Rent Lion of the Desert (1980)
4.1 of 5 from 69 ratings
2h 36min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
The year is 1929 and dictator Benito Mussolini is still faced with the 20-year long war waged by Bedouin patriots to combat Italian colonisation and the establishment of "The Fourth Shore". Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani as his sixth governor to Libya, confident that the eminently accredited soldier can crush the rebellion and restore the dissipated glories of Imperial Rome. Omar Mukhtar - a teacher by profession, guerilla by obligation, fights against his oppressors and commits himself to a war that cannot be won in his lifetime. With Omar Mukhtar as their inspirational leader, the Bedouin troops fight on horseback against the tanks and planes of the Italian Army. As the conflict between the two implacable enemies deepen, the Bedouin suffer crippling losses, but still they fight on... - Actors:
- Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, Rod Steiger, Irene Papas, Raf Vallone, John Gielgud, Andrew Keir, Gastone Moschin, Stefano Patrizi, Adolfo Lastretti, Sky du Mont, Takis Emmanuel, Rodolfo Bigotti, Robert Brown, Eleonora Stathopoulou, Luciano Bartoli, Claudio Gora, Giordano Falzoni, Franco Fantasia, Ihab Werfali
- Directors:
- Moustapha Akkad
- Producers:
- Moustapha Akkad
- Writers:
- David Butler, Hal Craig, Paul Thompson
- Studio:
- Anchor Bay
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 02/07/2012
- Run Time:
- 156 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- None
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
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Reviews (3) of Lion of the Desert
A serious film of a largely ignored part of history - Lion of the Desert review by MP
I haven't had time to read up about the history of this particular part of Europe's glorious empire building history but the film feels right. Interesting use of archive footage too which can be quite harrowing for the uninitiated. Quinn is excellent and Reed not too bad but overall this is a very good film both from a pure viewing perspective and from a historical one too.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Lawrence of Libya - Lion of the Desert review by griggs
Lion of the Desert is a curious beast–part propaganda, part sweeping epic, and unmistakably a product of its time (and backer). Funded by Colonel Gaddafi, it's not hard to spot the intended parallels between the film's stoic resistance leader and a certain Libyan strongman. Think Battle of Algiers dressed up in Lawrence of Arabia's robes–only with dar less subtlety.
It runs hald and hour too long and often lapses into melodrama. Still, the battle scenes are genuinely impressive, and its portrayal of Italian colonialism is surpringsly grounded. Shot on location, Gaddafi's chequebook was clearly put to good use.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
War Adventure - Lion of the Desert review by NO
I didnt know much about this period of history & I found the film enlightening.Good documentary with plenty of action scenes.Quinn is excellent as always & Reed does well.
I read that Colonel Gadhaffi financed this film about Libiyas national hero.Italys colonisation has been overlooked so this story should be seen by more people.Very good.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.