"Il fatidico incontro è avvenuto a Istanbul il 4 novembre dello scorso anno, in un ristorante proprio sotto a uno dei due ponti tra Europa e Asia. Ad abbracciarsi come fossero amici di vecchia data, mentre era la prima volta che si trovavano l'uno di fronte all'altro, erano Gallieno Ferri , il creatore grafico di Zagor (quello letterario è Guido Nolitta, alias Sergio Bonelli) e Levent Çakir , l'attore che, negli anni Settanta, ha interpretato lo Spirito con la Scure in due film turchi. A un certo punto, l'attore si è alzato in piedi richiamando l'attenzione di tutti i commensali presenti nella sala, che nulla sapevano, e ha detto: 'Gentlemen, sorry for interrupting your dinner. Levent Cakir and I am here next to me is one of the greatest cartoonists in the world, Ferri Gallienus, who designed Zagor '. Everyone in the room rose to their feet to applaud. "This story, of which the photograph below is a little more faithful witness, is told in the context of a longer article I wrote for the magazine Nocturno , and has been published on the magazine n ° 103, dated March 2011, just out on newsstands.
It 's my third collaboration with the staff of the head. Of the first two I mentioned in two different post appeared a few months ago on this 'm very blog. In a walk-in written by the editorial director Mauro Gervasini Nocturno readers are invited to visit my own space on the net, and obviously thank you. However, I have just encounter Zagoria of the fiftieth anniversary was held this morning in Milan in Cartoomics, which took place in the presence of a crowded public that has covered cheers and enthusiasm and Guido Nolitta Ferri Gallienus, yet the next one the next five decades between the many hands that have strinto, two were particularly warm a couple of young players that nocturniani mi hanno detto di aver letto il mio pezzo sull'ultimo numero e di averlo molto apprezzato. L'argomento è quello dei due film turchi di Zagor interpretati da Levent Çakir, di cui altre volte abbiamo parlato .
Insieme al mio pezzo, avevo fatto giungere alla rivista anche il testo di una intervista allo stesso Çakir pubblicata nel 1999 su un giornale di Istanbul, tradotta da Ivo Lombardo (uno scrittore veneto, autore di molti libri e di alcune sceneggiature di Dampyr di prossima uscita) con la collaborazione di Ebru Bengisu. Lo spazio tiranno ha impedito a Nocturno di pubblicarla. Poiché è molto interessante, la metto qui sotto available to all.
interview in Levent Cakir
interview in Levent Cakir
Born in 1950 in the village of Edirne Taslisekban, Levent Cakir spent his childhood in Edirne. His real name is Sükrü Ocak. After completing the cycles of primary and secondary schools, left school to pursue a career as an acrobat. In 1966-67 he began the film career, appearing in "Bozkurtlar Geliyor" directed by Cavit Yörüklü. He played some roles in films of adventure and super heroes, where actors were required acrobatic skills. The first movie he was a protagonist was "Zagor Kara Korsan'in Hazineleri (Zagor and the treasure of Treasure Island), directed by Nisan Hançer. Towards the end of 1973 Levent Cakir left for military service. Subsequently, Sivas Temeltepe, joined the team of shooting ballistic at the School of Infantry Tuzla. He participated in several competitions with firearms. After military service, he returned to film the activity, but did not accept the proposal to go to Yesilcam ("Green Pine" - the Hollywood of Turkey) on behalf of a company that porn. He settled in Izmir in 1978 and formed a production company of photo-novels for magazines. In 1981 he returned to the cinema to Yesilcam, encouraged by Remzi Jöntürk. But after living a number of unpleasant events in Yesilcam, he left again, to return after meeting Savata Gani, who insisted on making a film with him. Levent Cakir accepted the proposal and re-enter the cinema circuit. Recent acting roles have been an imam in "Drejan" best friend Salih Güney (interpreter Kaptan Swing - Commander Mark) in "Otostop" and a Turkish commander on duty at the border with Iraq in "Sinir ".
Interviewer: She debuted very young to the movies with "Bozkurtlar Geliyor" Cavit Bozkurt. Later, his first starring role was to "Zagor" in the two films that have made the same year. Can you explain how it was chosen for the role of Zagor?
Levent Cakir : I was very young. Hüseyin Zan came to me (well-known actor and director of the 60s) to say he had a role for me and invited me in the office of "Yerli Film": I remember there were only a wooden table and two chairs. He introduced me to the producer Hasan Tual, saying: "This guy has a great talent, is just the kind that look". "Hasan Tual said on the occasion:" Oh, Hüseyin! Zagor will not be a film as simple and requires a lot of action, you have to jump with great agility ... you know, it is not tutti!" Appena finì di pronunciare quelle parole, balzai subito sul tavolo ed eseguii una capriola a rovescio. Hasan Tual rimase stupefatto, e disse: "OK, diamo inizio alle riprese!". Giusto il tempo di redigere il contratto e cominciammo le riprese di "Zagor Kara Korsan'in Hazineleri" (Zagor e il tesoro del Pirata Nero) ad Aspendos, Antalya. Tra gli attori di quel film: Yavuz Selekman, Kazim Kartal, il noto burattinaio Nevzat Açikgöz nel ruolo di Cico, e Nuri Kirgeç nel ruolo di Digging Bill. Il regista era Nisan Hançer. Ricordo una scena interessante del film. Già al primo giorno di riprese devo lottare con Kazim Kartal e mi tocca buttarlo giù dalla cima di un faro alto 15 metri (per l'occasione venne gettato un dummy). The scene was shot without any problems. The director then said: "Levent, now go down the stairs." I had already read the adventures of Zagor, and I knew he was not the type to get a ladder. "No!" I said. "Zagor does not go down the stairs! Here I might jump.." The director tried to stop, but his attempt was futile. "I jump the same, you turn!" I yelled. "Surely we will leave this scene for the last day of shooting ..." uttered, worried, the director. In the end, taking the necessary precautions, I threw from 15 feet, landing with a somersault. I left everyone speechless. The filming went very well. Nisan Hançer told I was getting to Hasan Tual Zagor true, and I even made a jump from a lighthouse. Hasan Tual said, "Well! Then organizes a new scenario for the next movie!" And so, we made the second film "Zagor Kara Bela" (Zagor and the danger black).
Interviewer: What was the reaction when the film was released in theaters?
Levent Cakir : So the film market was dominated by foreign films or films with Turkish actors famous. The output of Zagor was a commercial risk. Not much publicity was made about it. Furthermore, "Zagor Kara Korsan'in Hazineleri" was penalized by the cinema owners to be in black and white unlike American films, all in color. At the end Hasan Tual established an agreement with "Beyoglu Rüya cinema": Keep the film in theaters for one week only! Soon after, they released their second film "Zagor Kara Bela." That movie had some success, especially in Anatolia, in particular, liked children. Hasan Tual created good revenue.
Interviewer: As a child I watched those movies. Were of good quality, were the comic as it was. But there was a difference, that as a child I was intrigued. Zagor in the comic shouts "Ahyaaakk" but in the movie screams "Yihuu. Why?
Levent Cakir This is a detail that I was not made known. At that time the film was not made with the audio. There were others who did the dubbing. So this is a situation due to the voice actors. Those responsible for the variation.
Interviewer: The films were then distributed in other countries?
Levent Cakir: I believe in Greece, Germany and Iran in these films found their market as movies and video.
Interviewer: After the two films "Zagor" she engages in various types of film and comic book super heroes. She was one of the most popular actors in this field. Parliamo un po' di quei film.
Levent Çakir : Interpretai circa 250-300 film, molti dei quali di super eroi. Uno di questi, diretto da Melih Gürgen è "Maskeli Üçler" (1972). Con me c'erano anche Safiye, Metin Yanki e Behçet Nacar. Inoltre, questo film fu anche la prima esperienza per Melih Gürgen come regista. Poi lui raggiunse un alto grado di popolarità con il film "Parçala Behçet" (1972) con Behçet Nacar come protagonista. Comunque, il film "Süper Adam", diretto da Cavit Yörüklü con Fatma Karanfil come protagonista, fu la mia prima esperienza nei film di super eroi dopo Zagor. Così for the first time I wore the costume of Adam Super and then continued to work with Cavit Yörüklü. The same year I worked in the film "Kizil Maske'nin Intikami", "Cilgin Kiz" and "UC Süper Adam." Then, still together, Yilmaz Serif, in the film "Profesyoneller," a western directed by Yavuz Yalinkiliç: Turkish version of the Italian film "Le sang colt's death and was killing time ..." (1967), with Franco Nero and George Hilton. There was interpreted the role of Franco Nero After 1972, Melih Gülgen continued with the activities director. In the same year starred in "Adam Yarasa: Bed Men," a very moving film, where I was very well suited to the role of super-hero. In "Adam Yarasa" i titoli di coda mostrano la regia di Güney Kosova, in realtà il regista era Savas Erisçi. Qualche anno prima, subito dopo Zagor, quando interpretavo "Süper Adam" con Cavit Yörüklü, avevamo firmato un nuovo accordo con la casa di produzione "Birlik Film-Müfit Ilkiz". Dopo il 1972 avrei dovuto lavorare sia per "Birlik Film-Müfit Ilkiz" che per Hasan Tual. Hasan Tual mi offrì un ruolo di "Super Adam", già fatto con "Birlik Film- Müfit Ilkiz". Allora feci presente ad Hasan Tual: "Lavorerò con te sia per un altro Zagor, o per altri ruoli, ma farò "Super Adam" solo con "Birlik Film- Müfit Ilkiz", perché ho già cominciato con loro." Non siamo riusciti a trovare un agreement, so we terminated the contract with Hasan Tual. Then Hasan Tual could do, "Üç Dev Adam", and with Aytekin Akkaya Yavuz Selekman. In fact, I'd been there, but it was not possible for the termination of the contract.
Interviewer: Who were created the costumes for "Süper Adam" or "Killingler?
Levent Cakir: I do not remember the name. But they were all produced by Galatasaray.
Interviewer: Who were your favorite directors? Levent Cakir: Mehmet Aslan, Natuk Baytan, Çetin Inanç, Cavit and Yörüklü Melih Gülgen. In genere mi sono trovato abbastanza bene con tutti. Nel senso che ognino faceva il suo lavoro.
Intervistatore: Fino alla chiamata militare avevi interpretato tutti film dello stesso genere. Al suo ritorno dal servizio militare, questo filone terminò. Che cosa era successo?
Levent Çakir: Tornato dal servizio militare, ho trovato che i produttori e i registi avevano dato una svolta porno a quegli stessi film. Alcuni rinunciarono, altri accettarono svolta porno per sopravvivere. Rimasi lontano dal cinema per due-tre anni. Ero occupato con la produzione di fotoromanzi per le riviste. Poi tornai a cinema, incoraggiato by Remzi Jöntürk. At that time there was the fashion of the film with the singers. In 1981-1982 I participated in one of those movies with Ibrahim Tatlises. I have a bad memory of that film, where he interpreted the role of the wicked brother. I did not like that kind of role. And after this film I was offered more roles of villain. In 1986 he interpreted the role of Kiyan Selçuk in the series "Osmancik" produced by TRT. The shooting lasted for more than a year. But the prolongation of the shooting of the film series does not allow me to find another job. So I had to sell my house in Istanbul (I was also tired of Istanbul) and went to live in Edirne. Among other things, at that time Yesilcam was literally invaded by producers and people who watched the film only as a machine for making money, so I wanted to go there. Some problems stem from Yesilcam strong contrasts between the famous actors who monopolized the scene, and inappropriate behavior. Although I am one of the founders of SÖDER (Film Actors' Association), was expelled by the association not to create further problems with my constant complaints. That is why today I can not retire. If there had been more intelligent producers, as Inanoglu Türker, we could better safeguard Yesilcam. Unfortunately, many documents were destroyed.
Interviewer: Living at Edirne?
Levent Çakir : Sì! Ho un figlio di 19 anni. Si chiama Özgür, suona molto bene il pianoforte. spero tanto in un suo futuro luminoso. Una volta ogni tanto vengo a Istanbul per vedere alcuni amici, come Gani Savata, con i quali abbiamo recitato insieme.