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Hababam Taburu

Hababam Battalion (Hababam Taburu) (translated)

Movie · 1975 · 9 people

Hulki Saner, who had scored a big success with the "Turist Ömer" series starring Sadri Alışık, directed and produced the 1975 Turkish comedy Hababam Taburu ("Hababam Battalion"). The screenplay is based on a work by Rıfat Ilgaz, the author known for the novel Hababam Sınıfı, co-written with Adnan Saner. Listed as comedy and action, the colour film runs about 85 minutes and was produced by Saner Film.

The story follows the crew of a Turkish cargo ship. Skipper Temel and his men are sailing to Libya to buy goods, but the sailors secretly turn the ship towards Casablanca first. But instead of Morocco, the ship reaches the borders of Umumba, whose government changed hands in a coup that very day. The coup leader declares that ships within the borders are seized and all men will be drafted, and the head of state seizes the chance the Turkish ship offers. Held hostage in an African country, the sailors are dragged into a madcap adventure.

Müjdat Gezen plays Bitirim, Hulusi Kentmen is Sergeant Temel, Figen Han the nurse, Altan Günbay the captain and Baykal Kent Şişman. The general is played by Arap Celal, with Hamit Haskabal, Şefik Döğen and Yaman Tüzcet also in the cast. Cinematography is by Kenan Kurt and Rafet Şiriner.

DirectorHulki Saner
Production companySaner Film

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Cast

Müjdat Gezen Müjdat Gezen Actor · 83 years old Celal Yonat Celal Yonat Actor · 1922 – 1993 General Hulusi Kentmen Hulusi Kentmen Actor · died at 82 Figen Han Baykal Kent Altan Günbay Şefik Döğen Hamit Haskabal Yaman Tüzcet

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Through different eyes

Yeşilçam Nostalgic A viewer raised on the classics, looking for warm storytelling and strong acting.

Seeing the Hababam name on the poster and Rıfat Ilgaz in the credits inevitably raises expectations, but this film sits closer to the rowdy comedy of Hulki Saner's Turist Ömer line than to the classroom warmth of Hababam Sınıfı. Having familiar faces of the era such as Hulusi Kentmen and Müjdat Gezen together lends it some warmth for older audiences. Even so, in my view the story eventually gives itself over to adventure and noise, and stays far from the emotional depth of Yeşilçam's most enduring comedies.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humour and heart.

It is a comedy-first adventure in the Yeşilçam style: grandparents may enjoy seeing the old actors and kids will laugh at the chaos. But the story is about soldiering and war, so expect scenes of that kind. I'd say it is fine from the last years of primary school up. A good pick for a weekend watch with the grandparents.

History & Society Lens Asks about the period, the social background and what the work reflects.

Hababam Taburu is an interesting example of how 1970s Turkish comedy imagined the outside world. Most striking is the way Umumba, an invented African country whose government changes hands in a coup in a single day, is turned entirely into material for slapstick. Heavy subjects like a coup, forced conscription and hostage-taking are poured into a comic mould, while Africa remains an exotic backdrop. Through today's eyes this outlook can seem dated and at times stereotyped. Judging the film alongside the perspective of its own time is necessary to grasp both its humour and its limits.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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