Salih Without Fingers (Parmaksız Salih) (translated)

Black-and-white Turkish drama Parmaksız Salih ("Fingerless Salih") dates from 1950 and was directed by Faruk Kenç. It is based on the stage play Nâm-ı Diğer Parmaksız Salih by the poet and writer Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, who is credited with the screenplay. Turgut Demirağ produced for And Film, and Kemal Baysal was the cinematographer.

At its centre is Salih, who got his nickname from the finger he lost to gambling. He runs a gambling house, yet voices the dark side of gambling that its players try to ignore. For years he has searched for his lost son. When he finally meets Yusuf, he is himself deep in the vice that ruined his life. He runs after Yusuf hoping to save what is left, but he is too late: Yusuf has recently fallen into a trap laid for someone else, with Salih's own help. All that remains is what he can do for his grandchild and daughter-in-law. In the play's last scene Yusuf learns, at the same moment, that he is Salih's son and what the way to redemption is.

Talat Artemel plays Salih. The cast also includes Muzaffer Tema, Cahit Irgat, Nevin Seval and Vahit Öz.