Ertem Eğilmez, one of the first names that comes to mind when it comes to directors in Turkish cinema, is a filmmaker who left his mark especially on the Yeşilçam period by making dozens of films. Let’s take a closer look at Ertem Eğilmez’s films, which we would watch with the same pleasure if we saw them somewhere, even if we watched many of them over and over again.
Ertem Eğilmez, who was born in Trabzon on February 18, 1929, worked as a grocer, opened a publishing house, published the humor magazine Tef, and even worked as a grocery store after graduating from Istanbul University Faculty of Economics. He brought the first pinball machines to Turkey. The first steps towards becoming a legend were taken for Ertem Eğilmez, who stepped into the world of cinema with the establishment of the production company called Arzu Film in 1964.
The films made by Ertem Eğilmez in the 1960s were mostly about love. In the 1970s, he directed comedy films on friendship and family themes. This period, known as the Arzu Film school of comedies, frequently brought together the master names of Yeşilçam cinema. When he passed away on September 21, 1989, he left behind 44 films that he directed, 5 that he wrote the script for, and 97 films that he produced. Let’s take a closer look at some of the Ertem Eğilmez movies that you will want to watch again and again.
Some of the best films by the legendary director of Turkish cinema, Ertem Eğilmez:
- Once a year
- A Nation is Awakening
- Blue bead
- Arabesque
- Honest
- I went from the village to the city
- smiling eyes
- Dear Bro
- Şaban Son Şaban
- Hababam Class series
Just come to me: One Day a Year
- Year: 1971
- Genre: Drama, Romance, War
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Kartal Tibet, Hülya Koçyiğit, Metin Serezli
- IMDb: 7.0
In the film Senede Bir Gün, which takes place during the years when the Bulgarian occupation began in Rumelia, Emin and Nazlı, the daughter of the owner of the mansion where he works, are in love with each other. The two meet at the same place, on the same day and at the same time every year. One day, Emin is imprisoned because of the trap of another man who is in love with Nazlı, and when Nazlı does not hear from him for a long time, she marries that man. When the two meet again after many years, they will see that they have a completely different life.
A story extending from the Battle of Gallipoli to the War of Independence: A Nation is Awakening
- Year: 1966
- Genre: Drama, War
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Kartal Tibet, Erol Taş, Hayati Hamzaoğlu
- IMDb: 7.5
The work titled A Nation is Awakening, written by Nizamettin Nazif Tepedelenlioğlu It was first adapted to the cinema by Muhsin Ertuğrul in 1933. For the second time, in this story adapted to the cinema by Ertem Eğilmez, we watch what the Turkish nation went through during the Gallipoli War and its aftermath. A group of surviving soldiers from the 96th Regiment gathers and joins the War of Independence and undertakes works that will change history.
Are we going to miss Emel Sayın from now on: Mavi Boncuk
- Year: 1975
- Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Emel Sayın, Tarık Akan, Zeki Alasya
- IMDb: 7.8
A group of friends go to have fun at the casino, where Emel Sayın, one of the most famous artists of the period, performed. When the bill is higher than they expected, they object and are beaten by the casino staff. They decide to take revenge, They will kidnap Emel Sayın and demand ransom. Their plans are really working well, but when the beautiful artist comes among them, they have to make some changes in their plans.
The director’s last film: Arabesque
- Year: 1989
- Genre: Comedy, Musical
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Şener Şen, Müjde Ar, Uğur Yücel
- IMDb: 8.0
He left his mark on Turkish cinema in the 1980s. Arabesque movie, which is a kind of parody of the arabesque movie craze, It begins with the love between Müjde and Şener. When her father does not allow this love affair, Müjde has to marry someone else, and Şener comes to Istanbul. Sad events happen to both of them, but they also make the audience laugh. Arabesque is considered one of the most important examples of Turkish absurdist cinema.
An example of masterful satire: Honorable
- Year: 1984
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Şener Şen, Adile Naşit, Ayşen Gruda
- IMDb: 8.1
Namuslu, one of the productions in which Ertem Eğilmez demonstrates his satirical mastery, tells the story of an honest man named Ali Rıza. It begins with the loss of a large amount of money at work. Of course, everyone blames Ali Rıza, but he is completely innocent. The interesting thing is that his family and friends, who treated him badly when he was an honest man, begin to treat him very well when they believe that he is a thief who stole a large amount of money.
Dohuzbindohuzhundreddohsanseven, dohuzbindohuzhundreddohsaneight: I went down from the village to the city
- Year: 1974
- Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Kemal Sunal, Zeki Alasya, Metin Akpınar, Halit Akçatepe
- IMDb: 8.3
From the Village to the City is actually a sequel to the movie Dumb Millionaire. In the first movie, our characters chase after their father’s inheritance. Now they found the money and started to worry about eating it. But they only want to exchange the gold they found for one of their fellow citizens in Ankara. Of course, nothing goes as they expect, and every step they take drags them into a new and funnier adventure.
Vecihi’s great love: Smiling Eyes
- Year: 1977
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Münir Özkul, Adile Naşit, Halit Akçatepe
- IMDb: 8.5
In the movie, we watch the adventures of Yaşar Usta, one of the iconic characters of Arzu Film Comedies, and his family. We meet Vecihi, another iconic character of the Turkish cinema world. In the movie, Yaşar Usta has five daughters and he thinks it is time to marry them off. But she is determined to marry them off to the grooms she wants, not the men they love.
Your eyes will dry from crying: My dear brother
- Year: 1973
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Tarık Akan, Kahraman Kıral, Halit Akçatepe
- IMDb: 8.7
In the movie Canım Kardeşim, one of the most intense drama stories of Turkish cinema; We follow the story of Kahraman, his brother and his brother’s friend. Struggling in poverty, this trio receives terrible news one day. little Hero is cancer. In this disease from which there is no cure, the only thing the couple can do is to buy the little boy’s dream television, but how?
The password is Virgo, you didn’t know Dawn: Şaban Son Şaban
- Year: 1977
- Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Kemal Sunal, Halit Akçatepe, Şener Şen
- IMDb: 8.7
Şaban and Ramazan, who served together in the military, made their commander Hüsamettin very tired. The discharged duo As a result of a needle’s eye of coincidence, they become plainclothes police officers. One night, when they visit Nazır Pasha, who made them a police officer, they realize that the commander is Hüsamettin Pasha’s son-in-law. From this point on, things will start to get even more complicated.
Eyvah Mahmut Hodja: Hababam Class series
- Year: 1975 – 1981
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Director: Ertem Eğilmez
- Cast: Kemal Sunal, Münir Özkul, Halit Akçatepe
- IMDb: 9.2
The Hababam Class series, adapted to the cinema from Rıfaz Ilgaz’s novel series of the same name; It consists of 6 films made in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1981. Of course, most of us probably love the first three movies where the main characters are fixed. In the film series, we follow the adventures of a group of naughty but also good-hearted students who could not graduate from Private Çamlıca High School, despite being grown men.
One of the legendary directors of the Turkish cinema world We have listed some of the best films by Ertem Eğilmez and we briefly talked about the stories they presented to the audience. Of course, this list could be much longer. You can share the Ertem Eğilmez movies you want to be on our list in the comments.