Iron Fist: The Giants are Coming

Turkish movie studios were mostly centered on Yesilcam Street in the city of Istanbul. (“Yesilcam” means “Green Pine.”) The name “Yesilcam” came to represent the local film industry much as the name “Hollywood” came to represent the American film industry. During the seventies film production in Türkiye added up to hundreds of motion pictures every year. Often these films “borrowed” subject matter from foreign cinema, especially from America. This included the making of superhero motion pictures.

This week’s movie was “Demir Yumruk: Devleri Geliyor” from 1970, released in English as “Iron Fist: The Giants Are Coming” in 1973. It was written and directed by Tunc Basaran. It seems that there is a dagger etched with directions to an enormous underground deposit of uranium. The person who finds it can rule the world. Two competing villains are both searching for the dagger. The first is “Fu Manchu,” (Kayhan Yildizoglu), presented here as a wheelchair-bound transvestite whose minions include several gun-toting bikini girls. The second villain is a scar-faced Russian spy named “Zakof,” (Altan Gunbay), who intends to capture world domination for himself, not for the Soviet Union. Opposing the villains are four heroes. The first is “Enver,” (Enver Ozer), a police detective who is secretly the costumed hero “Iron Fist.” His fiancée is the secret agent “Meral,” (Feri Cansel), who has infiltrated Zakof’s gang as a secretary and has infiltrated Fu Manchu’s gang as a belly dancer! Enver’s right-hand man is “Orhan,” (Suleyman Turan), who is the comic relief character but who can hold his own in a fight. The fourth member of the team is “Murat,” (Orcun Alkan), the son of a murdered Egyptologist who is the only person who can find the dagger. The plot sets up a series of escapes, chases, and fight scenes as the heroes try to prevent the villains from achieving ultimate power.

“Iron Fist” has no discernible super powers, but has exceptional athletic skills and fighting abilities. He wears a black body suit with a hood and shiny eye mask. His costume includes a black cape with white boots, gloves, and briefs. Superman’s “S” symbol is emblazoned on his chest, and his belt features Batman’s bat symbol.

This movie is a lot of brainless fun. The villains are wicked scene stealers and the heroes are attractive and likable. The action scenes are well executed. No origin is offered to explain Iron Fist. Enver just puts on the costume midway through the movie and rejoins the fight.

This “Iron Fist” is not related to the Marvel Comics character of the same name. That “Iron Fist” made his first appearance in “Marvel Premiere” issue # 15 in May, 1974. He was created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane.

English writer Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward, (1883-1959), became hugely successful under his pen name of “Sax Rohmer.” He created the fictional villain “Fu Manchu” in 1912, and featured the character in fourteen books.

Actress Feri Cansel, (1944-1983), was a very popular actress in Türkiye from 1964 until her untimely death in 1983. She was murdered by her boyfriend.