Via IMDb
If you are into black and white movies like the ones by the iconic Faten Hamama, then you probably know that some are based on international works, either books or movies. These Egyptian adaptations and remakes are considered classics that we will always admire.
Allow us to tell you all about these fantastic adaptations and their original counterparts.
1- Nahr El-Hob (Anna Karenina)
One of Faten Hamama’s best works, Nahr El-Hob is based on Leo Tolstoy’s Russian classic Anna Karenina, a literary masterpiece. The novel and film explore issues of betrayal, faith, family, marriage, and society in innovative ways. The film follows Faten Hamama’s character, Nawal, who is looking for true happiness, which she finds with Khalid (Omar El-Sherif) rather than her wealthy husband.
Via El-Cinema & Noonya Books
2- Wahda Be Wahda (Lover Come Back)
Adel Emam has always captured our hearts and never failed to make us laugh! His movie Wahda Be Wahda (AKA El-Fankoush) is adapted from the 1961 movie, Lover Come Back. The films revolve around an advertising agency where the love story ignites. It also focuses on the Fankoush product, called VIP in the American movie.
Via El-Cinema & El-Moheb
3- Sonia Wa El-Magnon (Crime and Punishment)
Another classic Russian story explores the idea that crimes are permissible if they are committed for the sake of ‘exceptional’ men and their higher goals. The book’s main character struggles through life, plagued by uncertainty, paranoia, and disgust. However, Sonia Wa El-Magnon approaches it from a different angle that focuses on Egypt. Nonetheless, it remains authentic to the source material.
Via Penguin Random House & El-Cinema
4- Shams El-Zanaty (The Magnificent Seven)
These two films were inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese film Seven Samurai. The two narratives are similar, though the Egyptianized version has Adel Emam wearing a red cap instead of Yul Brynner’s black cowboy hat. The film is uniquely ours.
Via Facebook
5- Aris Mn Geha Amnia (Father of the Bride)
The concept of a father dealing with the emotional pain of his daughter being married and unable to let go of her…so, naturally, he attempts to break off the engagement. The plot may be the same, but the approaches are not! Adel Emam took this plot to a whole new level of jealousy that cracked us up laughing.
Via TMDb & Rotten Tomatoes
6- Alf Mabrook (Groundhog Day - The myth of Sisyphus)
Okay, so this isn’t really a literary classic, but it still counts among our favourite adaptations. You could believe Alf Mabrook is based on Groundhog Day, yet everything about it also points to it being based on the myth of Sisyphus.
For those who don’t know, Sisyphus is a man forever cursed and condemned to push a boulder up a hill and have it roll back down, guaranteeing that he never completes his task. Thankfully, Alf Mabrook has more of a bittersweet conclusion, as the main character died to protect his family.
