Togo Mizrahi

Togo Mizrahi
Togo Mizrahi (1901–1986)
BornJoseph Elie Mizrahi
(1901-06-02)2 June 1901
Alexandria, Egypt
Died5 June 1986(1986-06-05) (aged 84)
Rome, Italy
Occupation(s)Film director, Actor, Writer and Producer.

Togo Mizrahi (Egyptian Arabic: توجو مزراحى) (June 2, 1901 – June 5, 1986) was an Egyptian director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Mizrahi was a prolific filmmaker best known for making popular comedies and musicals. Between 1930 and 1946, he directed 30 Arabic-speaking films and four Greek speaking films, and he produced several films directed by other filmmakers.

Early life

Joseph Elie Mizrahi was born in Alexandria, Egypt to a Jewish family with Italian nationality. As a child he adopted the nickname, Togo, after Admiral Togo, commemorating Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War.

Career

In 1929 Mizrahi established a studio in Alexandria, Egypt, and founded a production company, The Egyptian Films Company. He produced films in Alexandria until 1939, when he moved to Cairo. Over the course of his career, Mizrahi worked with many popular actors and musicians. He made a number of comedies starring Chalom (Leon Angel), Ali al-Kassar, and Fawzi al-Jazayirli. He directed five films starring singer Leila Mourad. His film, Sallama(1945), starring the Egyptian diva, Umm Kulthum, is thought to be her best performance on screen. He also worked with Youssef Wahbi, Amina Rizk, and Anwar Wagdi. Mizrahi directed actors Taheyya Kariokka and Ismail Yassine in their screen debuts.

In 1946, Mizrahi was accused of Zionist collaboration. Although he seemed poised for a comeback in 1949, Mizrahi never made another movie. In 1952, he appointed his brother Alfred Mizrahi to oversee daily operations of the Egyptian Films Company. Mizrahi left Egypt and settled in Rome, where he died on June 5, 1986.

Filmography

Arabic-language films

Greek-language films

Producer

References

  1. ^ Starr, Deborah (2020). Togo Mizrahi and the Making of Egyptian Cinema. University of California. ISBN 9780520366206.
  2. ^ "Togo Mizrahi". Alex Cinema.
  3. ^ "Togo Mizrahi". elcinema.
  4. ^ Starr, Deborah (2020). Togo Mizrahi and the Making of Egyptian Cinema. University of California. pp. 47–49. ISBN 9780520366206.
  5. ^ "Togo Mizrahi". Alex Cinema.

Further reading

External links

International
National