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Shawky Blames Media on King Neglect

Rania Shawky, daughter of late Egyptian movie star and producer Farid Shawky, has started a recent war on Egyptian media for what she believes “intended neglect” of late Screen King’s (as Shawky, Sr. was widely known amongst fans and in movie industry) at a time, continues Shawky, Jr., when much “less important” stars are celebrated day and night.

Shawky, Jr. recalls her late father’s support, unforgettable stances and unrelenting determination. Shawky Sr., for example, managed to have La Tabky Ya Habib Al Omr (Don’t Cry, Love) screened after Youssef Al Sebaei (then Minister of Culture) saw “sad” movies should not be shown after Egyptian-Israeli Peace Agreement. Shawky Sr. phoned Al Sadat (then Egyptian President) who agreed Al Omr can be shown and later that year honored Shawky Sr.

Shawky Sr., recalls Shawky Jr., called Fatima Rushdie (1920’s and 1930’s Egyptian super diva) and recommended her for Beit Al Mosneen (The Elderly House), knowing of her uptightness.

Shawky Sr. was a talent spotter as well. Dinar and Ayman Azab, for example, starred as his daughter and a police officer respectively in Sabir Ya Am Sabir (How Patient, Uncle Sabir!). This is not to mention great comedian Wael Nour who starred, again, in Sabir, a milestone in Nour’s acting career. Nour, in fact, was invited to Shawky Sr.’s home during shooting and was fully supported by Shawky Sr. who regarded him as his heir.

Indeed, Nour starred in Shawky Sr.’s most successful TV series: Al Bakeel We Ana (Me and The Miser) and Al Ardahalgy (The Court Scribbler). Unfortunately, Nour had to “plead” for roles from directors who said Nour was bound to Shawky Sr.-framed roles only.

Nour Al Sheriff, award winning actor, recalls when at a time Egyptian movies were basically about duets, an actor and an actress, Shawky Sr. was keen to co-star with Al Sheriff in, for example, Kilmet Sharraf (A Word of Honor) (1971) and Al Tayeb, Al Shares, Al Gamelaa (The Good, The Bad, The Beautiful) (1997) – all in all 25 movies.

Nahid Shawky, Shawky Sr.’s elder daughter, recalls when President Nasser demanded her father make a movie, produced by state, on 1956 War. Shawky Sr. responded he could produce that movie. Port Said, as the movie eventually came out, won Shawky Sr. (scripted 16 movies) State Medal for Science and Arts, Second Rank in 1958.

This is not to mention Layla Taher and Nadya Lotfy whom Shawky Sr. introduced in Batal Lel Nehaya (Hero Until The End) and Sultana (1963) respectively.

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