The Message (1976)

Director:

Moustapha Akkad

Writers:

H.A.L. Craig (writer)
Tewfik El-Hakim (writer)

Release Date:

8 July 1977 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

In four decades only four... "The Robe" "The Ten Commandments" "Ben-Hur" and now... For the first time...the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

First Person Camera | Muslim | Slave | Desert | Freed Slave

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Anthony Quinn	...	Hamza
Irene Papas	...	Hind
Michael Ansara	...	Abu Sofyan
Johnny Sekka	...	Bilal
Michael Forest	...	Khalid
Damien Thomas	...	Zaid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ahmed Abdelhalim	...	Uriqat
Habib Ageli	...	Hudayfa
Mohammad Al-Gaddary	...	Money Lender
Nicolas Amer	...	Suheil
Bruno Barnabe	...	Umaya
Mohamed Basri	...	Merchant
John Bennett	...	Salool
Martin Benson	...	Abu-Jahal
Robert Brown	...	Otba
Donald Burton	...	Amr
Earl Cameron	...	Annajashi
George Camiller	...	Waleed
Ronald Chenery	...	Mosaab
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Somaya
Hassan Essakali
Salem Gedara	...	Wahshi
Michael Godfrey	...	Barra
Garrick Hagon	...	Ammar
Gerard Hely	...	Sinan
John Humphry	...	Ubada
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Arwa
Neville Jason	...	Jaafar
Richard Johnson	...	Narrator
Hassan Joundi	...	Kisra
Ronald Leigh-Hunt	...	Heraclius
Peter Madden	...	Toothless Man
André Morell	...	Abu-Talib
Wolfe Morris	...	Bu-Lahab
Ewen Solon	...	Yasser
Leonard Trolley	...	Silk Merchant

Also Known As:

Mohammad: Messenger of God (USA)
Mohammed, Messenger of God

Runtime:

177 min

Country:

Lebanon | Libya | Kuwait | Morocco | UK

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Germany) | Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | Norway:16 | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Libya

Company:

Filmco International Productions

Trivia:

It took 4 ½ months to build the ancient city of Mecca.

Quotes:

Hamza: Mohammed, when I hunt the desert at night, I know God is not kept in a house.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of an Epic: Mohammad Messenger of God (1976) (TV)

A masterpiece of religious cinema

Anthony Quinn is no doubt one of the greatest actors of the 20th century...The strange thing is that he fits to the muslim roles with such a perfection that, with his contribution "The Message" and "The Lion of the Dessert" both have been masterpieces which are still watched by many people. Though the theme of this movie is the birth of Islam, I think it should have a variety of audience from many religions and cultures. I think the things that are emphasized, the struggle for the cause you believe, the sacrifices you have made for the beloved, are all universal values that have been emphasized with a rather outstanding casting and directing...I think everyone should watch this movie no matter what his/her religion, thought, culture is... Thanks Moustapha Akkad, Thanks Anthony Quinn, Thanks Irene Papas....You have made an excellent movie.....