Image of Istanbul in Turkish cinema between 1950-1960

The 1950s, when the most important ruptures in the cultural and political life of the country were experienced, were also the first periods of the search for a new identity for Turkish Cinema. Turkish Cinema, the foundations of which were laid in 1923, was defined as the Theater Players period until 1939. The early 1950s were a transitional period, and many films were shot both in quality and quantity. Istanbul, seen as the capital of today's industry perception, has drawn the image of a central city for Turkish Cinema in the 1950-1960 period. The 1950s, when the Democratic Party gained the ruling power and the wes-ternization that had been going on for many years, reached the highest level, are an important turning point for the country. Westernization has caused cultural, social, economic and political changes not only in Turkey but also globally. In Turkey, politi-cal developments, cultural changes, the sudden increase in welfare and immigration in the big cities such as mass events in the most conspicuous result has been chan-ging in Turkey's Istanbul. At the same time, it has been a natural and powerful backdrop for the films that are shot with the city's crowded population, with its histo-rical texture, cultural background extending from Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire. During the decade starting from 1950, many films have been shot in Turkish Cinema, Istanbul. The image of Istanbul in these films reflects the dilemmas of wes-ternization and traditional values, and the skyline of the city from architecture to transportation. The identities and class differences used in the films in terms of daily life and private spaces witness different faces of Istanbul. At the same time, it is seen that artists such as Zeki Müren, who left their mark on the period, synthesized traditi-onal and modern patterns in identity construction. As a result, the period between 1950 and 1960 is an important period in which great changes were experienced in the image of Turkish Cinema and the city of Istanbul. Keywords: City, city image, cinema, Turkish cinema, Istanbul