Márton Keleti on AllMovie

Though best known for the light comedies he made following World War II, Hungarian filmmaker Márton Keleti adeptly directed films in genres ranging from political dramas to musicals. Before entering the film industry, Keleti had worked in musical theater as a stage manager and opera director. He initially studied at the Academy of Music in Budapest, and joined his country's film industry in the '30s, assisting directors such as Laszlo Vajda and Pal Fejos on early sound films. Keleti directed his first feature film, A Harapós Férj/The Mordant Husband, in 1937. Five more films followed, but when WWII erupted, Keleti stopped making films. In 1945, he made Hungary's first postwar feature, A Tanítónõ/The School-Mistress. In addition to his film credits, Keleti had an impressive resumé as a television director. From 1950, he periodically lectured at his alma mater. Keleti passed away during production of Csínom Palkó (1973); it was completed by Gyula Mészárs.