KEDBET ABRIL 1954 HERMEEN EGYPTIAN BELLYDANCER...SWORD

This clip is from the 1954 film Kedbet Abril (April Lie) Hermeen is the main dancer in this scene. She has both an acting and a dancing part in this movie and her character is a dancer at a casino. This scene is part of her nightclub act and she is playing the part of Marjana (or Morgianne) in a show about Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. It is interesting to see the use of the swords in this performance. The swords are in keeping with the theme. If you know the story of Ali Baba, you know that Marjana did a little dance with a dagger or sword before dumping hot oil into the vats where the thieves were hiding thus killing them. In this scene it is the background dancers who are dancing with swords. Hermeen was an Egyptian bellydancer of Armenian heritage who was born Alexandria and appeared in over 25 films. She was married to Egyptian actor Shokry Sarhan.