Lion of the Desert

This movie tells the story of Omar Mukhtar, an Arab Muslim rebel who fought against the Italian conquest of Libya during the second Italo-Senussi War. It gives western viewers a glimpse into this little-known region and chapter of history, and exposes the savage means by which the conquering army attempted to subdue the natives.

Cast

Anthony Quinn

as Omar Mukhtar

Rod Steiger

as Benito Mussolini

Oliver Reed

as Gen. Rodolfo Graziani

Irene Papas

as Mabrouka

Raf Vallone

as Colonel Diodiece

John Gielgud

as Sharif El Gariani

Andrew Keir

as Salem

Gastone Moschin

as Major Tomelli

Stefano Patrizi

as Lt. Sandrini

Adolfo Lastretti

as Colonel Sarsani

Reviews

Wuchak

***“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...

CinemaSerf

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 ...

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