Egyptian cinema is known to be prevalent across the Middle East, with most of the region being familiar with the films, the actors and the dialect. In fact, Egyptian cinema has a long history and dates back to the late 19th century, having begun around the same time as it did in the west. From 1896 and onwards, a few silent films were made but it wasn’t until the introduction of sound to film that really allowed Egypt’s film industry to sky-rocket. Egypt witnessed its very own ‘Golden Age of Cinema’ around the early to mid 20th century (namely the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s) and in the 1950’s, Egypt’s film industry was the world’s third largest. Although Egyptian cinema is generally highly regarded – in history and up until now – the industry also has a history of ‘borrowing’ western material and interpreting it to fit Middle Eastern audiences. That’s not to say that Egyptian cinema isn’t home to numerous original cinematic gems – however, it is interesting to note the differences between the films that were made whose plot-lines were borrowed from well-known western films or stories. It is…
A Closer Look at Western Films and their Egyptian Counterparts Throughout the Years
February 14, 2020
