After his death at the age of 96 was announced, the name of the artist Kitty returned to the forefront of the scene, bringing down the curtain on one of the most famous show stars of the era of classic Egyptian cinema.
The world knew her as “The Devil of Ismail Yassin,” but her real name was Catherine Futsusaki. She was born in Alexandria in 1930, and the story begins of a girl learning ballet and belly dancing in the city of El Bahr, where the spotlight caught her on stage and in the lenses of cameras.
Her first steps were in the Badia Masabni Band, then on stage at the Scheherazade Casino, where she created for herself a different presence that combined wit and showmanship.
But her real breakthrough came through black and white films, in which she formed a wonderful duo with the great comedy star Ismail Yassin.
The film “Afrita” directed by Ismail Yassin gave her an unforgettable title, after which she embodied a fun and fast-moving character and cemented her image in the memory of the audience.
Kitty made around 69 films, and among her later works was the 1965 film Mind and Money, which was one of the last places she visited in Egypt.
In the late 1950s, it gradually began to disappear from the scene, causing widespread doubt at the time.
She was married to director Hassan Saifi for a time, but they later separated. She then made the final decision to retire and traveled to Greece, where she lived far from the media and rejected all attempts to appear or return.
In Greece, Kitty did not give interviews or regain her memories in front of the cameras, choosing a completely private life. Her image remained the favorite of the audience. She was a bright young woman who danced and smiled during an unforgettable period in the history of Egyptian cinema.
With her departure, the pages of the Golden Age are turned, and nostalgia returns to the black and white screen. In one scene, a “goblin” jumps up and down, eliciting laughter.
The name of the artist Kitty has returned to the forefront after his death at the age of 96 was announced, marking the end of one of the most famous revue stars of the era of classic Egyptian cinema.
Audiences knew her by the title “The Spirit of Ismail Yassin,” but her real name was Catherine Houtosaki. She was born in Alexandria in 1930, and the story begins of a young girl studying ballet and oriental dance in this coastal city, where the spotlight drew her to the stage and the camera lens.
Her first steps were with the Badia Masabni troupe, and then on the stage of Casino Shahrazad, where she created a unique presence that combined wit and theatrical grace.
But her real breakthrough came through a black-and-white film in which she formed a memorable pairing with the great comedy star Ismail Yassin.
The film “The Spirit of Ismail Yassin” gave her a title that would stick with her for life, after which she played a cheerful and agile character, cementing her image in the memory of the audience.
Kitty appeared in around 69 films, among her later works was the 1965 film Mind and Money, which was one of her last stops in Egypt.
In the late 1950s, she gradually began to disappear from the scene, causing widespread doubt at the time.
She was briefly married to director Hassan El-Saifi, but they later separated, before deciding to retire permanently, moving to Greece and living far away from the media, rejecting all attempts to appear or return.
In Greece, Kitty chose to live a completely private life, giving no interviews or sharing her memories in front of the cameras. Her image was loved by the audience and remained as a young, bright woman dancing and smiling in an unforgettable era of Egyptian cinema.
Her death turns the page on the Golden Age and brings nostalgia back to the black and white screen. In one scene, the “sprites” jumped around and drew laughter.
