Mahmoud Zulfikar

Mahmoud Zulfikar (; February 18, 1914 – May 22, 1970) was an Egyptian film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He was a major figure in Egyptian film industry. He started his career as an architect, before becoming starting his film career as an actor in 1939. Zulfikar was one of the most prominent artists in Egypt. He was known for his boldness and adventure with the new talents he presented to the Egyptian audience, later, he was nicknamed the "Talent Finder".

Growing up in an aristocratic family. He's also the elder brother of filmmaker Ezz El-Din Zulfikar and actor Salah Zulfikar. He obtained his high school diploma in 1930, then a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1935. He joined the Ministry of Endowments in the Islamic Decorations Department. There, he met the director Hussein Fawzy, who nominated him for the lead role in the film ''Bayayet El Tiffah'' (1939), and also the lead role opposite the singer Malak in the film ''El awda il al rif'' (1939). Afterwards, his films followed, thus beginning a long career in acting, directing, production, and writing, proving that he is a multi-talented artist. Zulfikar was able to go beyond the limits of the film location with accurate calculations and through his imaginations, he could make his scripts alive. This earned him in Egypt the nickname of "The Event Maker".

Early life

Mahmoud Qasdy Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar was born on February 18, 1914, in Tanta, Egypt. Born to an aristocratic family of a prominent position in Egypt. His father, Ahmed Mourad Bek Zulfikar, served as a senior police commissioner in the Ministry of Interior and his mother Nabila hanem Zulfikar was a housewife. He was the fourth among eight siblings. His brother Mohamed who would grow up to be a businessman, Soad, Fekreya, Ezz El-Dine who would grow up to be a famous filmmaker. They were followed by brothers Kamal, Salah, the famous actor and producer and finally Mamdouh who would grow up to be a businessman.

Career

Zulfikar graduated from faculty of engineering and worked as an architect in the Design Department at the Ministry of Works, but his passion for movie business encouraged him to make a career shift and become a filmmaker. He was an actor, film producer, screenwriter, and film director.

He was a comprehensive artist. He is one of the most talented filmmakers in the history of Egyptian cinema. He started as an actor in 1939, and directed 44 films between 1947 and 1970. Zulfikar's films have been nominated for numerous awards both nationally and internationally. As an actor, his film debut was in ''Bayayet El Tiffa''h (1939). He starred in multiple commercial hits mostly as a director as well, including; ''Ibn El-balad'' (1942), ''El-Feloos'' (1945), ''Fauq Al Sahab'' (1947), ''Al lailu lana'' (1949), '' Akhlaq lil baye'' (1950), ''Qamar Arba'tashar'' (1950), and ''My Father Deceived Me'' (1951). Zulfikar's notable films as a writer, director included; '' A Girl from Palestine'' (1948), which Zulfikar also played the lead, plot evolved around the 1948 Palestine War, while Zulfikar played the character of an Egyptian Air Force pilot, whose plane crashes in a Palestinian village, and falls in love with a Palestinian girl which helps him to treat his injuries. Other films include; ''Amint Bi Allah'' (1953) and '' El Ard El Tayeba'' (1954).

In 1959, Zulfikar wrote the screenplay and directed ''The Unknown Woman'', based on the French play ''Madame X.'' The film was a huge success and a breakthrough for the lead Shadia in a dramatic role, and It was the highest-grossing film in the Soviet Union for 1961, the only African film to ever achieve that. The 1960 film ''El Robat el Mukadass'' was produced by Ezz El-Dine Zulficar Films Company owned by his younger brothers Ezz El-Dine Zulficar and Salah Zulfikar, with the latter starring in the film alongside Sabah and Emad Hamdy.

Zulfikar's 1963 film '' Soft Hands'' was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival and he was nominated for Silver Bear for Best Director. In '' For Men Only'' (1964), which Zulfikar co-written and directed, the film discussed gender equality through female gas engineers who disguised in men appearances to go to oil drilling locations which was banned for women. The 1965 romance '' Dearer than my Life'' was considered a different genre for Zulfikar while the film achieved critical and commercial success. Other notable films include; ''Al Khroug Men Al Guana'' (1967), ''The Splendor of Love'' (1968), and '' Featureless Men'' (1972) which was released posthumously. As a producer, he established his film production company in early 1940s, produced almost 10 films including; '' Miss Fatima'' (1952) and '' El Ard el Tayeba'' (1954).

Personal life and death

Zulfikar married actress Aziza Amir, and together they made a successful duo. After her death he married Mariam Fakhreddine in 1952 and presented her to film industry, she became a famous actress in 1950s. They had one daughter, Iman. He's the elder brother of Ezz El-Dine, film director and producer, and Salah, actor and producer.

Zulfikar died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 56 on May 22, 1970, in Cairo, Egypt.

Filmography

Director

* 1947 ''Hedeya''
* 1948 '' Fatat men Falastin''
* 1948 ''Fauq al sahab''
* 1949 ''Al lailu lana''
* 1950 ''Virtue for Sale''
* 1951 ''Kisma wa nassib''
* 1951 '' Khadaini abi''
* 1953 ''Amint bi Allah''
* 1953 ''Ghaltat el umr''
* 1954 ''Bint el jiran''
* 1954 '' El Ard el Tayeba''
* 1954 ''The Neighbor's Daughter''
* 1955 ''Rannet el kholkhal''
* 1957 ''Rihlah Gharamiyyah''
* 1958 ''Shabab el-Yom''
* 1959 '' Forbidden Women''
* 1959 ''Touba''
* 1959 ''The Unknown Woman''
* 1960 ''El Imlak''
* 1960 '' El Robat el Muqadass''
* 1961 ''El Morahek el Kabir''
* 1961 ''El Hub Keda''
* 1961 ''La Tazkorini''
* 1961 ''Mawad maal Maadi''
* 1962 ''Bala Demoue''
* 1963 ''Imra'a fi dawama''
* 1963 ''El Motamarreda''
* 1963 '' Soft Hands''
* 1964 ''Sanawat el hub''
* 1964 ''Thaman el hub''
* 1965 ''Aghla min hayati''
* 1965 '' Lel Regal Fakat''
* 1966 ''El Moraheka el Saghira''
* 1966 ''El Talata yuhebbunaha''
* 1966 ''Adou el Mara'a''
* 1967 ''Agazat Gharam''
* 1967 ''Al Koubla al Akhira''
* 1967 ''El Khouroug min el Guana''
* 1967 ''Nora''
* 1968 ''Hekayet thalass banat''
* 1968 '' Thalath Nessa''
* 1968 ''The Splendor of Love''
* 1969 ''Girls' Secrets''
* 1969 ''Fatat El Esste'rad''
*1970 '' Borj El-Athraa''
*1970 '' Imra'at Zawgy''
*1972 '' Regal bila Malameh''

Writer

* 1944 ''Taqiyyat al Ikhfa'' (screenplay)
* 1945 ''Ibnati'' (story)
* 1945 ''El Feloos''
* 1947 ''Fauq el sahab'' (script)
* 1951 '' Khadaini abi'' (story & screenplay)
* 1954 '' El Ard el Tayeba'' (story)
* 1958 ''Shabab el-Yom'' (Writer)
* 1963 ''Imra'a fi dawama''
* 1964 ''Thaman el hub'' (writer)

Producer

* 1944 ''Hababa''
* 1945 ''El-Bani Adam''
* 1946 ''Shama'a Tahtareq''
* 1947 ''Hedeya''
* 1947 ''Alkul Yoghany''
* 1948 ''Fauq el sahab''
* 1951 '' Khadaini abi''
* 1952 ''Amint Billah''
* 1952 '' El-Ustazah Fatmah''
* 1954 '' El Ard el Tayeba''
* 1954 ''Bint El-Geeran''

Actor

* 1939 ''Bayayet El Tiffah''
* 1939 ''El awda il al rif''
* 1941 ''El Warsha''
* 1942 ''Masnaa el zawjate''
* 1942 ''Ibn El-balad''
* 1942 ''Wedding Night''
* 1943 ''Wadi el Nogoom''
* 1945 ''Al-Anissa Busa''
* 1945 ''Al-Fulus''
* 1945 ''Ibnati''
* 1947 ''Hadaya''
* 1947 ''Fauq el sahab''
* 1948 '' Fatat men Falastin''
* 1949 ''Afrah''
* 1949 ''Nadia''
* 1949 ''Al lailu lana''
* 1950 ''Ayni bi-triff''
* 1950 '' Akhlaq lel-Bai''
* 1950 ''Qamar Arba'tashar''
* 1951 '' Khadaini abi''
* 1953 ''El shak el katel''
* 1955 ''Assafir el Ganna''
* 1957 ''Hareb minel hub''
* 1968 ''El-Sit el-Nazra''

See also

* List of film directors
* Lists of Egyptian films

References

External links

*
Mahmoud Zulfikar at elCinema

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zulfikar, Mahmoud
1914 births
1970 deaths
Egyptian film directors
Egyptian male film actors
Egyptian film producers
People from Tanta
20th-century Egyptian male actors
20th-century Egyptian screenwriters