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The Whole Earth Catalog of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For English-speakers who've always wanted to know more about Turkish Movies/Films, Short Subjects, Documentaries, TV and Radio -- but didn't know where to look. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Movie/Film names and TV Program names (in both English and Turkish), stars of the Turkish cinema and TV (past and present), movie directors, producers, cameramen, screen writers, musicians, singers, dancers, et al -- not to mention plot summaries, movie trivia, and memorable on-screen dialogue all translated into English, of course... With full multimedia features including illustrations, voice recordings and video clips... If you don't find the names, terms, or phrases you need here... click to let us know and we'll add them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Site visitors may navigate the Turkish Movie catalog using the 'Turkish Movies, etc. Catalog' Index Page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Abbreviations: LMA - Lead Male Actor/Player, LFA - Lead Female Actor/Player, MA - Male Actor/Player, FA - Female Actor/Player, MD - Main Director, P - Producer(s), | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Person, Place, Thing | Details About | Descriptions, examples, supplements, and explanations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Kamer Sadık |
See Kamer Baba. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ata Saka While the authenticity of his (stage?) name remains in question, it's definite that Ata Saka made (at least) 49 films in his 10 year career, between 1973 and 1983. Ata Saka and Tülin Tan
in Çıldırtan Kadın - (A Woman Driven to Madness - ![]() |
A male 'erotik' movie star of the 70's and 80's, who often paired-up with Zerrin Egeliler (the undisputed queen of 'erotik' Turkish movies, who made a record-setting 37 starring-role 'erotik'-film performances in 1979 alone). However, Ata Saka's film-debut in 1973 was in a 'conventional' movie, Kara Orkun (Black Orkun), an adventure-film directed by Yücel Uçanoğlu. In all, he acted in as many as 15 'conventional' Turkish films, across at least 3 movie genres.
Take 1976, for instance... While it's true that he appeared in Naki Yurter's 'erotik' movie, Elmanın Alına Bak (Pay Attention to the Redness of Your Apple) that year -- he also made 5 other 'conventional' films. And, it's indicative of his range as an actor (Turkish movie historians say) that in 1976, Ata Saka appeared in such conventional movies as... So, Ata Saka wasn't just a 'pretty face'...He also had genuine acting ability, it seems. Unfortunately, that acting ability is hard to appreciate if you only consider his 'erotik' movies, in which he tended to 'overact' -- presumably because that's what the audience wanted to see. Still, it's puzzling why (after 10 successful years) he just up and quit acting in 1983 -- and simply disappeared into the woodwork... |
In his 'erotik' movies (about 35 films all told), Ata Saka usually performed in 'bad guy' roles. Ata Saka and Dilber Ay
in Gece Yaşayan Kadın (Woman of the Night) ![]() in which Ata Saka played a good-guy (relatively speaking) for once. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sarışın Tehlike (Danger in Blonde) Cüneyt Arkın leads a cast of well-known Turkish actors/actresses of the 1970's through a murder mystery that's more memorable for its parts than for its whole... in a sort of reverse synergy. By the way, the film, released in 1980, also stars Christine Haydar (billed as Kristin Haydar), a notorious blonde bombshell of the time (who claimed to be the grandchild of Haydar Paşa) in one of only two Turkish films she made. (She made the other one, a drama entitled Bedel (The Price), in 1983. Bedel was directed by Melih Gülgen and starred Kadir İnanır, Bahar Öztan, Ekrem Bora, Sevda Ferdağ and, Kristin/Christine Haydar.) |
LMA - Cüneyt Arkın (as Metin Tuncu, a philandering, devil-may-care actor); LFA - Christine Haydar (also seen as Christina, Christian, Christien, Kristin Haydar) (as herself, Christine Haydar, a stage singer-dancer); MA - Metin Serezli (as both Nedim and Osman Okçu); MA - Hadi Çaman (as Naci, a small-time agent who becomes Metin's booze-hound buddy); MA - Yüksel Gözen (as Nürettin Sözer, stage actor); FA - Gülten Ceylan (as Emel, Nürettin's wife, a stage actress); FA - Aynur Akarsu (as Nedim's 'wife'); MA - Nejat Özbek as Refik, Nedim's man; MA - Yadigar Ejder (as Emile aka 'King Kong', one of Nedim's Thugs.); MA - Çetin [Tarzan] Başaran (as another of Nedim's Thugs); MA - Yusuf Çetin (as the advertising organizer); MD - Aram Gülyüz; W - Aram Gülyüz; C - Orhan Kapkı; P - Abdurrahman Keskiner; PC - Umut Film
| Plot Summary: The Okçu Confectionary Company wants to make a 45 second TV commercial -- and, through talent agents, it hires 4 high-profile actors/actresses (at extraordinarily good pay) to play roles in it. But there's one condition to the lucrative pay-day for the actors/actresses and their agents... They must all be the guests of the Confectionary Company's owner (Nedim Okçu played by Metin Serezli), at his deserted-island home for the week, for planning purposes, before the commercial is made. The commercial's leading male, the devil-may-care Metin Tuncu (played by Cüneyt Arkın) [who is known for his karate, scuba-diving, and bedroom skills] is the least cooperative of the bunch, threatening to quit at the expense of the others if anyone tries to rein in his testosterone-heavy behaviour. Once everyone is assembled on the island, Nedim Bey (the owner) begins setting rules that cramp Metin's style but Metin plays along reluctantly (up to a fateful point) due to the private urging of Nedim's wife, who makes her 'availability' to him well known. On the other hand, the blonde bombshell female-lead Christian (played by Kristin Haydar), seems impervious to Metin's charms, showing an active dislike of him -- especially after he employs his 'Tactic #7' by mocking her private dance-rehearsal on the beach. (See movie-clip link, further below.) When Nedim Bey hears of the incident, he challenges Metin's chauvinistic behaviour -- and, rather than buckle under, Metin opts to fight it out with 'King Kong' as his 'punishment'. (See movie-clip link, further below.) To everyone's surprise, Metin cleans King Kong's clock -- and that makes Christian all wobbly in the knees. But soon, members of the cast and island-crew start showing up dead. To be continued... Movie clips from 'Sarişın Tehlike' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zafir Seba An alternative spelling of Zafir's surname is Saba, seen at a number of internet websites, most notably Sinematurk.com -- and in (at least) one reference book, Erotik Türk Sineması150. Furthermore, as the opening credits roll in the 1979 movie Tamam Mi Canım (Is it OK, dear?), Zafir's surname is even seen spelled as Sebah. So, if you're planning to further research this beautiful actress on your own, keep in mind these surname variations. Zafir Seba/Saba/Sebah
in an early publicity shot ![]() Click for enlargement! Thanks to Erotik Türk Sineması150 A sultry brunette with bedroom eyes, Zafir Seba (Saba/Sebah) got her start as an 'erotik' movie-star in 1979. She was modeling at the time and had made a short bar-room movie-loop that caught the eye of an 'erotik' movie film producer -- who immediately signed her to a 10 film contract. She completed her film roles in all 10 movies in just 3 months! | Together with Zerrin Doğan in Öyle Bir Kadın Ki, Zafir Seba (Saba) played a major, though secondary, role in the first legally produced and distributed hard-core 'erotik' movie in Turkish cinematic history. In a film career spanning 1979-1989 she acted in 19 feature films. Of the 19, at least 13 of them deserve an R+ to X-Rating, even by today's more lenient standards. A few of them, like Enişte, were made 'on the run' in low-budget 16mm format. Zafir Seba (Saba/Sebah) was discovered and signed to a 10 film contract after an 'erotik' films producer caught her act in a short bar-room movie-loop, Zafir Hanım's career took off right away. With a total of 19 leading-lady or supporting actress roles to her credit between 1979 and 1989, she was the 2nd highest-paid 'erotik' filmstar during that era (just behind Zerrin Egeliler). After the stunning success of her first films won her a renegotiated contract -- Zafir demanded and received 100,000 Old Turkish Lira per film. That was equivalent to about $10,000 per movie, at a time when per capita Turkish incomes were less than $1,000 a year. Film historian Cihan Demirci149 quotes Zafir Hanım as saying, "I was quite self-conscious and uncomfortable about undressing on the movie set of my first two films. The dress came off, then the bra, then the various undergarments they had me wear -- it felt awkward at first. But, I soon got used to it. And afterwards, they had trouble getting me back into my clothes after a lovemaking scene. During one movie shoot I remember our director saying, Once you finally get undressed, it's hell getting you dressed again. Come on now, move it. We've got a clothed movie scene to do!" |
Memorable Movie Quotes: Zafir has always claimed to be comfortable, proud, and happy with her 'erotik' movies
See also: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sekreter (The Secretary) A moralistic film-story that gets its reputation from no less than 6 provocative Peeping-Tom sequences, plus scenes of lesbianism and attempted-rape. Made in 1985, Sekreter stars Hülya Avşar in 35mm living color. Movie Length/Duration:
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LFA - Hülya Avşar (as Hülya); LMA - Tolga Savacı in his very first film (as Erkut); MA - Muhip Arcıman (as Erkut's greedy unsympathetic father, Sadık); MA - Yüksel Gözen (as Faik Bey, Hülya's lying braggadocios peeping-tom boss [röntgenci müdür] who dies, finally confessing her innocence); FA - Aynur Akarsu (as Belkis Abla -- who has a lesbian yen for Hülya, but who provides much needed friendship and support throughout Hülya's ordeals); MA - Nejat Gürçen (as Belkis Abla's boss, whose harassing hands she tolerates as being part of her secretarial job-description.); MA - Ali Sururi (as Ragıp Saka -- who arrives late in the film to become Hülya's well-meaning sugar-daddy, and who assists in putting things right finally); MA - Selahattin Fırat (as Hülya's working-class father. When his small retirement pay isn't enough to support the family, Hülya has to become a secretary.); FA - Neriman Köksal [née: Hatice Kökçü] (as Erkut's usually sympathetic mother); FA - Güzin Doğan (as Filiz, Erkut's cousin/wife); FA - Gül Vergon (as Hülya's always-faithful working-class mother); MD - Temel Gürsu; W - Suphi Tekniker; C - Ertunç Şenkay; P - Kadir Turgut, Ferit Turgut; PC - Uzman Film
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Plot Summary: Beautiful (but working-class) Hülya and handsome (rich-boy) Erkut fall in love on a winter holiday at Uludağ -- and begin making plans to marry. Erkut's father Sadık disapproves of his son's choice -- desiring a more 'suitable' family tie, which he believes will solidify the family fortune. When father Sadık (convinced by the lying sexual-innuendos of Hülya's Peeping-Tom boss) presents Erkut with 'the facts' about her, it sets in motion a string of heart-wrenching events that brings misery to everyone... Plot Details: Two young people (working-class Hülya [Hülya Avşar] and wealthy heir-apparent Erkut [Tolga Savacı]) meet and fall in love while on winter holiday at the popular Turkish ski resort on Mt. Olympus (Uludağ) near Bursa, Turkey. It's not a flash-in-the-pan romance either...continuing to gain momentum after the two return home to Istanbul. When Erkut reveals his love for Hülya to his mother (played by Neriman Köksal) she's pleased for him, but warns him off telling his dour business-magnate father (played by Muhip Arcıman) until she lays some groundwork. But her good intentions are still-born because Erkut's father has other, unwholesome plans...for Erkut to marry his kissing-cousin Filiz (the daughter [played by Güzin Doğan] of a related business-magnate) -- in a move that will supposedly consolidate the family fortune. Initially Erkut, his mother, and Hülya are clueless about Erkut's father's plans... And, until she and Erkut can marry, the ever-honorable Hülya feels that she must find work as a secretary (in spite of Erkut's implied offer to help her financially in the interim) -- because her father's retirement pay doesn't cover her own family's basic living expenses. But, though she has no trouble finding secretarial jobs, her bosses (one after another) sexually harass her -- and she quits them (one after another) in a huff, without reporting the incidents to Erkut. When Hülya seeks the seasoned professional advice of family friend Belkis Abla (a highly successful executive-secretary in her own right [played by Aynur Akarsu]), she's surprised to learn that Belkis tolerates the harassing hands of her own boss (played by Nejat Gürçen) -- and Belkis Abla advises Hülya to try to do the same. But, when she realizes that Hülya isn't 'that kind of girl', Belkis Abla arranges a secretarial job interview for Hülya with Faik Bey (played by Yüksel Gözen), supposedly a businessman of impeccably high moral character. The day before the interview, Erkut's father Sadık (in a move to ingratiate himself before forcing his arranged-marriage plan on Erkut and cousin-Filiz) presents Erkut with a snazzy new villa (as a birthday present) -- and it's there that Hülya and Erkut (both still ignorant of Sadık's vile marital intentions for Erkut) seal their own-marital intentions, in a love-making scene on lush carpeting in front of a blazing fireplace as the music rises romantically. Next day, Hülya's job interview appears to go swimmingly -- with one exception. Faik Bey high-mindedly declares that his is a professional business environment -- which requires her to be dressed in the latest fashions during office hours. When Hülya (then in bluejeans) replies that her personal wardrobe is meager, Faik Bey offers her a large well-appointed office connected to its own private changing room that is complete with a collection of company-owned designer clothes (which are not to leave company grounds). When he also offers her a pay rise (provided that she change clothes and start work that very moment), Hülya quickly accepts. Faik Bey (who, behind his high-toned rhetoric, is nothing but a common Peeping Tom) rushes back to his office where (hidden behind his high-backed chair) he unplugs the peephole... that provides a clear view of Hülya's entire 'strip show'. [See link to film-clip further below.] Faik Bey's peeping on Hülya (who is innocently unaware of it) becomes a daily routine, and he begins to brag about it to visiting customers -- indicating that Hüya willingly exhibits herself for him. One day, Erkut's father Sadık pays Faik Bey a business visit. Coming upon Hülya (in an outer office) as she stretches on a ladder to replace a top-shelf book, Sadık gets an eyeful of leggy feminine pulchritude. When he mentions it to Faik in their inner office meeting, Faik surpasses himself -- concocting a fanciful story of his sexual exploits with Hülya that leaves Sadık in open-mouthed admiration. Soon thereafter, a doctor confirms Hülya's growing suspicion that she's carring Erkut's child -- but she keeps the information to herself... To be continued... Movie clips of controversial scenes from 'Sekreter' Hülya Avşar's Free-Kick Collection . | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım An enduringly popular Turkish film classic love-story, released in 1977. When translated to English, the film's title is usually simplified, indicated as
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LFA - Türkan Şoray (as Asya), LMA - Kadir İnanır (as İlyas, romantic but flawed), LMA - Ahmet Mekin (as Cemşit, dependable but unexciting), FA - Nurhan Nur (as Gülşah), FA - Elif İnci (as Gürbüz), MD - Atif Yılmaz, W - Ali Özgentürk [adapted from a fictional work by renowned Turkic Kyrgyzstani writer Chingiz Aitmatov (Cengiz Aytmatov)], C - Çetin Tunca, M - Cahit Berkay, P - Arif Keskiner, PC - Yesilçam Film
Movie/Film Awards for "The Girl with the Red Scarf"... Best Director, The Golden Orange Award, 15th Annual Antalya Film Fesitval, 1978 Best Film -- Runner-up, The Golden Orange Award, 15th Annual Antalya Film Fesitval, 1978 Best Cinematographer, The Golden Orange Award, 15th Annual Antalya Film Fesitval, 1978 Best Actress, Taşkent Film Festival, 1978 |
Plot summary:
A beautiful young köylü (Asya played by Türkan Şoray) catches the eye of a 'world wise' long-haul truck driver (İlyas played by Kadir İnanır) when he gets stuck in the mud near her small village. He quickly nicknames her Al Yazmalım; My Woman in the Red-tinged Head-cloth because he doesn't know her real name at first and because a red-tinged yazma is what she is wearing over her head when they first meet by the muddy roadside. Once İlyas (known as 'İstanbullu' to his work mates) manages to break down Asya's initial village-girl's reticence, a whirlwind romance ensues. The young lovers marry
or... watch a film clip of the final climactic scene of 'Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım' (The Girl with the Red Scarf) -- a 1.8MB Windows Media Video (.WMV) file. Thanks to Noyan Tuzuner, Ankara. |
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| Süpermen Dönüyor (The Return of Superman or Superman Returns ) Dubbed the 'Turkish Superman' by English-speakers, this 'Fantastik' cult classic movie was made in 1979. It is one of the most popular of the Dandik Türk Filmleri -- the Trashy-but-nice 'family' of Turkish films. Süpermen Dönüyor ('The Return of Superman' aka 'Turkish Superman') 1979 starring Tayfun Demir (as 'Clark') and Güngör Bayrak (as 'Lois') ![]() Click for enlargement! Thanks to www.cshtr.com |
LMA - Tayfun Demir (as Tayfun, in the Clark Kent/Superman role), LFA - Güngör Bayrak (as Alev, in the Lois Lane role), MA - Eşref Kolçak (as Prof. Çetinel, Alev's father), MA - Yıldırım Gencer (as the evil mastermind, Ekrem) - (Note: Gencer is initially referred to in the movie as 'Ekrem' by a colleague, but later, near the end of the movie, when Alev discovers his true identity, she exclaims, "Haki". So, either he had a name-change between the beginning and end of the movie, or else she uses the name as an expression of disbelief), MA - Kudret Karadağ (as Superman's real father, Jor-El -- in need of dental work), MA - Nejat Özbek (as Haydar, Ekrem Bey's right-hand man), MA - Reha Yurdakul (as Superman's adoptive father), See the heading 'Example of a Dandik Turkish Movie' for interesting movie trivia about Süpermen Dönüyor. |
Film Clips
(Movie/Film clips thanks to .DigiTürk and TürkMax) Plot summary for Süpermen Dönüyor ('Superman Returns' aka 'Turkish Superman') coming soon... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||


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