The Message (1977)

Director:

Moustapha Akkad

Writers:

H.A.L. Craig
Tewfik El-Hakim
(more)

Release Date:

8 July 1977 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

In four decades only four... "The Robe" "The Ten Commandments" "Ben-Hur" and now... For the first time...the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

People Of The Book | Arab Culture | Prophet | Great Religion | Christanity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Anthony Quinn	...	Hamza
Irene Papas	...	Hind
Michael Ansara	...	Abu Sofyan
Johnny Sekka	...	Bilal
Michael Forest	...	Khalid
Garrick Hagon	...	Ammar
Damien Thomas	...	Zaid
André Morell	...	Abu-Talib
Martin Benson	...	Abu-Jahal
Robert Brown	...	Otba
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Somaya
Bruno Barnabe	...	Umaya
Neville Jason	...	Jaafar
John Bennett	...	Salool
Donald Burton	...	Amr
Earl Cameron	...	Annajashi
George Camiller	...	Waleed
Nicholas Amer	...	Suheil (as Nicolas Amer)
Ronald Chenery	...	Mosaab
Michael Godfrey	...	Barra
John Humphry	...	Ubada
Ewen Solon	...	Yasser
Wolfe Morris	...	Bu-Lahab
Ronald Leigh-Hunt	...	Heraclius
Leonard Trolley	...	Silk Merchant
Gerard Hely	...	Sinan
Habib Ageli	...	Hudayfa
Peter Madden	...	Toothless Man
Hassan Joundi	...	Kisra
Abdellah Lamrani		(as Abdullah Lamrani)
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Arwa
Mohammad Al-Gaddary	...	Money Lender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ahmed Abdelhalim	...	Uriqat
Mohamed Basri	...	Merchant
Hassan Essakali
Salem Gedara	...	Wahshi
Richard Johnson	...	Narrator

Directed by
Moustapha Akkad

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
H.A.L. Craig
Tewfik El-Hakim
A.B. Jawdat El-Sahhar
A.B. Rahman El-Sharkawi
Mohammad Ali Maher

Produced by
Moustapha Akkad	....	producer
Harold Buck	....	associate producer
Mohammad Sanousi	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Said Baker
Jack Hildyard
Ibrahim Salem

Film Editing by
John Bloom

Casting by
Maude Spector

Production Design by
Maurice Fowler
Tambi Larsen

Art Direction by
Norman Dorme
Abdel Moneim Shoukry

Costume Design by
Phyllis Dalton

Makeup Department
Alan Boyle	....	makeup artist
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Geoffrey Helman	....	production supervisor
Moustapha Hijaouy	....	production manager
Robert Simmonds	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gus Agosti	....	first assistant director
Abdessamad Dinia	....	assistant director
Carlos Gil	....	assistant director
Andrew Marton	....	second unit director

Art Department
Albert Blackshaw	....	set dresser
Naguib Khoury	....	set dresser (as Nejib Khoury)
Terry Parr	....	set dresser
Barry Wilkinson	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Chris Greenham	....	sound editor
David Hildyard	....	sound recordist
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Doug Ferris	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Ken Buckle	....	stunt coordinator
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Miguel Pedregosa	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tommy Reeves	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Bawden	....	camera operator
John Fenner	....	gaffer
Geoff Mulligan	....	camera operator
Kelvin Pike	....	camera operator
David Farrell	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Franco Antonelli	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jennie Tate	....	assistant costume designer

Music Department
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
June Bordcosh	....	assistant to producer
Phyllis Crocker	....	continuity
Maurice Landsberger	....	production accountant
Andrew Marton	....	production coordinator
Michael B. Druxman	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Filmco International Productions

Distributors

• Tarik Film Distributors (1977) (USA) (theatrical) (English-track)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Continental (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Manga Films (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Winkler Film (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Mohammad: Messenger of God" - USA

Runtime:

177 min

Country:

Lebanon | Libya | Kuwait | Morocco | UK

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Germany) | Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | Norway:16 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Libya

Company:

Filmco International Productions

Trivia:

Muhammad Ali expressed interest in playing the role of Bilal, but producer Moustapha Akkad refused, stating that such casting "would smack of commercialism."

Quotes:

Abu Sofyan:Mohammed, there is still doubt in my heart.
Khalid:If we were to cut off your head, it would remove all your doubts.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of an Epic: Mohammad Messenger of God (1976) (TV)

THE motion picture about the history of Islam

If you are a muslim, you must see this, if you are interested in Islam, you must see this, and all others should still see this. It's an experience of a lifetime! It shows the true meaning of Islam, its roots, its basic beliefs, and so much more... When I first saw this film, it left me in tears and speechless for quite some time after. When I watch it today, it still does! I don't believe anyone can watch this film and not become moved or even shaken by what he/she sees and hears! If the movie has one shortcoming, it's that the main character, prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), is never actually seen or heard, as it would have been a deadly sin to have an 'imposter' playing Him in the movie. Although this takes some getting used to and creates some lengths (i.e. dialogs which are rather more monologues with pauses), the rest of the movie compensates in full! Watching this movie will probably not make you go out to become a muslim (although I have read that most of the cast/crew involved did so), but certainly put some thought and understanding into you. One of the must see movies or all time!!!