Mabrouk' (Congratualtions) Film Still

Promotional shots from Mabrouk (Congratulations, 1937)

Orfanelli’s first film, Madame Loretta, 1919 (directed by Leonard Laricci) starred famous theatre actor Fawzi al-Gazayerli and was a success with Egyptian audiences. Al-Gazayerli (1887–1947), also an Alexandrian, had already moved with his theatre troupe to Cairo when he was cast in Madame Loretta. His acting career continued to boom, and he formed a popular comedy duo with his daughter Ihsan. They played the characters Mu‘alim Bahbah and his portly wife Um Ahmed and were featured in several films directed by Togo Mizrahi. Sadly, Ihsan al-Gazayerli died in 1943 at the age of 38, and her father seldom took on acting roles after her death. Fuad al-Gazayerli (1910–1979), another member of the family, continued working in film direction.

For more, see Samy Helmy's article "Startup City" from Rawi magazine's Issue 9 available online (link in details).