Summaries

In 1929, Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani as colonial governor to Italian Libya with orders to stamp-out all resistance from Libyan nationalists led by rebel guerrilla leader Omar Mukhtar.

In Fascist Italy pre-World War II, the cruel General Rodolfo Graziani is directly assigned by Benito Mussolini to fight in the colonial war in Libya to vanquish the Libyan nation. However, his troops are frequently defeated by the national leader Omar Mukhtar and his army of Bedouins. But the Butcher of Ethiopia and Libya uses a dirty war against the natives, slaughtering women, children, and aged people, to subdue Mukhtar.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It is the early-1930s. 20 years after colonising Libya, Italy is still fighting a guerrilla war with an army of Bedouins lead by Omar Mukhtar. The five previous military governors were unable to bring the rebels to heel so Italian dictator Benito Mussolini puts one of his best and most brutal generals, General Rodolfo Graziani, in charge. The war develops into a deadly cat-and-mouse game between two formidable opponents.—grantss

Omar Mukhtar is an Arab Muslim rebel who fought against the Italian conquest of Libya, just prior to World War II. It exposes the savage means by which the conquering army attempted to subdue the natives.—Ibrahim Bloushy <[email protected]>

Between two worlds wars, a struggle for freedom took place in the African desert. This movie is the historicaly accurate story about the Libyan resistance leader, Omar Mukhtar, who led the Libyan resistance against the Italian opressors from 1911-1931. The movie takes place during the reign of Mussolini.—Zeki Sadic

Details

Keywords
  • desert
  • muslim
  • epic
  • rebel
  • muslim woman dress
Genres
  • Drama
  • History
  • War
  • Biography
Release date May 15, 1981
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) PG
Countries of origin United States Libya
Language English Arabic Italian
Filming locations Libya
Production companies Falcon International Productions

Box office

Budget $35000000

Tech specs

Runtime 2h 53m
Color Color
Sound mix Dolby Stereo Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio 2.35 : 1

Synopsis

This desert epic about a Libyan hero who helped his nation fend off anItalian invasion in 1929. Anthony Quinn stars as Omar Mukhtar, whoorganizes Libyan forces to hold off the encroaching Italian troopsunder General Rodolfo Graziana (Oliver Reed), who are trying to gaina foothold on Libyan soil under direct orders from the Italian dictatorMussolini (Rod Steiger). With the persistence of Mukhtar, the Libyans,battling the tanks and guns of the Italian army with their Bedouintroops on horseback, managed to hold off y the Italians for twentyyears, until Mukhtar was finally captured and executed.

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