Hassan Al-Imam

Known for DirectingBorn 1919-03-06Died 1988-01-29Al Mansoura, Egypt

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.Read more

Movies & web series

The era of love

Qamar Al-Zaman

An Ordinary Girl

A Tale from the Arabian Nights

Divine Love

Money and Women

Little devil

Al-Malak Al-Zalem

Scandal monger

Cup of torment

Hokm Elqawi

The Two Orphans

Hassan & Hassan

El Doctor

My Story With Time

The Nun

Shafiqa Al-Qibtiya

Hayati hi althaman

Alkharsaa

Saedat El Rigal

Hob Min Narr

Qoloob El Azara

Al-Jasad

The Bread Seller

Love In The Darkness

The Time of Miracles

Zalamoni El Nas

The Lady of the House

Return of the absent

Laylat Al-Jumea

Wife from the Street

I'll Never Cry

Mansion of Longing

The Student

Lawahez

Farewell at dawn

Ghadab El Waledain

People's secrets

Children Of The Streets

Al-anissa Busa

Passion and Revenge

Elsetat Afaret

Graveyards for Rent

Mr. Omar

Bamba Kasher

Huwa wa el nessaa

Heya Wil Regal

The Newspaper Seller