Originally posted by Graham Ritchie
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Lion of the Desert (1980) is a strange one. Here is the trailer:
I was wondering how I missed this one considering the stellar cast. Turns out it was a huge flop. While looking at user reviews on IMDB I came across this:
6/10
When a dictator finances a film pushing an agenda against another dictator, you have to question the motives.
I've read the assessments of this movie that indicates that it's a fairly accurate account of the lengthy battle between Mussolini's Italy and Libya across the sea. Muammar Gaddafi financed this film that shows crimes against humanity that began in the 1920's and continued well into the 30's. Considering Gaddafi's record, it's easy to wonder how accurate the presentation from his side is in this film. Certainly, the Italians are presented as unreasonable and in Mussolini's case, downright fanatical.
It's a very showy performance for Rod Steiger as Mussolini, bellowing his lines just as other actors have done in this role. He's certainly no shrinking violet, and the grand palace he lives in (complete with guards who seem to be standing throughout their shift with an arm raised high just in case he decides to walk by) is a sight to behold, especially his war room. General Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed) never seems to leave Italy, running the operation from far away.
Then there's the presentation of Libyan resistance leader Omar al-Mukhtar as played by Anthony Quinn, completely calm and well spoken even when confronted by the fact that the Italian negotiators aren't going to give him anything that he feels they're entitled to. Simply they just want their land back. Irene Papas and John Gielgud have smaller roles as other Libyans involved in the rebellion. The only thing that I can say about the film is that it is epic in scale and made me want to do more research on my own, but for the most part, I felt that something was missing to indicate only one side of the story.
When a dictator finances a film pushing an agenda against another dictator, you have to question the motives.
I've read the assessments of this movie that indicates that it's a fairly accurate account of the lengthy battle between Mussolini's Italy and Libya across the sea. Muammar Gaddafi financed this film that shows crimes against humanity that began in the 1920's and continued well into the 30's. Considering Gaddafi's record, it's easy to wonder how accurate the presentation from his side is in this film. Certainly, the Italians are presented as unreasonable and in Mussolini's case, downright fanatical.
It's a very showy performance for Rod Steiger as Mussolini, bellowing his lines just as other actors have done in this role. He's certainly no shrinking violet, and the grand palace he lives in (complete with guards who seem to be standing throughout their shift with an arm raised high just in case he decides to walk by) is a sight to behold, especially his war room. General Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed) never seems to leave Italy, running the operation from far away.
Then there's the presentation of Libyan resistance leader Omar al-Mukhtar as played by Anthony Quinn, completely calm and well spoken even when confronted by the fact that the Italian negotiators aren't going to give him anything that he feels they're entitled to. Simply they just want their land back. Irene Papas and John Gielgud have smaller roles as other Libyans involved in the rebellion. The only thing that I can say about the film is that it is epic in scale and made me want to do more research on my own, but for the most part, I felt that something was missing to indicate only one side of the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sRz964lfcU&t=644s
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