Lion of the Desert (1981)

Director:

Moustapha Akkad

Writer:

H.A.L. Craig (writer)

Release Date:

25 September 1981 (Finland)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

A giant of a man against a general seeking glory...a spectacular adventure of arch enemies in battle.

Plot:

This movie is about Omar Mukhtar, a Muslim and Arabian rebellion who fought against the Italian conquering of Libya in WWI...

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Libya | Colony | Italian History | Machine Gun

Cast

Anthony Quinn	...	Omar Mukhtar
Oliver Reed	...	Gen. Rodolfo Graziani
Irene Papas	...	Mabrouka
Raf Vallone	...	Colonel Diodiece
Rod Steiger	...	Benito Mussolini
John Gielgud	...	Sharif El Gariani
Andrew Keir	...	Salem
Gastone Moschin	...	Major Tomelli
Stefano Patrizi	...	Lt. Sandrini
Adolfo Lastretti	...	Colonel Sarsani
Sky Dumont	...	Prince Amadeo
Takis Emmanuel	...	Bu-Matari
Rodolfo Bigotti	...	Ismail
Robert Brown	...	Al Fadeel
Eleonora Stathopoulou	...	Ali's Mother

Also Known As:

Omar Mukhtar (UK) (closing credits title (pre-release title))
Omar Mukhtar: Lion of the Desert

Runtime:

173 min

Country:

Libya | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Libya

Company:

Falcon International Productions

Trivia:

An entire makeshift village was created in the middle of the desert about 600 miles from Bengazi to house the production, which numbered approximately 500 people, throughout the shoot. All the materials for the creation of this village were shipped out from England. They had particular problems with catering as all the food had to be bussed in, meat being particularly problematic as in this desert area of Libya cold storage was virtually unheard of.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Mussolini was talking to Graziani in the opening when he looked to the map of Libya, and he said that all these green land is for Italy. In fact he was looking at a topographical map that shows land greener as it become lower by sea level. For Libya is 90% of the area is desert.

Quotes:

[Omar Mukhtar protects two surviving Italian soldiers]
Omar Mukhtar: We do not kill *prisoners*!
Arab Warrior: *They* do it to *us*!
Omar Mukhtar: "They" are not our *teachers!*

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Halloween': A Cut Above the Rest (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Giovinezza

The late, great Anthonny Quinn

Prelude to WWII. Omar Mukhtar, a brilliant Bedouin leader, wages war against oppressive Italian Fascist forces (led by the bloodthirsty General Graziani) in his native Lybia.

Director Moustapha Akkad (The Message) clearly learnt a few lessons from "Lawrence of Arabia", mainly how best to use the charismatic Anthony Quinn. As Mukhtar, Quinn gives a nuanced portrayal of compassion and wisdom. Whenever he features in a scene, it becomes impossible to tear one's eyes off the screen. Thankfully, Oliver Reed proves a magnificently cruel and seething counterpoint as General Graziani. Irene Papas provides strong supporting work and Rod Steiger turns in a delightful cameo as Benito Musslini.

Moustapha Akkad uses a solid structure and keeps it riveting throughout, extracting fine performances from all his actors and technical collaborators. Where "The Message" was impressive but cold (due to its invisible hero and reverence), "Lion in the Desert" has an emotional core and throws up scene after impressive scene. The desert battle scenes are incredibly messy and savage and have a sense of multiple individual action amid chaos, rather than elaborate choreography. This perfectly suits the theme of Bedouin guerrilla. Production values are considerable and Maurice Jarre provides one of his most underrated scores.

Some viewers will find qualms with the fact that, despite the coda that proclaims that Lybia managed to liberate itself, the country was then for long under the oppressive rule of Kadaffi. In truth, this little addition might have something to do with the fact that Kadaffi assisted in funding the film. If you can overlook this (not to difficult), you can appreciate the true focus: Mukhtar. This remains a beautiful film about a people's resistance.

"Lion in the Desert" is an important film, if only because it offers a very accessible (to Western audiences) Arab perspective. It is also impressively well made: an accomplished chapter in the era of great epics that flourished with David Lean's masterpieces and ended with Richard Attenbourgh's Gandhi.

See this!