Tagalog Movie

Directed by Susana C. De Guzman
Story by Susana C. De Guzman as serialized in Ilang-Ilang
Screenplay by Susana C. De Guzman, Iñigo Regalado, N. E. Caravana

The three brothers make a vow in front
of the Virgin's statuewhile the young
Auring (Merly Fernandez) looks on

Sumpaan is a family melodrama about a vow three brothers make as young boys at their dying father's bedside. Swearing before an image of the Virgin Mary, their hands clasped around a dagger, the three boys swear to be devoted to each other's welfare and use the dagger against whoever breaks the solemn vow. Their mother having died when they were much younger, the boys are cared for now by a close family friend, Trining (Rosa Mia), whose daughter Auring has become the sister the boys never ha d.

Years pass and Auring is now a lovely woman (Norma Blancaflor) and the three brothers, Renato, the eldest (Ely Ramos), Cesar (Tony Arnaldo), and Paquito (Alfonso Carvajal), couldn't be more different from each other.

Alfonso Carvajal, Tony Arnaldo, & Ely Ramos

Renato is a lawyer, the 'padre de familia', conservative, and secretly in love with Auring. Cesar has become a doctor, but Paquito is the black sheep, perenially in trouble.

Cesar finds work in the States and comes back with a wife, Sonia, an ambitious, scheming woman who loves the good life, consummately played by Rosa Rosal. Since her husband, Cesar, hardly finds time for a social life, an affair develops between Sonia and Paquito while the entire family is vacationing in Baguio.

Most of the Baguio scenes were filmed in the fabulous
log cabin owned by top star Rogelio dela Rosa

Renato and Auring try to neutralize a possible family scandal and try to give Sonia some sensible advice but the headstrong woman remains unaffected. Eventually, Cesar discovers the truth about his wife and Paquito, and his rage plunges the family into a deep crisis.

Confrontation in front of the Virgin's statue
while Sonia (Rosa Rosal) is repentant

Sumpaan was directed by Susana C. de Guzman, one of the first successful woman directors in Philippine cinema. She was a prolific writer for popular magazines like Liwayway and many of the films she made for LVN were serialized in popular magazines. She was married to the actor Tony Arnaldo, and most of her films were scored by her brother, Constancio C. de Guzman, better known as the composer of 'Bayan Ko.'

Location shooting was a rarity at that time due to the cumbersome equipment. It is therefore a rare treat to see a couple of major scenes shot in Baguio, when it was still an unspoiled mountain resort for the idle rich.

Most interior scenes were filmed in the studio.

NOTES: VHS versions come in plain box.
Copying is done entirely by LVN Pictures.
This vintage video is not a restored version.

• Ely Ramos
• Norma Blancaflor
• Tony Arnaldo
• Rosa Rosal
• Alfonso Carvajal
• Rosa Mia

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