History & Biography

A giant of a man against a General seeking glory... a spectacular adventure of archenemies in battle.

Anchor Bay Entertainment, Inc.

Adults

Arabic and English

013131329193

Moustapha Akkad

Made in 1979, Lion of the Desert is a historically faithful study of the guerrilla struggle against the Italian fascist occupation of Libya led over a 20 year period by Omar Mukhtar, played by Anthony Quinn. The Italians colonized Libya, Somalia, and Ethiopia as part of an attempt to compete with their Western European rivals who had a toehold in Africa. Mukhtar was a leader of the Senusi people who lived in the Cyrenaica region in Eastern Libya before it became a modern state. Described as bedouins in the film, the Libyans have the same kind of fiercely independent streak as the Algerian Kabyle (Berbers) who challenged French colonization in the 1950s. Quinn relied more on wile than on physical prowess, just as Mukhtar did in real life. This is not a Braveheart-type-of-film that unrealistically depicts the oppressed Libyans as defeating the much larger and better equipped Italian army through sheer courage, but rather one that is marked by frequent exhaustion and defeat. Omar Mukhtar today is remembered less for his ability to foil the fascists, but rather for his inner resourcefulness and belief in freedom.

In the beginning of the film, Mukhtar is giving Qur’an lessons to young boys in a Senusi village. Throughout the film, the character’s religious faith goes hand-in-hand with his determination to resist the occupation. These same beliefs also lead him to avoid mistreating Italian prisoners. His main adversary in the film is Gen. Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed), who was hand-picked by Mussolini to quash the Senusi rebellion. His methods included herding the Senusi into concentration camps and erecting a long barbed-wire fence between Libya and Egypt to cut off supplies. Historians estimate that between 30,000 and 70,000 Senusis were killed during the occupation. Shortly after, the fascists hung Omar Mukhtar. His followers issued a statement that could be a rallying cry for the Iraqi resistance today.

The Fascists believed that the condemnation of Omar Mukhtar to death would make it easier for them to occupy the country, but unfortunately for them the souls of the martyrs are an eternal flame which inspires the national spirit in the hearts of the people they have left behind. The martyr of the Tripoli-Brace nation is not dead, for he has left his people with an immortal monument of heroism which will be inherited by future generations. This sad monument, built by the Fascist assassins’ hands, will remain forever and will never be forgotten because it has left mortal wounds in our hearts.

Woe to those oppressors who do not respect the age, the courage, and the incomparable heroism of Omar Mukhtar; they cannot understand the significance of his qualities. The years cannot wipe out the horror of this crime, which struck the heart of all Arabs, and which will always remain a stain on their history, washed as it is in the blood of innocents, of women, of men, of the aged, and of children.

Special Features Include:

1. Disc 1:
• Lion of the Desert - English Language
• Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs
• The Making of LION OF THE DESERT
• Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad
2. Disc 2:
• Omar Mukhtar - Arabic Language
• Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs
• The Making of OMAR MUKHTAR
• Arabic Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad

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Made in 1979, Lion of the Desert is a historically faithful study of the guerrilla struggle against the Italian fascist occupation of Libya led over a 20 year period by Omar Mukhtar, played by Anthony Quinn. The Italians colonized Libya, Somalia, and Ethiopia as part of an attempt to compete with their Western European rivals who had a toehold in Africa. Mukhtar was a leader of the Senusi people who lived in the Cyrenaica region in Eastern Libya before it became a modern state. Described as bedouins in the film, the Libyans have the same kind of fiercely independent streak as the Algerian Kabyle (Berbers) who challenged French colonization in the 1950s. Quinn relied more on wile than on physical prowess, just as Mukhtar did in real life. This is not a Braveheart-type-of-film that unrealistically depicts the oppressed Libyans as defeating the much larger and better equipped Italian army through sheer courage, but rather one that is marked by frequent exhaustion and defeat. Omar Mukhtar today is remembered less for his ability to foil the fascists, but rather for his inner resourcefulness and belief in freedom.

In the beginning of the film, Mukhtar is giving Qur’an lessons to young boys in a Senusi village. Throughout the film, the character’s religious faith goes hand-in-hand with his determination to resist the occupation. These same beliefs also lead him to avoid mistreating Italian prisoners. His main adversary in the film is Gen. Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed), who was hand-picked by Mussolini to quash the Senusi rebellion. His methods included herding the Senusi into concentration camps and erecting a long barbed-wire fence between Libya and Egypt to cut off supplies. Historians estimate that between 30,000 and 70,000 Senusis were killed during the occupation. Shortly after, the fascists hung Omar Mukhtar. His followers issued a statement that could be a rallying cry for the Iraqi resistance today.

The Fascists believed that the condemnation of Omar Mukhtar to death would make it easier for them to occupy the country, but unfortunately for them the souls of the martyrs are an eternal flame which inspires the national spirit in the hearts of the people they have left behind. The martyr of the Tripoli-Brace nation is not dead, for he has left his people with an immortal monument of heroism which will be inherited by future generations. This sad monument, built by the Fascist assassins’ hands, will remain forever and will never be forgotten because it has left mortal wounds in our hearts.

Woe to those oppressors who do not respect the age, the courage, and the incomparable heroism of Omar Mukhtar; they cannot understand the significance of his qualities. The years cannot wipe out the horror of this crime, which struck the heart of all Arabs, and which will always remain a stain on their history, washed as it is in the blood of innocents, of women, of men, of the aged, and of children.

Special Features Include:

1. Disc 1:
• Lion of the Desert - English Language
• Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs
• The Making of LION OF THE DESERT
• Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad
2. Disc 2:
• Omar Mukhtar - Arabic Language
• Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs
• The Making of OMAR MUKHTAR
• Arabic Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad

DVD

3561

This year on the show, we’re testing out new, exciting and fearful grounds. It’s new, because of the places we visit for the first time.

Al-Ayen International

Adults

Arabic

DVDMS3

Dr. Ali Al Omary

From the author:
I have traveled east, west, and north and have gone to countries far way like Sri Lanka for one episode of 10 minutes. The effort, tiredness, and trouble along the way is irrelevant because the nature of paving the way to revival is difficult and risky, but the end is fun, exciting and calls for work. We are overdue and have kept ourselves busy meditating the big, wrong goal that qualifies us to be the best nation. I will work, God-willing, to lift up the revival and civilization flag that the ummah is proud of in all fields. As mission and beauty are explored in Sri Lanka, art and science are explored in France, charity in Kuwait, awareness and development in Qatar, humanity and sacrifice in Egypt, and tidiness and progress in Oman. All these scenes in the minds of the youth in the ummah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And allow me here to put down my humble pen to start thinking about the civilization and revival project for the next year.

0

From the author:
I have traveled east, west, and north and have gone to countries far way like Sri Lanka for one episode of 10 minutes. The effort, tiredness, and trouble along the way is irrelevant because the nature of paving the way to revival is difficult and risky, but the end is fun, exciting and calls for work. We are overdue and have kept ourselves busy meditating the big, wrong goal that qualifies us to be the best nation. I will work, God-willing, to lift up the revival and civilization flag that the ummah is proud of in all fields. As mission and beauty are explored in Sri Lanka, art and science are explored in France, charity in Kuwait, awareness and development in Qatar, humanity and sacrifice in Egypt, and tidiness and progress in Oman. All these scenes in the minds of the youth in the ummah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And allow me here to put down my humble pen to start thinking about the civilization and revival project for the next year.

DVD

5015

Begins with the story of the known voyages of Admiral Zhen He.

PBS Home Video

Adults

English

841887004497

Larry Belling

Experience little-known history in this telling of the story of a Muslim from China who may be the one to receive credit for discovering America. Using location photography and beautifully crafted dramatic reconstruction, this two-part documentary begins with the story of the known voyages of Admiral Zhen He, a Chinese Muslim navigator, and ends with an examination of best-selling author, Gavin Menzies' hypothesis, and evidence that it was Zhen He and the Chinese who in fact discovered America long before Columbus.

PBS presents Menzies' theory and puts it to the test, traveling across the continent in search of clues, drawing on contemporary historical accounts, and providing a wealth of scientific and technological evidence from scholars. The results are fascinating, often dramatic, and make for gripping television.

From the Back Cover
Did the Chinese discover America in 1421? This fascinating documentary examines this question, and the mystery surrounding the sailing exploits of the legendary Admiral Zhen He, and his impressive 30-year command of a massive Chinese fleet. The Ming emperor burned all records of Admiral Zhen He's daring voyages and achievements, and unwittingly created a mystery that tantalizes the world 500 years later.

DVD Specifications

• Widescreen presentation (1.78:1 aspect ratio) - enhanced for widescreen TVs
• Dolby Digital 2.0 English
• NTSC
• Region 1

0

Experience little-known history in this telling of the story of a Muslim from China who may be the one to receive credit for discovering America. Using location photography and beautifully crafted dramatic reconstruction, this two-part documentary begins with the story of the known voyages of Admiral Zhen He, a Chinese Muslim navigator, and ends with an examination of best-selling author, Gavin Menzies' hypothesis, and evidence that it was Zhen He and the Chinese who in fact discovered America long before Columbus.

PBS presents Menzies' theory and puts it to the test, traveling across the continent in search of clues, drawing on contemporary historical accounts, and providing a wealth of scientific and technological evidence from scholars. The results are fascinating, often dramatic, and make for gripping television.

From the Back Cover
Did the Chinese discover America in 1421? This fascinating documentary examines this question, and the mystery surrounding the sailing exploits of the legendary Admiral Zhen He, and his impressive 30-year command of a massive Chinese fleet. The Ming emperor burned all records of Admiral Zhen He's daring voyages and achievements, and unwittingly created a mystery that tantalizes the world 500 years later.

DVD Specifications

• Widescreen presentation (1.78:1 aspect ratio) - enhanced for widescreen TVs
• Dolby Digital 2.0 English
• NTSC
• Region 1

DVD

5502

This year on the show, we’re testing out new, exciting and fearful grounds. It’s new, because of the places we visit for the first time.

Al-Ayen International

Adults

Arabic

DVDMS2

Dr. Ali Al Omary

This year on the show, we’re testing out new, exciting and fearful grounds. It’s new, because of the places we visit for the first time. It’s fearful because we visit places of extreme hardship and pending fates, such as Darfur. And it’s exciting because it will thrill your hearts to see great Muslims landmarks which have become landmarks for others!

As the host of the show narrates, “Never in my life have I experienced such fatigue, both mentally and physically. These ongoing travels have even affected my health, which needs more care! I thought about canceling the project Tourist Diaries, since so much time has passed by since filming the last episode. But after the broadcast episodes were viewed by so many, I heard so much positive feedback from the viewers, and my fatigue went away. Nevertheless, we also need to pay attention to our own nation.”

0

This year on the show, we’re testing out new, exciting and fearful grounds. It’s new, because of the places we visit for the first time. It’s fearful because we visit places of extreme hardship and pending fates, such as Darfur. And it’s exciting because it will thrill your hearts to see great Muslims landmarks which have become landmarks for others!

As the host of the show narrates, “Never in my life have I experienced such fatigue, both mentally and physically. These ongoing travels have even affected my health, which needs more care! I thought about canceling the project Tourist Diaries, since so much time has passed by since filming the last episode. But after the broadcast episodes were viewed by so many, I heard so much positive feedback from the viewers, and my fatigue went away. Nevertheless, we also need to pay attention to our own nation.”

DVD

4420