Hassan Al-Imam
Born: 1919-03-06 in Al Mansoura, Egypt
Died: 1988-01-29
Known For: Directing
Biography
Hassan El Imam is an Egyptian director. He was born in the city of Mansoura in 1919, and received his education at a French school in Cairo, but after his father died following a financial crisis, Hassan was forced to work at an early age to provide for his family, and as he was fluent in both English and French, he started working as a translator. He then moved to working in film as an assistant director to Youssef Wahba. El Imam started his directorial career in a period that was dominated by melodramas and tragic stories in film, which was the major influence on his style and aesthetic, and led his films to become blockbusters, despite the constant panning from critics even after his death. El Imam's directorial debut was “Mala'ikat Gohanam” (Hell's Angels) in 1946. His most famous films from this period include: “Al Yatimatan” (The Two Orphans) (1948), “Zalamoony Elnas” (People Oppressed Me) (1950). In 1962, El Imam started a new phase in his career, by landing as a substitute for director Salah Abu Seif on the film adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz's “Bein El Qasrein” (Between the Two Palaces). He then continued to direct extremely successful film adaptations of Naguib Mahfouz novels, including “Zuqaq Almidaq” (Almidaq Alley) (1963), “Qasr Elshouq” (Palace of Longing) (1966), and “Alsokkareya” (1973). Despite meeting acclaim from audience, El Imam has always been accused by critics of ruining Mahfouz's novels with his film adaptations. In the 1970's, El Imam started shifting away from melodramas and experimented with different genres, mainly comedies and musicals that were also highly successful among audiences, starting with “Khally Balak men Zuzu” (Take Care of Zuzu) in 1972, which had a theatrical run of over a year and became one of the highest grossing Egyptians films of all time. He invested Zuzu's success afterwards to make other musical comedies like “Hekayty ma'a Elzaman” (My Story with Time) and “Amira Hobby Ana” (Amira my Love). El Imam co-wrote most of his films, and was known for seeking inspiration from French popular stories and fairy tales. He died on the 29th of January, 1988 at the age of 66.
Filmography
1986
- Graveyards for Rent
- The era of love ... (Director)
- Bokra Ahla Men El-Naharda
1985
- Bitter honey of love ... (Director)
1983
- Kaydahonna Azeem ... (Director)
1982
- Who is he in society? ... (Director)
- Lial ... (Director)
1981
- Blood on Pink Dress ... (Director)
- Fangs as Narrator
1980
- Do not wrong women ... (Director)
1979
- El-Ganna Taht Qadmeha ... (Director)
- Queen of Tarab ... (Director)
1978
- Al-Qadeya Al-Mashhora ... (Writer)
- Hob Fauq Al-Burkan ... (Director)
1977
- Prayer of the oppressed ... (Scenario Writer)
- Rendezvous with Soso ... (Writer)
1976
- Be Good to Your Parents ... (Director)
- Qamar Al-Zaman ... (Director)
- Al-Karawan Loh Shafayef ... (Director)
1975
- Amira.. My Love ... (Director)
- Wantaha Al-Hob ... (Director)
- Don't leave me alone ... (Director)
- Badia Masabni ... (Writer)
- Hadha Uhibbuh wa Hadha Uriduh ... (Director)
1974
- Agony over smiling lips ... (Director)
- Bamba Kasher ... (Director)
- My Story With Time ... (Director)
1973
- Al Sokkareya ... (Director)
1972
- Love & Pride as رجل يلوّح للقادمين من الباخرة
- Watch Out for Zuzu ... (Director)
- Imtithal ... (Director)
- بنت بديعة ... (Director)
1971
- الحب المحرم ... (Director)
- Last Mostahtera ... (Director)
- Al-Hob Walmal ... (Director)
1970
- Dalal Al-Masria ... (Director)
- Shaqa Mafrousha ... (Director)
1969
- Sweet Aziza ... (Director)
1968
- An Ordinary Girl ... (Director)
1967
- The Beggars' Strike ... (Director)
1966
- Three Thieves ... (Director)
- Mansion of Longing ... (Director)
- Huwa wa el nessaa ... (Writer)
1965
- Heya Wil Regal ... (Director)
- The Nun ... (Director)
1964
- A Tale from the Arabian Nights ... (Director)
- Between Two Mansions ... (Director)
1963
- Alley of The Pestle ... (Director)
- Woman on the Margin ... (Director)
- The Newspaper Seller ... (Director)
- Shafiqa Al-Qibtiya ... (Director)
1962
- Alkhataya ... (Director)
- The Miracle ... (Director)
1961
- Hayati hi althaman ... (Director)
- The Student ... (Director)
- Alkharsaa ... (Director)
1960
- Saedat El Rigal ... (Director)
- Money and Women ... (Director)
- Divine Love ... (Director)
- Wife from the Street ... (Director)
- I'm accusing ... (Director)
1958
- Hob Min Narr
- Little devil ... (Director)
- Awattif ... (Director)
- Qoloob El Azara
1957
- Eghraa ... (Director)
- Lawahez ... (Director)
- I'll Never Cry ... (Director)
- House of Forbidden Pleasures ... (Director)
- The Great Love ... (Director)
1956
- Farewell at dawn ... (Director)
1955
- Al-Jasad ... (Director)
- Banat Al-Lail ... (Director)
1954
- Qolob El Nas ... (Director)
- Al-Malak Al-Zalem ... (Director)
1953
- The Bread Seller ... (Writer)
- Love In The Darkness ... (Director)
- Scandal monger ... (Director)
- Fi Sharaa Meen ... (Director)
1952
- Ghadab El Waledain ... (Director)
- Cup of torment as أمين خزينة الورشة
- The Time of Miracles ... (Writer)
1951
- Children Of The Streets ... (Assistant Director)
- Hokm Elqawi ... (Director)
- People's secrets ... (Director)
- Ana bint Nass ... (Director)
1950
- Saa La Qalbak ... (Director)
- Zalamoni El Nas ... (Director)
1949
- The Lady of the House ... (Lyricist)
1948
- The Two Orphans as طبال العالمه سنيه قطط
- Elsetat Afaret ... (Director)
1947
- Return of the absent ... (Assistant Director)
1946
- Angels in Hell ... (Director)
1945
- Laylat Al-Jumea ... (Lyricist)
- Al-anissa Busa ... (Assistant Director)
- Hassan & Hassan ... (Co-Director)
1944
- Passion and Revenge as حامل الجثمان
- Mohammed Ali Street ... (Co-Director)
- The invisibility cap as الشحاذ
1943
1941
- Mr. Omar as موظف عد الاجوله بدائرة عمر الالفي