Helmy Rafla (May 15, 1909 – April 22, 1978; ar, حلمي رفلة)
was an Egyptian film director, screenwriter, film producer, and make-up artist.
He is considered one the most prominent Egyptian filmmakers.
Biography
Helmy Rafla was born on 15 May 1909 in the Kingdom of Egypt.
Rafla did make-up for actress
Umm Kulthum
Umm Kulthum ( ar, أم كلثوم, , also spelled ''Oum Kalthoum'' in English; born Fatima Ibrahim es-Sayyid el-Beltagi, ar, فاطمة إبراهيم السيد البلتاجي, Fāṭima ʾIbrāhīm es-Sayyid el-Beltāǧī, link=no; 31 Dece ...
in many of her films, which allowed him travel to France to learn the art of make-up.
After he returned to Cairo, businessman
Talaat Harb
Talaat Harb Pacha ( ar, طلعت حرب باشا; 25 November 1867 – 13 August 1941) was a leading Egyptian entrepreneur and founder of Banque Misr, and its group of companies, in May 1920.
His works
The establishment of Banque Misr, the fir ...
asked Rafla to work as an assistant to some foreigners from Europe that were working at
Studio Misr, a Cairo-based film studio established by Harb.
Rafla continued to work in Studio Misr, until 1936 when the Egyptian
Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
announced they were dispatching Egyptians to France and England in order to learn more about the art of theatre and cinema, including
cosmetology
Cosmetology (from Greek , ''kosmētikos'', "beautifying"; and , '' -logia'') is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty include hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/ pedicures, non-permanent hair removal such ...
. This training was in preparation for the opening of the Egyptian National Theatre Troupe (now the National Theater of Egypt). He studied in France photography, set decoration, and film directing, and upon returning to Egypt he focused on working as a make-up art in the theater for five years. Around 1938, Rafla pivoted to working in make-up for cinema.
He did make-up for more than 40 films.
Rafla began his film career in 1942 as an assistant to various film directors such as , , , and .
He produced, directed, composed and composed many films, most of them in Egypt and some of them in Lebanon, Turkey, and Nigeria.
Filmography
As director
* ' (1947), as director
* ' (1947), as director
* ' (1948)
*
The Millionaire (1950 film)
''El Millioner'' (Arabic-المليونير) or The Millionaire is one of the Egyptian comedies released in 1950. It was directed as a black and white movie by Helmy Rafla and starred the famous Ismail Yassine,
Plot
A millionaire named Assem El ...
, as director
* ''
The Pretty Mothers-in-law'' (1953), as director
* ''
Idol of the Masses'' (1967), as director
* ''
A Touch of Tenderness'' (1971), as director
As producer
* ' (1948)
*
''The Road of Hope'' (film) (1957), as producer
*
''The River of Love'' (film) (1960), as producer
* ''
I Will Not Confess'' (1961), as producer
As screenwriter
* ' (1948) (story, screenplay, and dialogue)
References
External links
*
Helmy Raflaat ElCinema
Egyptian Copts
Egyptian film producers
Egyptian film directors
1909 births
1978 deaths
Make-up artists
Helmy Rafla was a famous Egyptian director, He began his career as a make up man.
{{Egypt-film-director-stub