Amir Shervan, born Amir Hosein Ghaffar, emerged onto the cinematic scene on May 24, 1929, in Tehran, Iran. While he is perhaps most renowned in the United States for his direction of Hollywood cop and Samurai Cop, his accomplishments in Iran were far more extensive, as he was a multifaceted individual who excelled in directing, writing, and acting.
Shervan's journey in the world of film began in the 1940s, when he studied theater in Pasadena, California. He subsequently returned to Iran, where he launched his career in the film industry. However, the 1979 Iranian Revolution had a profound impact on the country's cinematic landscape, as all movies were subject to scrutiny by the government. Many films were banned due to their content, while others were altered to conform to the growing anti-western and pro-Islamic sentiment. This tumultuous period caused a hiatus in Shervan's film career, which lasted from 1980 until his relocation to the United States.
In California, Shervan began working on Hollywood Cop, a film that would eventually cement his reputation as a director of cult-classic B-movies. A unique aspect of Shervan's filmmaking style was his reliance on improvisational acting and dialogue, which was often influenced by his cultural background and the fact that English was his second language. He frequently collaborated with actors, directors, and writers who had little formal education in filmmaking, many of whom had never graduated from high school.
As a result, Shervan's Iranian audience, who were accustomed to a lower standard of filmmaking, found his work to be endearing and humorous. However, this same style of filmmaking led to a mixed reaction from his new audience in the United States, who were accustomed to a higher standard of production. Despite this, Shervan's films have since gained a cult following, and he is now widely regarded as a B-movie director.
Tragically, Shervan passed away on November 1, 2006, at the age of 77, just before his rise to popularity in the United States. He is survived by his son, Ben Shervan.
