By Lubna Abdel-Aziz The epitome of cool, he is classy, charming, smashing and dashing. Of medium height and build he was among the fairest of men on the Egyptian screen, but with an edge. His chiselled features, non-chalant demeanour, impish eyes and smothering smile, gave him an attitude both mellow and menacing. No soppy tearful lover was he; he was a rebellious, intense youth, with a sly sparkle in his eyes. His bare chest and broad shoulders gave a message to the world that he was invincible. These numerous qualities, often contradictory, allowed him to mould a unique persona that is not only memorable, but was able to change the concept of the Egyptian heart throb, adding dimensions that clearly did not exist before him. He was "on the cusp," as they say, moving from leading to supporting roles, from villain to hero, with ease and facility, while still maintaining his superstar status as only a few have been able to do in the history of world cinema. He is none other than the inimitable, exceptional, singular, Ahmad Ramzi. In its 31st season, the Cairo International Film Festival has paid tribute, perhaps to one of a few deserving that honour in Egyptian cinema. Its choice's for whatever reasons, longevity, popularity, and productivity were seldom convincing. This time they have hit the jackpot. The unique Ramzi adorned the Egyptian screen for several decades adding excitement to every role he played; even in a bit part he often stole the show from the leading man. He left an unparalleled legacy by simply being Ahmad Ramzi. Born in 1930 of an Egyptian physician and a Scottish mother, he attended the prestigious Victoria College and was admitted at Cairo University to study Business and Commerce. An avid sportsman, he was bitten by the acting bug when scouted for a role in 1955, with two famous stars, Omar Sherif and Abdel Halim Hafez in Ayamna El Helwa ( Our Sweet Days ). He was naturally cast as the charming mischievous member of the trio, and from then on his career took off. Unsatisfied to repeat the same role, Ramzi branched into roles of "sidekick," "best friend," "confidant," "villain," as well as leading man. He played opposite the most prominent leading actresses of the day; in fact he played opposite all of them. Despite his appearance in many forgettable films, he was never forgettable, and more often than not, he was the delectable morsel in the whole feature. Halim and Sharif remained his lifelong best buddies. It is touching to see how attentive and caring Omar Sharif is, to the now ailing Ramzi, who could not appear on stage to receive his award. Sharif accepted it in his stead. Few actors worldwide can compare with Ramzi in achieving such prominence by often playing secondary roles. Of course there are those character actors who have appeared and re-appeared, playing the same character over and over, and have made lifelong successful careers out of that. Some with specific talents, distinctive physiques, like Sydney Greenstreet, Terry Thomas, or Walter Slezak. They are often Oscar nominees or winners and their roles can range from bit parts to secondary leads. Their names may not be widely known but their faces are instantly recognizable, and their added dimension to the quality of the film is unmistakable. There is a great advantage to being a character actor; not only is the talent acknowledged, but the box office, good or bad, does not rest on their shoulders. Character actors are almost never blamed for failures and can continue to work regularly. There are those however, who graduate from character actors to giant star status with their popularity and talent already undisputed. Dependable and memorable, they often silently carry their leading man or woman to success and stardom. One such unmistakable actor comes to mind -- James Mason. Sophisticated and debonair like his fellow actor David Niven, Mason had a style of his own. He also was "on the cusp," between leading and supporting roles with a look of intensity and that "most unique mellifluous vocal style," and impeccable British accent. Though not always the main star of every picture, he was nonetheless a star in every sense of the word. And so is Ramzi, who could play the nasty villain with as much style and panache as Gable in Gone with the Wind. Another such character actor also "on the cusp," was James Coburn, who made a big splash during the 60s. Tall, lean, and handsome, his mellow resonant baritone voice gave him his distinction. He swung the pendulum of hero/villain/leading man/ supporting role and never lost his status or his cool. How about Robert de Niro; no part is too big or too small for such a magnificent talent. Character actor, turned hero, turned villain, and now director, de Niro is a prime example of the power of character acting. So is Ramzi. James Whitmore is one of my favourite character actors, he also "on the cusp," between character and leading role, always gave a perfect pitch performance , which made him a hero of mine, as well as one of my acting teachers at UCLA (University of California in Los Angeles). Short and stocky, his kindly looking face and pensive eyes, hid a fiery intensity as flaming as his red hair. Other great talents as character actors are Robin Williams, Tommy Lee Jones, John Malkovich, Gene Hackman, Jack Lemmon, and many others. Ramzi shares many of Hackman's and Lemmon's qualities While discussing the subject, we would be remiss if we do not mention the one unmistakable 'king of cool.' Even when he appears in one short scene and raises that one unique eyebrow, he is likely to walk away with the "full Monty." You must have guessed by now, he is the one and only Jack Nicholson who has no equal as rogue/villain/hero/supporting or leading man. He carries it all with the same ease and charm and facility as did Ahmad Ramzi Applause is definitely due to The Cairo Film Festival. Finally, and at long last, their homage to Ramzi makes the most sense. Some of the previous choices have not only raised one eyebrow but several. The only question is, why did they have to wait so long! The whole country pays homage to Ramzi for the many hours of great joy that he afforded the Arab viewing public. Hurrah fot the festival, Hurrah for Ramzi. Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world Johanne Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
