Other Titles • Lion of the Desert • Omar Mukhtar • Omar Mukhtar - Löwe der Wüste (1980) • Omar Mukhtar: Lion of the Desert (1980)
Synopses for Lion of the Desert (1981)
1.
This epic historical film tells the story of Libyan guerrilla leader Omar Mukhtar, who struggled to stop Benito Mussolini's invading army from seizing control of his country. Mussolini ordered General Rodolfo Graziani and his troops to destroy the Bedouin's rebellion but the Fascists weren't counting on the determination and skill of the Arab fighters. The Libyans engaged in a long and deadly war, which lasted from 1911 to 1931.
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2.
The Incredible True Story Of The Desert Warrior Who Defied An Empire Two-time Oscar® winner Anthony Quinn stars as Omar Mukhtar, the brilliant Bedouin leader who waged a 20-year guerilla war against the invading Italian tank armies led by General Rodolfo 'The Butcher' Graziani (Oliver Reed of Gladiator) and increasingly furious Fascist dictator Benito Mussollini (Academy Award® winner Rod Steiger). Oscar® winner John Gielgud co-stars with a cast of thousands in this action-packed epic produced and directed by Moustapha Akkad (The Message) that remains one of the most provocative historical dramas of our time.
3.
The year is 1929 and dictator Benito Mussolini is still faced with the 20-year long war waged by Bedouin patriots to combat Italian colonization in Africa. Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani governor of Libya, confident that he can crush the rebellion and restore the glories of the Imperial Rome.
Inspirational in the Bedouin resistance toward the oppressors is the leadership of one man--Omar Mukhtar. A teacher by profession, guerrilla by obligation, Mukhtar has committed himself to a war that cannot be won in his lifetime.
4.
Destined to remain a dubious footnote in books of movie trivia, Lion of the Desert--an occasionally impressive epic from 1981--was financed with a budget of $35 million by Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, who previously attempted the role of movie producer with the critically roasted Mohammad: Messenger of God. This effort didn't fare much better (it grossed approximately $1 million worldwide), and although some of its wartime action sequences are intelligently filmed, it's not likely to gain much more of a reputation on home video. Under a shaggy Muslim beard, Anthony Quinn stars as Omar Mukhtar, the Arab hero and guerrilla fighter who defended Libya against Benito Mussolini and Italy's attempted conquests during World War II. As straightforward biography, the movie's got an admirable epic sweep, but a cliché-ridden script and uniformly bad performances (from a cast that includes John Gielgud, Oliver Reed and Rod Steiger) make this little more than a curiosity for those wanting to learn more about Libyan history. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
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