
Mihály Szemes
Directing
Biography
Mihály Szemes (23 July 1920 – 3 October 1977) was a Hungarian film director. He directed nineteen films between 1947 and 1973. His 1961 film Alba Regia was entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Silver Prize.
Known For

The poor little Ferkó is trying to enrich his miserable life with imaginary fairy tale figures and superstitious little stories.
The Magic Jacket

March 15, 1848; the revolution breaks out in the town of Pest. Yet at café Pilvax, in among he revolutionary youth, there is the informer of the imperial court as well. Hearing the news of the attack led by Jellasics, the inhabitants of the villages pour into the national army, and Hajdú Gyurka also escapes from his landlord. Petőfi is there at the camp of the revolutionaries, raising them to enthusiasm with his poetry.
The Sea has Risen

The first Hungarian spy film ripped the mask off those ministerial officials who, having sold out to foreign agents, sabotaged the rebuilding of Hungarian factories and plants destroyed by the war. In the film, spies and saboteurs with wallets full of dollars and pistols in their hands set fire to Hungarian factories. The former ruling class was reluctant to give up its place in life and had to be fought to the death.
Tüz

In 1948, when Hungarian industry counts on almost every liter of fuel, the production of Makert, an American oil company in Hungary, is declining by the day. The firm's American owners claim that the oil field is depleted. However, the new government controller, Nerges, discovers that this is sophisticated sabotage by which representatives of American industrial circles want to disrupt socialist construction in the country. With the help of Hungarian state security officers, Nergesz uncovers and neutralizes the saboteurs at the mine and hastens the Hungarian people's decision to nationalize Makert.
Underground Colony

Szilárd, the wealthy and well-to-do manager, disgusted by the social life and the constant attacks of women, decides to spend a few days of vacation in the deserted archipelago of the Danube branch of Győr. He wants no people, no culture, no civilisation. But an accidental motorbike accident brings the unconscious Zsuzsanna to the island...
Together

A Hungarian doctor, Dr. Hajnal, who always considered himself out of politics, falls in love with the Soviet intelligence agent, the radio operator Alba, operating in the occupied Wehrmacht of Hungary. By accident, the radio operator is hiding in the doctor’s house. Hainal is drawn into a life-threatening confrontation with the Germans. A difficult question arises before him: to remain neutral when people die around and Alba is threatened with death, or to remain an honest person — to make his personal choice and take part in this struggle.
Alba Regia

Kölyök, this lovely, ham-handed young woman, has caused many a trouble already in the Dunaújváros Iron Works. Fortunately, however, the manager does not want to give her up, what is more, Kölyök found a second father even at the police.
Our Kid

Dani, the few-month-old little boy born outside marriage is left by Eszter in the lap of her companion on the train. The widowed Aranka takes him willingly to her. The child is already ten years old and has a good life with Aranka. Then Géza enters their life and he does not welcome the child of someone else.
Dani

The story recalling the spirit of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian king quarrelling with his approaching death, takes place in a cancer hospital in Budapest. Dávid, the young ethnography scientist resigned to his lot and is indifferent to his approaching death. His specialist reckons, however, that such a searching and stubborn mind with thorough knowledge of the nature of his own illness, will be able to fight death.
New Gilgames

At the beginning of the thirties the sour, boring life of the Hungarian small town is enlivened by a charity action: with the lead of the beautiful wife of the attorney funds are raised for the orphans.
Sweet and Bitter

Bálint Zeke, the honest old miller of the village, leaves his water-mill to Anna, his only daughter, while the will also provides for the mill to be managed by Forintos Mátyás, a young miller, whom he has been raising since he was very young and treats as his own son. The two young people seem to "like each other anyway", and their marriage would make the old man happy.
The Golden Peacock

Lohmann's son is kidnapped. The un-known kidnappers get a thirty-thousand-jewel from the West German millionaire as ransom. The eager police lieutenant-colonel, Gálffy finds that the traces lead to a mysterious, elegant blonde, who is naturally a brunette.
The Master Criminal

The poor little Ferkó is trying to enrich his miserable life with imaginary fairy tale figures and superstitious little stories. He suffers from diphtheria, and while he is having a visionary dream, Cinkekirály (Titmouse King) saves him from the claws of the magic Küsmödi. He expects his magic jacket to enable him to know everything at school without having studied.
The Magic Jacket

On the eve of World War II, Major Benedek Zoltán is an embodiment of the service regulations in the army. He only discloses his feelings towards Anna, his brother's widow. An investigation is conducted in the regiment to identify Communists.