Dorina Pineda (Sharon Cuneta), a sampaguita seller, is a devoted fan of singer Lavinia Arguelles (Cherie Gil), going to her concerts, even running on stage to give her flowers, and waiting outside her venues just to see and talk to her. Unbeknownst to her fans, Lavinia has an inflated ego and a cold and calculating personality that slowly drives away her boyfriend, Nico Escobar (Christopher de Leon). One day, Dorina's singing talents are discovered and soon her idol becomes her industry rival, with Nico supporting and falling for Dorina. After Lavinia calls Dorina "nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat" Dorina finally sees her idol for the flawed and bitter person she is. As her star rises, Dorina becomes doubtful over whether she is truly happy.
In the final scene, instead of going through with a concert showdown with Lavinia, Dorina announces that she is leaving show business and that this would be her last performance. While singing "Bituing Walang Ningning", Dorina calls Lavinia on stage and passes the microphone to her, then gives her flowers the same way she had done when she was just a fan. Dorina leaves Lavinia to continue singing on stage as she reunites with Nico.
The film was the pet project of Mina Aragon, wife of Viva Films founder Vic del Rosario, Jr..[1][2]
Casting
The role of Lavinia was offered to then up-and-coming singer Zsa Zsa Padilla as her film acting debut.[2] She declined due to her friendship with Sharon Cuneta.[3] Padilla would later star in the 2006 television adaptation as Dorina's mother, a character that does not exist in the film.
Filming
During filming, Sharon Cuneta, newly married to Gabby Concepcion, was pregnant with her first child, KC Concepcion. The production crew took efforts to conceal her pregnancy, including using props and body doubles, as well as utilizing half-body shots.[1]
Halfway through shooting, director Emmanuel Borlaza suffered a heart attack and was told to rest. Leroy Salvador, who directed Cuneta in Sa Hirap at Ginahaw, also for Viva Films, was assigned to direct the unfinished sequences. He asked not to be credited for his work.[1] The same year, Salvador directed Cuneta and Gil in another musical for Viva Films, Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas, released on July 30.
The final scene, a concert showdown between Lavinia and Dorina, was filmed at the Metropolitan Theater.[4]
Music
The theme song "Bituing Walang Ningning" was performed by Sharon Cuneta, with melody and lyrics written by Willy Cruz.
Release
The film was released in theaters on Valentine's Day in 1985.[5]
At the 2019 QCinema International Film Festival, Bituing Walang Ningning was screened as part of a Viva Classics presentation in recognition of the Vic del Rosario, Jr.'s contributions to the Filipino film industry. A Special Life Achievement Award was presented to Del Rosario at the festival.[6]
Legacy
The line, "You are nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!" spoken by Cherie Gil's character Lavinia Arguelles to Sharon Cuneta's Dorina Pineda, is considered iconic by Filipino culture critics.[7] It was used in both the television and stage adaptations,[8] and has remained closely associated with Gil.[9][10] The film and the line established Gil as the Filipino film industry's "La Primera Contravida".[11]
^Asilo, Rito (April 26, 2018). "'Bundle of nerves' a boost for Zsa Zsa's 35-year milestone". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
^Gabinete, Jojo (August 7, 2022). "Mga makulay na kuwento sa likod ng iconic line ni Cherie Gil sa Bituing Walang Ningning". PEP.ph.
^Domingo, Ace (August 9, 2022). "Inside the making of 'Bituing Walang Ningning,' the movie that made Cherie Gil an icon". ABS-CBN.
^Chua, Zsarlene (October 1, 2019). "PHL grantees and Asian films to compete in revamped QCinema". BusinessWorld.
^Requintina, Robert (August 6, 2022). "Cherie Gil on iconic line 'You're nothing, but a second-rate trying hard copycat!': 'I thank the public, the queens, and gay friends'". Manila Bulletin.
^Anarcon, James (June 26, 2015). "BATTLE OF LAVINIAS: Who best delivered the line "You're nothing, but a second rate trying hard copycat!"?". PEP.ph.
^Policarpio, Allan (August 7, 2022). "Neither second-rate nor copycat: Versatile actress Cherie Gil, 59". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
^Abunda, Boy (March 8, 2022). "Cherie Gil: The strongest force in me is that of being a mother". Philippine Star.
^San Diego, Bayani (January 7, 2017). "Don't mess with La Primera Contravida". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
^"15 Pinoy music-themed teleseryes". PEP.ph. September 27, 2019.
^Salterio, Leah (October 5, 2006). "The clash of the divas". Philippine Star.
^"Angelika dela Cruz fondly recalls working with Sarah Geronimo in 'Bituing Walang Ningning'". ABS-CBN. November 18, 2020.
^De Jesus, Totel (September 16, 2015). "'Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical' returns bigger, brighter". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
^Katigbak, Fran (May 9, 2015). "In 'Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical,' the music of Willy Cruz is the other star". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
^"'Bituing Walang Ningning' shines bright at 28th Aliw Awards". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 11, 2015.
bituing, walang, ningning, film, bituing, walang, ningning, english, star, without, shine, 1985, filipino, drama, musical, film, directed, emmanuel, borlaza, starring, sharon, cuneta, christopher, leon, cherie, screenplay, orlando, nadres, based, komiks, seria. Bituing Walang Ningning English A Star Without Shine is a 1985 Filipino drama musical film directed by Emmanuel Borlaza and starring Sharon Cuneta Christopher de Leon and Cherie Gil The screenplay by Orlando Nadres is based on the komiks serial of the same name by Nerissa Cabral Bituing Walang NingningDirected byEmmanuel Borlaza Leroy Salvador uncredited Written byOrlando NadresBased onBituing Walang Ningningby Nerissa CabralProduced byRamon SalvadorStarringSharon Cuneta Christopher de Leon Cherie GilCinematographyRomeo VitugEdited byEdgardo JarlegoMusic byWilly CruzProductioncompanyViva FilmsDistributed byViva FilmsRelease dateFebruary 14 1985 1985 02 14 Running time126 minutesCountryPhilippinesLanguagesFilipinoEnglishThe film was digitally restored by Central Digital Lab Inc Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3 1 Casting 3 2 Filming 3 3 Music 4 Release 4 1 Legacy 5 Adaptations 6 References 7 External linksPlot EditDorina Pineda Sharon Cuneta a sampaguita seller is a devoted fan of singer Lavinia Arguelles Cherie Gil going to her concerts even running on stage to give her flowers and waiting outside her venues just to see and talk to her Unbeknownst to her fans Lavinia has an inflated ego and a cold and calculating personality that slowly drives away her boyfriend Nico Escobar Christopher de Leon One day Dorina s singing talents are discovered and soon her idol becomes her industry rival with Nico supporting and falling for Dorina After Lavinia calls Dorina nothing but a second rate trying hard copycat Dorina finally sees her idol for the flawed and bitter person she is As her star rises Dorina becomes doubtful over whether she is truly happy In the final scene instead of going through with a concert showdown with Lavinia Dorina announces that she is leaving show business and that this would be her last performance While singing Bituing Walang Ningning Dorina calls Lavinia on stage and passes the microphone to her then gives her flowers the same way she had done when she was just a fan Dorina leaves Lavinia to continue singing on stage as she reunites with Nico Cast EditSharon Cuneta as Dorina Pineda Christopher de Leon as Nico Escobar Cherie Gil as Lavinia Arguelles Jay Ilagan as Zosimo Blanco Tommy Abuel as Larry Calma Joel Torre as Garry Diaz Chanda Romero as Edith Lorli Villanueva as Tiya SioningProduction EditThe film was the pet project of Mina Aragon wife of Viva Films founder Vic del Rosario Jr 1 2 Casting Edit The role of Lavinia was offered to then up and coming singer Zsa Zsa Padilla as her film acting debut 2 She declined due to her friendship with Sharon Cuneta 3 Padilla would later star in the 2006 television adaptation as Dorina s mother a character that does not exist in the film Filming Edit During filming Sharon Cuneta newly married to Gabby Concepcion was pregnant with her first child KC Concepcion The production crew took efforts to conceal her pregnancy including using props and body doubles as well as utilizing half body shots 1 Halfway through shooting director Emmanuel Borlaza suffered a heart attack and was told to rest Leroy Salvador who directed Cuneta in Sa Hirap at Ginahaw also for Viva Films was assigned to direct the unfinished sequences He asked not to be credited for his work 1 The same year Salvador directed Cuneta and Gil in another musical for Viva Films Sana y Wala Nang Wakas released on July 30 The final scene a concert showdown between Lavinia and Dorina was filmed at the Metropolitan Theater 4 Music Edit The theme song Bituing Walang Ningning was performed by Sharon Cuneta with melody and lyrics written by Willy Cruz Release EditThe film was released in theaters on Valentine s Day in 1985 5 At the 2019 QCinema International Film Festival Bituing Walang Ningning was screened as part of a Viva Classics presentation in recognition of the Vic del Rosario Jr s contributions to the Filipino film industry A Special Life Achievement Award was presented to Del Rosario at the festival 6 Legacy Edit The line You are nothing but a second rate trying hard copycat spoken by Cherie Gil s character Lavinia Arguelles to Sharon Cuneta s Dorina Pineda is considered iconic by Filipino culture critics 7 It was used in both the television and stage adaptations 8 and has remained closely associated with Gil 9 10 The film and the line established Gil as the Filipino film industry s La Primera Contravida 11 Adaptations EditIn 2006 the story was adapted as a daytime television drama of the same name by ABS CBN starring Sarah Geronimo Ryan Agoncillo and Angelika de la Cruz During its run it was the highest rated television drama of ABS CBN 12 The final scene of the television drama was filmed as a special concert showdown in front of a live audience at Araneta Coliseum 13 14 In 2015 an award winning stage adaptation entitled Bituing Walang Ningning The Musical written and directed by Freddie Santos premiered at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila The original cast starred Cris Villonco Mark Bautista and Monica Cuenco 15 The production featured 11 songs by Willy Cruz including the film s original song Bituing Walang Ningning 16 It received seven awards including the award for Best Musical Production at the 28th Aliw Awards 17 References Edit a b c Domingo Ace August 9 2022 Inside the making of Bituing Walang Ningning the movie that made Cherie Gil an icon ABS CBN a b Gil Baby May 15 2006 Remembering Bituing Walang Ningning Philippine Star Asilo Rito April 26 2018 Bundle of nerves a boost for Zsa Zsa s 35 year milestone Philippine Daily Inquirer Gabinete Jojo August 7 2022 Mga makulay na kuwento sa likod ng iconic line ni Cherie Gil sa Bituing Walang Ningning PEP ph Domingo Ace August 9 2022 Inside the making of Bituing Walang Ningning the movie that made Cherie Gil an icon ABS CBN Chua Zsarlene October 1 2019 PHL grantees and Asian films to compete in revamped QCinema BusinessWorld Requintina Robert August 6 2022 Cherie Gil on iconic line You re nothing but a second rate trying hard copycat I thank the public the queens and gay friends Manila Bulletin Anarcon James June 26 2015 BATTLE OF LAVINIAS Who best delivered the line You re nothing but a second rate trying hard copycat PEP ph Policarpio Allan August 7 2022 Neither second rate nor copycat Versatile actress Cherie Gil 59 Philippine Daily Inquirer Abunda Boy March 8 2022 Cherie Gil The strongest force in me is that of being a mother Philippine Star San Diego Bayani January 7 2017 Don t mess with La Primera Contravida Philippine Daily Inquirer 15 Pinoy music themed teleseryes PEP ph September 27 2019 Salterio Leah October 5 2006 The clash of the divas Philippine Star Angelika dela Cruz fondly recalls working with Sarah Geronimo in Bituing Walang Ningning ABS CBN November 18 2020 De Jesus Totel September 16 2015 Bituing Walang Ningning The Musical returns bigger brighter Philippine Daily Inquirer Katigbak Fran May 9 2015 In Bituing Walang Ningning The Musical the music of Willy Cruz is the other star Philippine Daily Inquirer Bituing Walang Ningning shines bright at 28th Aliw Awards Philippine Daily Inquirer December 11 2015 External links EditBituing Walang Ningning at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bituing Walang Ningning film amp oldid 1150104770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
