Two Classic Anthony Quinn Films Officially Announced
Posted June 13, 2012 05:06 PM by Webmaster
Anchor Bay Entertainment-UK have officially announced that they will release two classic films starring Anthony Quinn: Moustapha Akkad's The Message (1977) and Lion of the Desert (1981). Both films will be available for purchase online and in shops across the United Kingdom on July 2.
The Message will arrive as a special two-disc Blu-ray edition and will include a standard definition Arabic version of the main feature. The current press release for Lion of the Desert does not list any special features.
The Message
It is the 7th century in Mecca, where powerful leaders are in conflict with Mohammad who attacks their way of life and the injustice it produces. After seeing a vision of the Angel Gabriel, Mohammad calls the people of Mecca to cast aside the 300 idols of the Kaaba and worship only one God. Despite bitter opposition from the leaders of Mecca, Mohammad and his faithful followers meet secretly to listen to the revelations of the word of God. The leaders respond with persecution, forcing the Moslems to leave Mecca and take sanctuary in Medina.
Lion of the Desert
The year is 1929 and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini faces a 20-year-long war waged by Bedouin patriots who are resisting Italian colonisation and the establishment of "The Fourth Shore" – essentially a re-birth of a Roman Empire in Africa. Hoping to crush the rebellion, Mussolini appoints the ruthless General Rodolfo Graziani, a man who would come to be known as the "Butcher of Fezzan". Leading the resistance is Omar Mukhtar, a teacher by profession but a guerrilla by obligation, one who has committed himself to fighting a bloody war than he knows cannot be won in his lifetime. As tanks and airplanes are deployed in the desert for the first time, the Bedouin realize their primitive weaponry is no match for the might of the Italian Army. But, driven by courage and inspired by their leader, they continue to fight on.
This is great news, but I'll wait to hear full specs before getting too excited.
In the US at least, the DVDs *both* had Arabic language versions, audio commentaries, and documentaries. They were also Anchor Bay releases, so I assume there's no issue with porting that stuff over.
It'd be a shame to lose the Akkad audio commentaries, in particular. Here's hoping.
When it comes to calling somethng a classic movie, neither of these two would come to my mind. Zorba the Greek, yes. Viva Zapata, yes. Lust for Life, yes. But Lion of the Desert and The Message? No.
When Anchor Bay released The Message on DVD in the UK, they included the Arabic version - but without English subtitles. Hopefully they won't repeat that mistake this time.
@bluskies: Why, because they haven't been "hyped" or "critically acclaimed" as much? That's film snobbery, not film appreciation. In terms of the eras in which it was produced, both are classic films indeed and have some of the best classical scores composed in film, by the excellent Maurice Jarre.
In Lion of the Desert, Anthony Quinn gave one of his finest if not finest performance for those who can appreciate the details and subtleties of the eponymous character in his natural historical environment.
