80s Retro: Payaso

I went to sleep early last night while watching the story of Prince Richard's and Saladdin's Holy War documentary on History channel. Woke up very early and can't sleep no more so I turned on the TV again. A few clicks on the remote lead me to Cinema One and it showed this 80s film "Payaso" which starred the Master Showman himself, German Moreno.  It also featured Gene Palomo, Strawberry, Cris Castillo, Mon Alvir, Strawberry and Monique Castillo among others.  Honestly, I don't know where all of them are now.

The plot is very simple.  Payaso is a clown portrayed by German Moreno who was sent by God to touch the lives of people, particularly the little children, on earth and to help them discern what is good and evil.  Along his journey, he met his nemesis, Red Devil, played by Gene Palomo, who tries to dissuade Payaso from doing his mission. An angel, played by comedian-host Jograd dela Torre keep Payaso on track.  While Red devil deceives the children to commit evil by finding the key to his carnival, Payaso on the other hand tries to lead them to his own "Carnival of Happiness." Payaso succeeded in the end but as the final scene suggested, Red Devil still got the better of him, as he was fooled to peep through a "Butas ng Kapalaran" where a cannon was waiting to fire.  A bit depressing movie but with a lot of lessons to be learned despite the surreal sequences.

I know that this movie was a big flop back then, and some even considered it one of the worst films ever produced.  But it is a welcome delight for 80s nostalgia fanboys like me.  It simply brought back tidbits of memories of the people, places and events in that spectacular decade.  I honestly think that this was the most star-studded of the films produced in the 80s with the likes of now veteran stars Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Eddie Garcia, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Maricel Soriano, Rickie Davao;  the late showbiz personalities Helen Vela, Rudy Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, Inday Badiday and Ike Lozada;  Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano, Gabby Concepcion, Aga Muhlach, Richard Gomez, Bong Revilla, Ronnie Rickets, Martin Nievera, Cristina Gonzales, Gretchen Barretto;  then 80s matinee idols Nino Muhlach, William Martinez, Janice de Belen, Nadia Montenegro, Sheryl Cruz, Tina Paner, Manilyn Reynes, Ronnel Victor, Ramon Christopher, Michael Locsin and Jojo Alejar; all of them playing cameo roles.  I have to laud Sialina Films for being able to tap their services for this film.

But aside from the star-studded cast, what really made me continue to watch this film were the scenes shot at places which used to define the decade like the old Fiesta Carnival and Araneta Center Complex, the old Ayala Center, SM City and Circus Circus restaurant, the SM Cubao and Ali Mall foodcourts, Manila COD and its XMas live display, Greenhills Shopping Center during its glory days, and Shakeys when it used to be the favorite hangout of the teens. Plus I also saw "Marcos pa rin" posters, Winchell's Donut Store, the original Jollibee Mascots, the still existing Wendy's store in Cubao and the now rare to see Cindy's foodstore.

This movie, much like Bagets, Hotshots, all those Herbert Bautista movies, really took me back to the 80s which I am very much ready to re-experience anytime.  And while most find "Payaso" shallow and "bakya," I still find it one of the defining movies of that decade.  That is in the viewpoint who love everything 80s.