The Cloth Peddler (1917 film)

The Cloth Peddler
The Cloth Peddler
	Opera poster
Directed by	Boris Svetlov
Written by	Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Starring	Huseynqulu Sarabski, Ahmed Aghdamski, Alakbar Huseynzade, Mirzaagha Aliyev
Narrated by	Nirav Mehta
Cinematography	Grigory Lemberg
Distributed by	"Filma" Shareholders' Association
Release date	January 3, 1917;
Country	Azerbaijan
Language	Azerbaijani

The Cloth Peddler (Azerbaijani: Arşın Mal Alan) was a full-length Azerbaijani silent comedy film made in the capital city Baku in pre-Soviet Union 1917, based on the operetta by the Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov.^[1]

Plot

Ahmed Aghdamski played the female role of *Guelchoehra*, Asgar's beloved

Set in Baku at the turn of the 20th century, a young successful businessman Asgar (Huseynqulu Sarabski) wishes to marry. He wants his bride to be the choice of his heart, however, Azerbaijani tradition restricted him from communicating with the lady as a lover before marriage. So Asgar decides to disguise himself as a mere cloth peddler and the young woman Guelchoehra (Ahmed Aghdamski) falls in love with him. However, she is concerned that her father, Soltan bey (Alakbar Huseynzade) will not allow her to marry a cloth peddler. Young Asgar then reveals himself to her father and asks for her hand in marriage. Seeing that he is indeed a wealthy young man, the father agrees and the two are permitted to marry.

Cast

Huseynqulu Sarabski (Asgar),
Ahmed Aghdamski (Guelhohra),
Alakbar Huseynzade (Soltan bey)
Yunis Narimanov (Jahan khala)
Mirzaagha Aliyev (Suleyman)
Alexandra Olenskaya (Asya)
Hanafi Terequlov (Vali)
Yeva Olenskaya (Telli)

Release

The film was remade into a more popular version in 1945^[2] and was performed on the stage in Azerbaijan. For the 1945 remake see The Cloth Peddler.