The fashion, the lyrics, the music, the grandness of it all; they just don’t make musical films in Egypt like they used to – in fact, they don’t really make them at all anymore. No contemporary Egyptian film compares to those classic old school musicals that most Egyptians grew up watching and loving. So much so, that perhaps almost everyone immediately knows the tune that accompanies the phrase ‘do’o el shamasi’ (place the parasols). Perhaps almost everyone also remembers being mesmerized by Fayrouz’s immense talent at such a young age, as she seamlessly manages to tap dance her way into our hearts every time any of her films come on. In any case, below are eight classic Egyptian musical films that act as a time capsule to a revered age in Egyptian cinema, full of passion, memories and music. Albi Dalili (My Heart is my Guide – 1947) A wonderful black and white classic, this 1947 film stars Anwar Wagdy and Leila Mourad. This action-filled romance tells the story of one woman’s mistaken identity (Mourad) and how she gets tangled up in a police-gang chase; in the midst of it…
Singalongs and Big Dance Numbers: 8 Classic Egyptian Musical Films From Back in the Day
August 6, 2020
