    7:35 AM

    Amy Austria proved here that she's also capable of doing comedy films. Versatile talaga siya.Isa siya sa mga paborito ko. I remember she was out of the limelight from 1985-87,then came back with the film BUBBLES in 1988.

  5. Jojo Devera says:
    8:09 AM

    The pleasure is mine, Dexter!

    It would be quite a task to remake any Danny Zialcita movie. The trademark witty dialogue alone cannot be duplicated. The Eddie-Gloria team-up was Zialcita's answer to Gloria's tandem with Vic Vargas in the highly successfull Andres de Saya films.

    May Lamok was Lyka's feature film debut. Unfortunately, she was unable to stay on par with her more seasoned co-actors. I was never impressed with her acting ability and she stuck out like a sore thumb in every movie she ever did.

  6. Jojo Devera says:
    8:17 AM

    Danny Zialcita along with producing partner Hirene Lopez formed Essex Films. They produced quite a number of films starting with 1983's Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba Ng Gabi which I hope wouldn't be remade.

    T-Bird At Ako was produced by Film Ventures, Inc. where Danny was a co-producer. It was owned by Ernie Rojas who founded Sining Silangan, Inc.

    Film Ventures only produced two movies, the other one was the Kuh Ledesma starrer Tinimbang Ang Langit.

  7. Jojo Devera says:
    8:21 AM

    Eddie Garcia starred in numerous comedy films before, but May Lamok Sa Loob Ng Kulambo is one of his more commercially successful outings as a comedian.

    May Lamok was the only FIlipino film shown that week alongside mostly Hollywood blockbusters and it still raked in money at the box office...

  8. Jojo Devera says:
    8:33 AM

    Amy Austria is one of the more versatile actresses around. She already proved her comic mettle in Covergirls where she co-starred with Lorna Tolentino and Beth Bautista.

    I wouldn't say that Amy was out of the limelight. She still appeared in 1985's Hinugot Sa Langit and Ibigay Mo Sa Akin Ang Bukas in 1987. I guess she decided to concentrate on being a wife to Jay llagan during those years and just made an occassional movie in between.

  9. Ronald Selorio says:
    11:47 AM

    An excellent review! I haven't seen this yet. Will watch it this weekend and will come back to you with my thoughts.

  10. Jojo Devera says:
    12:33 PM

    Thanks again Ron... I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the movie.

  11. Ronald Selorio says:
    2:37 AM

    Just saw this. Wow, I can't believe that I waited this long to watch this. An excellent comedy! I didn't mind the slapstick, but, same as you, the musical score annoyed me. Though I love the theme song and its use in the movie. What's the name of the sequel to this?

  12. Jojo Devera says:
    6:35 AM

    I'm surprised that you haven't seen this at all, but glad you finally did and loved it. The theme song was written and performed by the comic duo Jerry and Mandy. They eventually appeared in a couple of Zialcita comedies, Si Mister At Si Misis and Menudo At Pandesal. The sequel was entitled May Daga Sa Labas Ng Lungga which I reviewed here..
    http://sari-saringsinengpinoy.blogspot.com/2009/08/rat-race-in-may-daga-sa-labas-ng-lungga.html

  13. Dennis says:
    11:29 AM

    Hi Jojo!

    I have seen this too way, way back so I'm longing to see this one again. I don't think cable has this. Definitely, one of the best pinoy comedies in all levels. From director, to excellent cast, writing etc.

    Tama ka, distracting ang paggamit ng kenkoy na sound effects sa ilang movies ni Zialcita maging sa sexy drama like Heartache City.

    Grabe ang chemistry nina Gloria Diaz at Eddie Garcia!

  14. Jojo Devera says:
    7:56 AM

    I agree that May Lamok is indeed one of the best Pinoy comedies.

    Sound effects is probably most distracting in many Zialcita directed movies except siguro when they are produced by mainstream companies like Viva or Regal.

    Instant talaga ang chemistry nina Gloria at Eddie hindi lang sa comedy, sa drama rin tulad ng Palabra de Honor at Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba Ng Gabi.

  15. Dennis says:
    1:21 AM

    'Di ba nakakadistract talaga ang ilang sound effects sa mga pelikula ni Zialcita. Perhaps that is his weakest.

    Tama, Palabra and Nagalit. Hindi lang tatak Zialcita. When someone mentions, ang names mostly ni Gloria at Eddie ang mababanggit.

  16. Jojo Devera says:
    5:13 AM

    I remember na sobrang lakas ng sound when I saw the movie sa theater. Maybe depende din sa sinehan.

    Kahit sa ibang Zialcita films na magkaeksena lang sila, you can definitely see both of them sizzle. Last night lang sa Hawakan Mo At Pigilan Ang Kahapon, Eddie and Gloria had a couple of scenes together at nakakaaliw talaga silang panoorin.

  17. Dennis says:
    1:28 PM

    Hindi ko pa napanood ang Hawakan Mo... iba ang pinalabas dito that time. Sayang. Hopefully C1 will have a Danny Zialcita retrospective.

  18. Jojo Devera says:
    7:10 PM

    Magkaiba nga siguro ang ipinalabas na pelikula... For sure they will have a Zialcita retrospective, they have most of his self-produced films.

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Karapatang Magpalathala 2006-2013. SARI-SARING SINENG PINOY Lahat Ng Karapatan Ay Nakalaan. Disenyo Jojo Devera