| Lion of the Desert | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Moustapha Akkad |
| Written by | H.A.L. Craig |
| Produced by | Moustapha Akkad |
| Starring | Anthony Quinn Oliver Reed Rod Steiger Raf Vallone |
| Cinematography | Jack Hildyard |
| Edited by | John Shirley |
| Music by | Maurice Jarre |
Production company | Falcon International Productions |
| Distributed by | United Film Distribution Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 173 minutes |
| Countries | Libya United States |
| Languages | English Arabic Italian |
| Budget | US$35 million[1] |
| Box office | $1 million (U.S.)[1] |
Lion of the Desert is a 1981 epic historical war film about the Second Italo-Senussi War, starring Anthony Quinn as Libyan tribal leader Omar Mukhtar, a Bedouin leader fighting the Regio Esercito (Royal Italian Army), and Oliver Reed as Italian General Rodolfo Graziani, who defeated Mukhtar. It was directed by Syrian-American director Moustapha Akkad and funded by the Libyan government under Muammar Gaddafi.[2]
Released in May 1981, the film has received positive reviews from critics, but performed poorly at the box office, gaining revenues of US$1.5 million worldwide despite having a $35 million budget.[3][4] The film was banned in Italy in 1982 and was only shown on pay TV in 2009.
- ^ a b Hindle, John (24 July 1986). "Films - Money can't buy quality". The Age. Nine Entertainment. p. 52. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ Omar Mukhtar - Lion of the Desert imdb.com
- ^ "Lion of the Desert". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists".