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Lion of the Desert (1980)

Director: Moustapha Akkad

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Oliver Reed, the megalomaniac vanguard of Mussolini's Roman Empire, mumbles his way across Libya in 1929, decimating and concentrating and finally hanging Bedouin leader Quinn. At which, with smug hindsight, we do not blanch, knowing that everyone gets their just deserts (pronounce this either way) eventually. History furnishes an eventful plot, the film-makers supply the stereotyped characters, and the heavens (apparently) an ethereal chorus, resulting in a not unenjoyable ripping yarn.

Author: FD 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • wert said...
    Posted on Nov 15 2007 11:17 Moustapha Akkad was a great director + producer.who is famous in all muslim states for his 2 unforgetable epic movies
    The MESSAGE and the LION OF THE DESERT,i gotta say that these 2 movies were breath taking,the first time i saw those movies i taught thee movies has been made in late 90s' but god i was so amazed when i came to know both of them were made in 1970s.Moustapha Akkad had done a fantactic job with both of the movies and he was the only person who represented islamic-themed movies in hollyWood...In hollywood he is also very famous because of the hit movie series 'Haloween'as he was the owner of the franchise and he also produced 8 'Haloween' movies in a row.
    At the time of his death he was planing to made a another epic movie about 'Salahudin'(A great historical fiqure in the history of islam ) with the budjet of $80 million cast including Sean Connery as a 'Salahudin' but this didnt' happened because he was murdered what a tragic lose.( Due to his un-beatalbe performance in THE MESSAGE and THE LION OF DESERT i was so interested in his new movie 'Salahudin' because it was going to his first film after 30 years .it was also going to be his first movie which features CGI as well.but this all ended at the death of Moustapha Akkad ..he maybe be dead but his memories and his work will always be alive
    .........
    S.h.M
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Cast & crew

Director: Moustapha Akkad

Producer: Moustapha Akkad

Cast: Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, Irene Papas, Raf Vallone, Rod Steiger, John Gielgud, Andrew Keir, Gastone Moschin full cast

Genre(s): Epics

Duration: 163 mins


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