Lion of the Desert poster

1981·173 min·Released

Lion of the Desert

“He was a man of honor in a war without any.”

History
War
Drama

Resistance leader Omar Mukhtar opposes Italian colonization before World War II. The brutal guerrilla war against Italian General Rodolfo Graziani and the Fascist forces of Benito Mussolini highlights the struggle for Libyan independence and the harsh tactics utilised by the colonisers.

7.3(199 votes)

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Videos

Lion of the Desert - Trailer

Cast & Crew

Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn

Omar al-Mukhtar

Oliver Reed

Oliver Reed

General Rodolfo Graziani

Irene Papas

Irene Papas

Mabrouka

Raf Vallone

Raf Vallone

Colonel Diodiece

Rod Steiger

Rod Steiger

Benito Mussolini

John Gielgud

John Gielgud

Sharif El Gariani

Andrew Keir

Andrew Keir

Salem

Gastone Moschin

Gastone Moschin

Major Tomelli

Stefano Patrizi

Stefano Patrizi

Lieutenant Sandrini

Adolfo Lastretti

Adolfo Lastretti

Colonel Sarsani

Sky du Mont

Sky du Mont

Prince Amadeo

Şahin Çelik

Şahin Çelik

Prince Amadeo (voice)

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Wuchak

Written on 5/25/2019

***“Braveheart” in the Libyan desert with Quinn, Reed and Steiger*** After twenty years of failing to remove Bedouin rebels during the Italian colonization (aka invasion) of Libya, Mussolini (Rod Steiger) sends formidable General Graziani (Oliver Reed) in 1931 to take care of the problem. Anthony Quinn plays the titular protagonist and leader of the freedom-fighting Libyans. Did you ever wonder why “Lion of the Desert” (1980) is so obscure? It cost $35 million, has three big name stars, was shot on location and is epic in scope, but it only grossed $1 million worldwide and sits alongside other big money losers of the time period, like “Heaven's Gate” (1980) and “Inchon” (1981). Was it because it was supported by Gaddafi? Was it because it portrayed the Italians in a bad light and freedom-fighting Libyans as the protagonists? Or maybe it simply lacked the pizzazz to draw audiences. For me, it’s the last one. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of good in this historical film and the movie perks up whenever Steiger and Reed are on the screen; Quinn too, but less so. And you can’t beat the authentic locations and action/adventure; the cliff-gorge battle, for instance, is a treat. Yet there’s something meh about the overall proceedings. It lacks the artistic style of “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962). It doesn’t help that the first act is relatively tedious and the action doesn’t kick-in until the 40 minute mark. Since the movie lights up whenever Reed and Quinn are on the screen (Steiger’s Mussolini being a minor character), the script should’ve focused more on their characters. When these two opponents finally confront each other at the end it’s gripping drama. But the rest of the movie isn’t so compelling, disregarding the positives noted. Furthermore, the propagandizing Libyan bias is laughable. Still, if you like flicks like “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Braveheart” (1995), it’s worth checking out. The movie runs 2 hours, 54 minutes and was shot in Libya and Italy. GRADE: C+

CinemaSerf

Written on 6/7/2023

This is a curious hybrid of a film - it brings together some elements of "Gandhi" (1982) , "Khartoum" (1966) and even "Spartacus" (1960) to illustrate a theatre of war for Fascist colonialism of which I was largely unfamiliar. Rod Steiger (Mussolini) has decided that Italy must get in on the act of colonial powers in North Africa - and deploys General Graziani (Oliver Reed) to cement their invasion of modern day Libya. His job is continually thwarted, however, by the tenacious and shrewd Omar Mukhtar (Anthony Quinn), who leads an effective resistance - and has done for some twenty years. Despite facing overwhelming technical superiority, Mukhtar continues to defy his would-be overlord and the film depicts many a scenario as his people refuse to capitulate. Oliver Reed only really had one style of acing, and it wasn't the best - but he is somewhat more in his element as this calculating, at times brutal, soldier. The action scenes are well made; the battle scenes realistic and there is plenty of grand cinematography (some from Libya, itself) to help his character's megalomania develop nicely. Quinn features sparingly, his sheer presence does most of his acting, for he has few lines, and there are also a few almost compassionate scenes from Raf Vallone (Col. Diodiece) as history takes an inevitable course. The dialogue is what lets this down, it's rather stiltedly written and barely audible at times, but at almost three hours is marries elements of adventure and history quite efficiently. Worth a watch...

Media

Lion of the Desert - Trailer

Lion of the Desert - Trailer