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Hassan Fayeq

(1898- 1980)

Hassan Fayeq
(1898-1980)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandrian born Hassan Fayeq Mohamed el Kholi left school after finishing his elementary education. His father quit his job in the port, and the family moved to Helwan, where the boy helped his father in their newly opened shop. It was in Helwan that Fayeq got in touch with Salama Hegazi and his troupe, the man who initiated him into acting.

He started his career at the age of 16 with a group of amateurs and formed a group called Gam’eyet el Ittahâd el Tamthilî which performed historical plays. In 1914 he wrote and directed a play entitled The Baker of Venice (Farrân el Boundouqiyah) in which he played the lover of Rose el Youssef who not only supported the group but also participated in some of their plays. Later in 1916, Fayeq joined the group of Aziz Eid after a recommendation from el Youssef who also recommended Hussein Riad and Youssef Wahbi. Fayeq also joined the troupes of Sheikh Salama Hegazi and Abd el Rahman Rushdi. Later, he tried his hand at tragedy in George Abyad's group where he acted in King Oedipus and Hamlet.

Eventually, he left to form his own troupe which also included Hussein Riad, Abbas Fares, Stéphane Rosti, Abdel Latif Gamgoom and Ahmed Galal. Later, Youssef Wahbi joined too. They played Beauty Queen (Maleket el gamâl), starring Rose el Youssef. During the 1919 revolution, Fayeq became famous for presenting a number of humorous songs that attacked the British occupation and praised the resistance. It is said that Saad Zaghloul himself attended one of his plays and made a political speech between the acts. He also led the members of his troupe in a demonstration in their stage costumes. He was perhaps the only actor who was invited to the parties organized by Hoda Shaarawy and Safia Zaghloul. He also put on the play Mohamed and Hanna when the British tried to start a problem between Muslims and Christians. This national and political activity dates back to Fayeq’s own father who left his job after a fight with an English officer. But it was also his belief that he did have a role both as an actor and an Egyptian citizen. Regardless of what he really did, this in itself gives him credit, as he recognized the role of art in shaping public opinion.

Fayeq started his cinematic career when he was 35 in The Elite (Awlâd el Dhawât) (1932). He did not care for fame and always said, “I totally trust that my name would always be forgotten and that I would be the first one to forget it; so I would not spend my precious life forming a name”. He co-starred in comic roles, several of which were with Ismail Yassin. He was famous for playing the part of a kind man with a weak personality. He had a special charisma and was famous for his signature laugh. He never exaggerated but was always natural and spontaneous and that is why he had his own school of comic acting.

In 1965, Fayeq was paralysed and could not go on with his career. He also suffered from the neglect of the authorities and his colleagues. However, the 1973 war reminded him of the good days of 1919. He phoned el Akhbar newspaper and dictated them a humorous song about the war. He passed away in 1980.

It is said that Saad Zaghloul himself attended one of his plays and made a political speech between the acts. Hassan Fayeq also led the members of his troupe in a demonstration in their stage costumes. He was perhaps the only actor who was invited to the parties organized by Hoda Shaarawy and Safia Zaghloul.

Article by Hassan Fayeq

Filmography:

1932: The Elite (Awlâd el Dhawât)
1935: Antar Effendi (‘Antar afandî)
1936: He Wants to Get Married! (Bisalamtouh ‘awiz yitgawwiz)
1936: Abou Zarifa (Abou Zarîfah)
1937: The Song of Hope (Nashîd el amal)
1937: Salama is Fine (Salama fi khayr)
1938: My Maid (Khaddâmtî)
1939: The Price of Happiness (Thaman el sa’âdah)
1939: The Apple Seller (Bayyâ’at el touffâh)
1940: The Chief Contractor (el Bâshmouqâwil
1941: The Triumph of Youth (Intisâr el shabâb)
1942: The Dreams of Youth (Ahlâm el shabâb)
1943: Old is Gold (Min fât qadîmouh)
1943: Gawhara (Gawharah)
1944: The Ideal Bridegroom (‘Aris el hanâ)
1944: Lies, Lies!  (Kidb fi Kidb)
1945: Money (el Foulous)
1945: Miss Boussa (el Ânisah Boussah)
1945: The Prettiest ( Ahlâhoum)
1945: The Honeymoon (Chahr el ‘asal)
1946: The Trick of the Lady (Li’bat el sitt)
1946: The Anonymous Singer (el Moughanni el maghoul)
1946: Glory and Tears (Magd wa domou’)
1946: A Bride for Rent (‘Arousah li-l-îgâr)
1946: False Pride (el Nafkhah el kaddâbah)
1946: Beauty Queen (Malikat el gamâl)
1946: The Return of the Caravan (‘Awdat el qâfilah)
1946: The First Sight (Awwal nazrah)
1946: Laila, the Daughter of a Wealthy Family (Layla bint el aghniyâ̓’) 
1946: I Cannot (Ma̓darch)
1947: The Lady (el Hânim)
1947: Flowers and Thorns (Azhâr wa ashwâk)
1947: The Three Musketeers (el Forsân el Thalâtha)
1947: The Lifelong Lover (Habîb el ‘omer)
1947: The Singer of the Valley (Châdyat el wâdi) 
1947: The Treasure of Happiness (Kanz el sa’âdah)
1947: My Heart is my Guide (Qalbi dalili)
1947: The Dove of Peace (Hamâmit el salâm)
1947: The Husband of Two Women (Gouz el itnîn)
1947: The Father of Halmous (Abou Halmous)
1947: Fatma (Fatmah)
1948: Love and Youth (el Hawâ wa-l-shabâb)
1948: Above the Clouds (Fawq el sahâb)
1948: Bolbol Effendi (Bolbol Afandî)
1948: The Forbidden Happiness (el Sa’adah el mouharamah)
1948: The Lost Link (el Halqa el mafqoudah)
1948: A Girl from Palestine (Fatât min Filastîn)
1948: Anbar (‘Anbar)
1949: Bread and Salt (el-’ish wel milh)
1949: Halawa (Halawah)
1949: A Holiday in Hell (Agâzah fi gohanam)
1949: Hoda (Houda)
1949: Lahalibo (Lahâlibo)
1949: Watch the Wallet (Ou’a el mahfazah)
1949: El Bahlwan Street (Châri’ el bahlawân)
1949: The Eve of the Feast (Laylat el ‘îd)
1950: You and Me (Anâ wa enta)
1950: My Sister Steita (Oukhtî steitah)
1950: Sometime for Yourself (Sâ’ah li qalbak)
1950: Full Moon (Qamar arba’tachir)
1950: The Wedding Night (Laylat el doukhlah)
1950: Dad is a Groom (Bâbâ ‘arîs)
1950: The Love of a Belly Dancer (Gharâm râqisah)
1950: The Ruse of Women (Kayd el nisâ)
1950: Something’s Going to Happen (‘Aynî bitriff)
1951: It Got Solved (Fourigat)
1951: The Circus Girl (Fatât el sîrk)
1951: Khadra and Sinbad el Kebly (Khadira wa-l-sindibâd el qeblî)
1951: The Pretty One’s Cheek (Khadd el gamîl)
1952: The Great Clown (el Mouharrig el Kabîr)
1952: The Happy House (el Bayt el sa’îd)
1952: The Spring Festival (Cham el nasîm)
1953: Ms Snatcher (Nashâlah hânim)
1953: The Administrative Board (Maglis el idârah)
1953: Your Horoscope this Week (Hazzak hâdhâ el ousbou’)
1953: Destiny and Fate (el mouqaddar wa-l-maktoub)
1953: A Conspiracy (Mou̓âmarah)
1953: A Son for Rent (Ebn li-l-îgâr)
1954: Love Taxi (Taxi el gharâm)
1954: The Apple of My Eye (Nour ‘aynî) 
1954: A Girl's Honour (Charaf el bint)
1954: A Dozen Handkerchiefs (Dastit manâdil)
1954: Hassan, Marcos and Cohen (Hassan we Morqos we Kohîn)
1954: People come in Different Ranks (el Nâs maqâmât)
1954: For your Sake (‘Alashan ‘ouyounak)
1956: First Love (Awwal gharâm)
1956: Love and Humanity (Houbb wa insâniyyah)
1956: The Merry Widow (el Armalah al taroub)
1956: The Young Bride (al ‘Arousah al saghîrah)
1956: Her Right to Divorce (Sâhibat el ‘ismah) 
1956: Zanouba (Zannoubah)
1957: Ismail Yassin at the Zoo (Ismâ’în Yâsîn fi guininet el haywân)
1957: My Knight in Shining Armour (Fata ahlamî)
1958: Catch the Thief (Imsik harâmî)
1958: The Festival of Love (Mahragân el houbb)
1958: Ismail Yassin in Damascus (Ismâîl Yâsîn fi Dimachq)
1958: Mrs Nawaem (el Sitt Nawa’im)
1958: The Love of my Life (Habîb hayâtî)
1958: My Happy Days (Ayyâmî el sa’îdah)
1958: The Street of Love (Châri’ el houbb) Clip from film (Hasan_Fayeq.wmv)

1958: The Street of Love (Châri' el houbb)

1958: I Have Only You (Mâlîsh gheirak)
1959: Kiss Me in the Dark (Qabbilnî fil zalâm)
1959: Ismail Yassin in the Secret Police (Ismâ‘îl Yâsîn bolis sirî)
1959: Om Ratiba (Oumm Ratîba)
1960: Love and More Love (Houbb fe houbb)
1960: To Earn a Living (louqmat el ‘aysh)
1960: Oh My Love (Yâ habîbî)
1960: Sokkar Hanem (Soukkar hânim)
1961: Love and Suffering (Houb wa ‘adhâb)
1961: A Husband for Rent (Zawg li-l-îgâr)
1961: Husbands and Summer (el Azwâg wa-l-sayf)
1961: The Husband of my Wife (Gouz mirâtî)
1962: Almaz and Abdou el Hamouly (Almaz wa ‘Abdou el Hâmoulî)        
1962: Wife Number 13 (el Zawgah raqam talatacher)
1962: The Association for the Killing of Wives (Gam ‘iyyat katel el zawgât)
1963: His Majesty (Sâhib el galâlah)
1964: The Story of a Marriage (Hikâyat zawâg)
1965: The Technical Director (el Moudir el fannî)
1965: Reason and Money (el ‘Aql wa-l-mâl)
1965: The Memories of a Student (Zikrayyat telmîza)
1967: The People's Sweetheart (Ma‘boudat al gamâhîr)
1971: Mum's Fiancé (Khatîb Mama) 

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