Mohammad, Messenger of God (film)

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Mohammad, Messenger of God (aka The Message)

Cover of the DVD for "The Message"
Directed by Moustapha Akkad
Produced by Moustapha Akkad
Written by H.A.L. Craig
Starring Anthony Quinn
Irene Papas
Michael Ansara
Johnny Sekka
Michael Forest
Music by Maurice Jarre
Cinematography Said Baker
Jack Hildyard
Ibrahim Salem
Editing by John Bloom
Distributed by Filmco International Productions Inc.
Release date(s) 1976
Running time 177 minutes
Language English / Arabic
Budget $10,000,000
IMDb profile

Mohammad, Messenger of God (retitled The Message for U.S. release) (1976) is a film directed by Moustapha Akkad, chronicling the life and times of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Released in both the Arabic language and the English language (Arabic name is الرسالة--English: Ar Risalah), Mohammad, Messenger of God serves as an introduction to early Islamic history. Although the movie revolves around Muhammad, his image is not depicted in any way throughout the movie, out of respect for Muslim aniconist traditions. Instead actors were left to talk to the camera.

Contents

[edit] Production

Akkad faced resistance from Hollywood to making a film about the origins of Islam and had to go outside the United States to raise the production money for the film. It was shot in Libya and Morocco. While creating Mohammad, Messenger of God, he consulted Islamic clerics and tried to be respectful toward Islam and its views on portraying the life of the prophet of islam, Mohammed.[citation needed] He saw the film as a way to bridge the gap between the Western and Islamic world, stating in a 1976 interview:

"I did the film because it is a personal thing for me. Besides its production values as a film, it has its story, its intrigue, its drama. Beside all this I think there was something personal, being Muslim myself who lived in the west I felt that it was my obligation my duty to tell the truth about Islam. It is a religion that has a 700 million following, yet it's so little known about it which surprised me. I thought I should tell the story that will bring this bridge, this gap to the west."

Nevertheless, some cinemas still received threatening telephone calls from those who thought that the film offended Islam by portraying the Prophet in a physical way, even though Mohammed is not shown on screen.[citation needed] On March 9, 1977, a group of Black Muslims, led by Hamas Abdul Khaalis, seized several buildings and took 134 hostages in the Washington, D.C..[1] Their actions were related to a sectarian dispute within the Black Muslim community.[citation needed] One of their demands was to prevent the release of the film. One of the terrorists specifically said "he wanted a guarantee from whole world it will never be shown" or they would execute some of the hostages".[2]

Akkad offered to show the film to the terrorists, and even said he would burn it if they hated it.[citation needed]

The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Score for the music by Maurice Jarre[3].

[edit] Cast and crew

Director:

Starring:

Supported by:

  • André Morell - Abu-Talib
  • Wolfe Morris - Abu-Lahab
  • Rosalie Crutchley - Somaya
  • Damien Thomas - Zaid

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-hanafi.htm
  2. ^ http://openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/1977-3/1977-03-09-NBC-2.html
  3. ^ [1]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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