Lion Of The Desert
Directed by Moustapha Akkad

Produced by Moustapha Akkad

Written by H.A.L. Craig

Starring Anthony Quinn,
Oliver Reed,
Rod Steiger

Distributed by Moustapha Akkad

Release date(s) 17 April 1981 (USA)

Running time 206 min

Language English

Budget US$35,000,000

Lion of the Desert is a 1981 historical film starring Anthony Quinn as Libyan tribal leader Omar Mukhtar fighting Mussolini`s army prior to World War II. It was directed by Moustapha Akkad and sponsored by Libyan interests.
Plot
The year is 1929 and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini (Rod Steiger) is still faced with the 20-year long war waged by patriots in Libya to combat Italian colonization and the establishment of `The Fourth Shore` - the rebirth of a Roman Empire in Africa. Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed) as his sixth governor to Libya, confident that the eminently accredited soldier can crush the rebellion and restore the dissipated glories of Imperial Rome.
Inspirational in the resistance towards the oppressors is the leadership of one man - Omar Mukhtar (Anthony Quinn). A teacher by profession, guerilla by obligation, Mukhtar has committed himself to a war that cannot be won in his own lifetime. Arrogant imperialist and ideological visionary - the conflict is between two implacable enemies. Graziani controls North Africa with the might of the Italian Army. Tanks and airplanes are used in the desert for the first time. Despite their bravery, the Libyan Arabs and Berbers suffered heavy losses, their primitive weaponry no match for mechanised warfare despite all this, they continued the fight, and managed to keep the Italians from achieving complete victory for twenty years.
Although Omar Mukhtar and his fellow warriors used primitive weaponry, General Rodolfo Graziani admitted and witnessed the greatness and skill of Omar in waging guerilla warfare. Furthermore, in one of the scenes Omar showed the real man inside when he refused to kill a young officer who is weaponless and instead gave him Italy`s flag to return with. Omar assured that according to Islam they do not kill captured soldiers and only fight for their homeland, to fight only out of necessity/obligation, and that they are taught to hate war itself.
Censorship in Italy
Italian authorities banned the movie in 1982 because, in the words of prime minister Giulio Andreotti, it was considered `damaging to the Army`s honour`. The last act of the government against the movie was on April 7, 1987, in Trento after this event, MPs from Democrazia Proletaria asked Parliament to show the movies at the Chamber of Deputies.