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Lion of the Desert

Play trailer Poster for Lion of the Desert PG,  1981,  2h 53m,  Biography/ History/ Drama/ Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 75% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 93% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Bedouin hero Omar Mukhtar rallies Libyan guerrillas against an Italian general's army sent by Mussolini.

Critics Reviews

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Vincent Canby New York Times Aug 30, 2004
Lion of the Desert is a canny film, though it's probably a film from which one will take just what one took into it. No expense has been spared. Go to Full Review
Michael Ventura L.A. Weekly Dec 29, 2021
This is a serious movie, done not greatly but seriously and well. It helps you read between the headlines. Go to Full Review
Bernard Drew Gannett News Service Oct 4, 2019
Visually it is awesome, due in no small part to Jack Hildyard's cinematography, but a desert spectacular is by nature limited. Lion of the Desert grows tedious long before its 2 3/4-hour running time has run its course. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jul 18, 2011
A
It's one of the best anti-colonial Hollywood film ever (almost on a par with the Battle of Algiers). Go to Full Review
Louis Proyect rec.arts.movies.reviews Nov 18, 2006
An anti-colonial work that resonates with the struggle in Iraq today. Go to Full Review
Caffeinated Clint Film Threat Mar 18, 2006
A grand epic adventure that'll stand as a highpoint in the producing career of Moustapha Akkad Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Anakin P Sep 7, 2018 This is a cool war movie that reminds me of March or Die, The Wind and the Lion, or the man who would be king. also if you like this check out Zulu and Zulu Dawn See more
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Lion of the Desert

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Cast & Crew

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Moustapha Akkad

Director

Anthony Quinn

Omar Mukhtar

Oliver Reed

Gen. Rodolfo Graziani

Rod Steiger

Benito Mussolini

John Gielgud

Sharif El Gariani

Irene Papas

Mabrouka

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Lion of the Desert

Lion of the Desert (1981) Lion of the Desert (1981) Lion of the Desert (1981) Lion of the Desert (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Bedouin hero Omar Mukhtar rallies Libyan guerrillas against an Italian general's army sent by Mussolini.
Director
Moustapha Akkad
Producer
Moustapha Akkad, Mohammad Sanousi
Screenwriter
H.A.L. Craig
Production Co
Falcon International Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Biography, History, Drama, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 17, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 27, 2017
Runtime
2h 53m
Sound Mix
Surround
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