Darna, Kuno?

Darna, Kuno?
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Luciano B. Carlos
Written by	Luciano B. Carlos Toto Belano
Based on	Darna by Mars Ravelo
Produced by	Lily Monteverde
Starring	Dolphy Lotis Key Brenda Del Rio
Cinematography	Claro Gonzales Ricardo Jacinto
Edited by	Rogelio Salvador
Music by	Ernani Cuenco Levi Celerio
Production company	Regal Films
Release date	March 30, 1979 (1979-03-30)
Running time	125 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Darna, Kuno? (lit. 'Darna, For real?') is a 1979 Filipino film directed by Luciano B. Carlos and co-written by Toto Belano. Produced under the action comedy and fantasy genres, it is a parody of Mars Ravelo's comic book character and female superhero Darna. The role of Darna Kuno is played by Filipino actor, Dolphy. The film was released on March 30, 1979. Darna was first published on May 13, 1950, written by Mars Ravelo and illustrated by Nestor Redondo, who illustrated for DC and Marvel Comics.

In the film, the superheroine Darna is pregnant and can not perform her heroic duties until she gives birth. She appoints a man as her temporary replacement. Darna's magical stone transforms the man into a cross-dressing superhero who wears Darna's feminine costume. The replacement has to defend his position against other would-be replacements of Darna. And all of the would-be heroes have to fight against an alien invasion.

Plot

Dolphy plays Dondoy, a tricycle driver who was an admirer of Annabel (Key). Dondoy was ridiculed by Annabel's sister, Estelga (Delgado), and her mother (de Villa), who became kind as the story progresses. The Darna (Del Rio) in the Darna, Kuno? storyline became pregnant by the Japanese anime robots Voltes V and Mazinger Z. Because of the pregnancy, someone had to take Darna's place as the super-heroine until she gave birth. Darna lent her magical stone to Dolphy's character, Dondoy, who became the male Darna dressed in a female Darna costume.

When swallowed and the name Darna is shouted aloud, the magical stone transformed Narda, Darna's alter-ego, into Darna. Dolphy, as the Darna Pretender, fought enemies such as tikbalangs and aswangs. Upon learning of Darna Kuno’s secret identity, Annabel became Darna Kuno after she stole the magical stone from Dolphy. Both male and female Darna Pretenders fought and defeated alien invaders. The true Darna returned to retrieve her magical stone, carrying her baby who was wearing a Darna costume.

Cast

• Dolphy as Dondoy/Darna Kuno 1
• Lotis Key as Anabelle/Darna Kuno 2
• Marissa Delgado as Estelga
• Tita de Villa as Anabel and Estelga's mother
• Romy Nario
• Tonio Gutierrez
• Dijay Dadivas
• Karlo Vero

Special guest appearances

• Brenda del Rio as the real Darna
• German Moreno as San Pedro
• Sandy Garcia
• Christopher de Leon as Chris, Anabelle's cousin
• Bella Flores as the chief manananggal
• Celia Rodriguez as the organ player who stole the brides
• Charo Valdez
• Rio Locsin
• Lily Miraflor
• Ruel Vernal as the spaceship alien
• Bata Batuta Characters
  • Alice Kamatis
  • Kardong Kayod
  • Tak-talaok

See also

• Zsazsa Zaturnnah

External links

• Darna, Kuno? at IMDb