Ta-ra-ra-dyin ... Pot-pot! is a 1972 romance-comedy film that follows the hilarious adventures of an orphan named Dolfo. Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao, the film is topbilled by Dolphy. The music was created by Jose Mari Chan. At that time, Chan has already established himself as a creator of jingles for use in TV and radio advertising.
This is one of the major films in which Dolphy worked with Jose Mari Chan. The others are Karioka Etchos de Amerika (1971) and Pinokyo en Little Snow White (1972).
The title Ta-ra-ra-dyin ... Pot-pot! comprises onomatopoeic words referring to items used by the character Dolfo in his job as a vendor:
Ta-ra-ra-dyin for the drum-like sounds that can be made from the two large cans attached at the sides of his bicycle. These cans contain Dolfo's merchandise.
Potpot is for the the horn with a rubber bulb. This bulb is squeezed to get the attention of potential customers.
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| Screen Capture: Lea Productions / Dolphy Filmography |
PLOT
The film opens with two men near a bridge. Mario stops Dolfo from attempting to end his life. From that moment, they become friends. With nowhere else to go, Dolfo accepts Mario's offer to stay at his house.
Dolfo finds work as a newspaper boy, but one day his bicycle collides with Tomas, a moneylender. While on the street, Dolfo is captivated by a young woman named Cynthia—who turns out to be Tomas's daughter. Distracted by her beauty, Dolfo crashes and eventually loses his job.
At home, Dolfo remains absent-minded. He forgets the rice cooking on the stove, and the house nearly catches fire—saved only by Mario's timely arrival. Mario scolds Dolfo but reassures him about the broken bicycle. Soon after, Dolfo secures new work as a bread seller.
In their conversation, Dolfo mentions the beautiful woman he encountered. Being shy, he asks Mario for advice on how to court her. But as events unfold, it is revealed that Cynthia is Mario’s former classmate—and the real romance is between Mario and Cynthia.
Meanwhile, at Tomas and Cynthia’s house, a woman is often seen lingering nearby. She is later revealed to be Luisa, Tomas's former lover and Cynthia's mother.
One day, Roger, a persistent suitor, deceives Cynthia into a kidnapping. He tells her that Tomas has been in an accident and that she must rush to the hospital. Luisa happens to be nearby and enters Roger's car, perhaps hoping to finally speak with her daughter.
Dolfo's co-workers witness the abduction. Though heartbroken in love, Dolfo informs Mario of what happened. Together, they head to Roger's resthouse to rescue Cynthia. In the midst of the action, mother and daughter are finally reunited.
