Between and , various small studios produced at least 44 feature films. Historians disagree in determining the beginning of cinema in Egypt, there are those who said that beginning in with the first film watched in Egypt, while others thought that the beginning of cinema in the June 20, with the a short documentary film about the visit of Khedive Abbas Hilmi II to the Institute of Mursi Abul-Abbas in Alexandria.
For more than a hundred years of Egyptian cinema made more than movie represent a total balance of the rest of the Arab cinema, which now depend on it all the Arab satellite channels. Egypt is the most productive country in the Middle East in the field of film production.
As in the West, films responded to the popular imagination, with most falling into predictable genres happy endings being the norm , and many actors making careers out of playing strongly typed parts.
Political changes in Egypt after the overthrow of King Farouk in initially had little effect on Egyptian film. The Nasser regime sought control over the industry only after turning to socialism in By the s, Egyptian films struck a balance between politics and entertainment. Zouzou integrated music, dance, and contemporary fashions into a story that balanced campus ferment with family melodrama. Ismailia back and forth. The comedy shocked the cinema industry enjoying unparalleled success and providing large profits for the producers, introducing Mohammed Fouad a famous singer and Mohammed Henedy a rather unknown actor who then became the number one comedian star.
Building on the success of that movie, several comedy films were released in the following years. In an attempt to smother him, he signed him up with his own production company, Sawt al-Fann The Voice of Art and paid him a pittance. He had replaced Abdel Wahab in their hearts. His success was even enough to irritate Umm Kulthum. In his short life, Abdel Halim made more films than Abdel Wahab and Umm Kulthum put together, acting and singing with almost every female star of the s and s.
