Movie director and
producer (B. 18 February 1929, Istanbul – D. 21 September 1989, Istanbul). He
completed his primary and secondary education in
After returning from
military service in 1954 he founded Çağlayan Yayınevi (T.N. Çağlayan
Publishing House) with Refik Erduran. The same year he published the comic
called “Tef” in which many caricaturists were raised including Refik Erduran
and Haldun Sel. He marked a new epoch in the world of publishing with his
pocket books. He let the famous author Kemal Tahir writes detective novels with
the pen name “Mayk Hammer”.
He founded in 1961 the movie company called “Efe”, in
1964 “Arzu Film” company and started his cinema career. He became a producer
with the movie Yaman Gazeteci and a
director with the movie Fatoş’un Fendi
Tayfur’u Yendi. Although he took a chance in all genres, he mostly directed
funny comedies easy to watch and which attracted attention of wide masses. His
movie Bir Millet Uyanıyor received
the prize of “Best Historical Movie” in 1967
Antalya Altın Portakal Film Festival. After 1972 he turned towards emotional
comedies. In these movies in which he usually used the same casting and which
would be called as “Arzu Film comedies” in the future, he sometimes included
social critics. His movie Canım Kardeşim shot in
1973 drew attention with its humanistic attitude, atmosphere to mix sadness
with comedy and poetic expression it reached in some parts.
He adopted Rıfat İlgaz's novel Hababam Sınıfı in 1975 to the silver
screen. Upon the success of this movie he shot four additional movies called Hababam Sınıfı Uyanıyor, Hababam Sınıfı Sınıfta
Kaldı, Hababam Sınıfı Tatilde and finally Hababam Sınıfı Güle Güle. Eğilmez, who
presented the musical titled Kanlı Nigâr in
the season of 1980-81, returned to cinema in 1985 after a break, with the movie
Namuslu, which was a combination of usual comedy style and
actual topics. This movie, which attracted broad attention, was followed by the
commercially unsuccessful Aşık Oldum
(1986) movie. The movie Arabesk he
shot in 1988 acquired the largest box office of Turkish cinema at that time.
Ertem Eğilmez left a
mark as a producer and director who perceived changes in Turkish cinema on
time, renewed himself, according to these changes and felt the pulse of the
audience. He contributed to realization of production of hazardous movies and
reintroduced some directors and actors to Turkish cinema. In Yavuz Turgul’s
words, Eğilmez, “The Unforgettable Director of Love Movies”, had an influence
on the cinematographic success of important actors such as Münir Özkul, Tarık
Akan, Şener Şen, Kartal Tibet, Kemal Sunal, Metin Akpınar, Zeki Alasya, Halit
Akçatepe, Emel Sayın, Güzin Özipek, Adile Naşit, Tugay Toksöz, Ayşen Gruda and
Şevket Altuğ.
Eğilmez who was right in
the middle of traditional Yeşilçam cinema production relations is also
described as a school. He learnt cinema by trial and error and loved his
profession. It is stated in various sources that he contributed to the
development of Kriton Ilyadis, one of the best cinematographers of
AWARDS: “Best Historical
Movie”,
WORKS:
SOME OF THE MOVIES HE
DIRECTED: Arabesk (1988), Aşık Oldum (1985), Namuslu (1984), Hababam Sınıfı
Güle Güle (1981), Mavi Boncuk (1974), Oh Olsun (1973), Yalancı Yarim (1973),
Canım Kardeşim (1973), Kalbimin Efendisi (1970), Küçük Hanımefendi (1970),
Sürtük (1970), Sürtüğün Kızı (1967), Seni Bekleyeceğim (1966), Seni Sevmiyorum
(1966), Ben Bir Sokak Kadınıyım (1966), Bir Millet Uyanıyor (1966), Fatoş'un
Fendi Tayfur'u Yendi (1964)
SCENARIOS: Milyarder
(1986), Mavi Boncuk (1974), Salako (1974), Boş Çerçeve (1969), Ölmeyen Aşk
(1966)