History Film / MohammadMessengerOfGod

A 1976 {{epic|movie}} {{historical|Fiction}}[=/=]religion film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Creator/AnthonyQuinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (U.S. title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of [[UsefulNotes/TheProphetMuhammad Mohammad]] and his teachings that founded the [[UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} Islamic religion]], primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}'s early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} from corrupt leaders.

A 1976 {{epic|movie}} {{historical|Fiction}}[=/=]religion film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Creator/AnthonyQuinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (U.S. title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of [[UsefulNotes/TheProphetMuhammad Mohammad]] and his teachings, primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}'s early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} from corrupt leaders.

A 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Creator/AnthonyQuinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (U.S. title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of [[UsefulNotes/TheProphetMuhammad Mohammad]] and his teachings, primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}'s early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} from corrupt leaders.

** The movie even had to ''downplay'' his badass feats! During the Battle of Uhud where he died he was charging at the ''[[InHarmsWay centre of the Meccan army]]'' dual wielding [[{{BFS}} giant swords]] and roaring at the terrified Meccans '''"[[BadassBoast I AM THE LION OF GOD!]]"''', [[OneManArmy killing EVERYONE in his path]]! Who gets him? An Abbyssinian hiding several metres away from the battlefield with javelin, and even when he throws it and gets a direct hit, he's still too scared to approach Hamza's body because he's afraid he'll just get up and cut his head off. He ends up waiting for ''days'' to make sure he's dead and-- you know what? Let Haishi ibn Harb [[note]][[AwesomeMcCoolName trans. The Savage Son of War]][[/note]] himself tell you how it went down.

* TheGhost[=/=]TheVoiceless: For ''[[AgainstMyReligion very obvious reasons]],'' Muhammad is never seen or heard in the film. The closest we ever get to seeing him is glimpses of his staff, sword, tent, and camel. Interestingly, at certain times the film actually has the camera present Mohammad's point of view (though he remains silent).

Despite its troubled production and release (and subsequent fall into obscurity), the film seems to be enjoying a slow rise in critical favor, with many noting that it tries to present a balanced, respectful view of Islam and Mohammad. A [[http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/10/28/remake-of-respectful-mohammed-movie-is-planned/ remake]] was talked about in 2008, but nothing has been heard about it since. Coupled with the current political climate regarding Islam and [[AuthorExistenceFailure Moustapha Akkad's own tragic death]] in a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Amman_bombings terrorist attack in Jordan]] by Al-Qaeda's Iraqi branch (which again, were unrelated to the movie itself though he was working on a project about the historical Saladin) as he was the one most passionate to spearhead such production, it remains to be seen if it will ever be made.

* LeitMotif: Whenever Muhammad is present or very close by, his presence is indicated by light organ music.

* * TheGhost[=/=]TheVoiceless: For ''[[AgainstMyReligion very obvious reasons]],'' Muhammad is never seen or heard in the film. The closest we ever get to seeing him is glimpses of his staff, sword, tent, and camel. Interestingly, at certain times the film actually has the camera present Mohammad's point of view (though he remains silent).

* TheVoiceless[=/=]TheGhost: For ''[[AgainstMyReligion very obvious reasons]],'' Muhammad is never seen or heard in the film. The closest we ever get to seeing him is glimpses of his staff, sword, tent, and camel. Interestingly, at certain times the film actually has the camera present Mohammad's point of view (though he remains silent).

A 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Creator/AnthonyQuinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (US title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of [[UsefulNotes/TheProphetMuhammad Mohammad]] and his teachings, primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}'s early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} from corrupt leaders.

A 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Creator/AnthonyQuinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (US title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of Mohammad and his teachings, primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on Islam's early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} from corrupt leaders.

Though born from a personal desire of director Akkad to try and help bridge the cultural gap between Western and Islamic cultures, to say the film had a difficult time getting to the big screen is an understatement. Due to Hollywood's resistance in tackling the subject matter, and difficulty securing funding, Akkad eventually had to leave the United States in order to make it, and continued to encounter financing problems and religious objections to the film, initially shooting in Morocco (with the blessings of King Hassan II), only to be kicked out several months later when the King changed his mind. After shutting production down for two months, Akkad somehow managed to get funding and filming locations from none other then dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya (who even provided a few thousand soldiers from his army to act as extras).

A 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Creator/AnthonyQuinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (US title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of Mohammad and his teachings, primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on Islam's early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of Mecca from corrupt leaders.

Despite its troubled production and release (and subsequent fall into obscurity), the film seems to be enjoying a slow rise in critical favor, with many noting that it tries to present a balanced, respectful view of Islam and Mohammad. A [[http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/10/28/remake-of-respectful-mohammed-movie-is-planned/ remake]] was talked about in 2008, but nothing has been heard about it since. Coupled with the current political climate regarding Islam and Moustapha Akkad's own tragic death in a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Amman_bombings terrorist attack in Jordan]] by Al-Qaeda's Iraqi branch (which again, were unrelated to the movie itself though he was working on a project about the historical Saladin) as he was the one most passionate to spearhead such production, it remains to be seen if it will ever be made.

Despite its troubled production and release (and subsequent fall into obscurity), the film seems to be enjoying a slow rise in critical favor, with many noting that it tries to present a balanced, respectful view of Islam and Mohammad. A [[http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/10/28/remake-of-respectful-mohammed-movie-is-planned/ remake]] was talked about in 2008, but nothing has been heard about it since. Coupled with the current political climate regarding Islam, it remains to be seen if it will ever be made.

A 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, and starring Anthony Quinn, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (US title: ''The Message''), chronicles the life and impact of Mohammad and his teachings, primarily told from the perspective of his uncle Hamza, (though other historical figures from early Islam also pop up from time to time). The film mainly focuses on Islam's early years, covering several significant events, and ending with a battle to reclaim the city of Mecca from corrupt leaders.

* {{Badass}}: Hazrat Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib was this to the point he makes the heroes in the Bible look restrained. This was a man who considered hunting ''lions'' to be a form of relaxation for God's sake. Oh yes, and what does he do as soon as he comes back from a leisurely hunt and hears from his slave that the lords of Mecca, particularly Abu Jahal, have disrespected his nephew the Prophet? He rides to the Kaaba in broad daylight and cracks their skulls open with his bow, dare the guys to get up and hit him back, declare his conversion to Islam in a city full of murderous pagan bastards while doing the medieval Arabic equivalent of COME AT ME BRO. Not a ''single'' person in Mecca ''dared'' to get in his way. The best part? Abu Jahal himself was so scared shitless of this guy that he basically says, "I deserve this. I am sorry." THAT'S HOW BADASS HAMZA WAS. Looking at a biography of this guy is basically like reading an Icelandic Saga.

* LeitMotif: Whenever Muhammad is present or very close by, his presence is indicated by light organ music.

Though born from a personal desire of director Akkad to try and help bridge the cultural gap between Western and Islamic cultures, to say the film had a difficult time getting to the big screen is an understatement. Due to Hollywood's resistance in tackling the subject matter, and difficulty securing funding, Akkad eventually had to leave the United States in order to make it, and continued to encounter financing problems and religious objections to the film, initially shooting in Morocco (with the blessings of King Hassan II), only to be kicked out several months later when the King changed his mind. After shutting production down for two months, Akkad somehow managed to get funding and filming locations from none other then dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi of Lybia (who even provided a few thousand soldiers from his army to act as extras).

Unfortunately, the film's release didn't mark the end of its problems; The Supreme Council of the World Mosque Conference in Mecca denounced the film, and the scholars from The Council of Islamic Research at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, who had helped research and approve the script, [[FaceHeelTurn condemned the film]] as an insult to Islam. In short, ''nobody'' in the Islamic world seemed to approve the movie, and it was widely banned (though Turkey and Tunisia did show it for a short while).

Despite its later reputation as a flop, ''Mohammad'' was successful upon its initial release. The film did particularly well in the UK, where it held the number one box office spot for several weeks. Critical reviews, however, were largely scathing, and the turmoil surrounding its production and release overshadowed its box office take. Akkad's attempted follow-up, the Libyan-set historical epic ''Lion of the Desert'' (also starring Anthony Quinn), was the opposite, bombing with audiences despite favorable reviews.

Despite its later reputation as a flop, ''Mohammad'' was successful upon its initial release. The film did particularly well in the UK, where it held the number one box office spot for several weeks. Critical reviews, however, were largely scathing, and the turmoil surrounding its production and release overshadowed its box office take. Akkad's attempted follow-up, the Libyan-set historical epic ''Lion of the Desert'' (also starring Anthony Quinn), was a colossal bomb despite favorable reviews.

** It is possible (though not confirmed), that the anonymous, unidentified hand holding the flag on the poster is Mohammad's.

Though born from a personal desire of director Akkad to try and help bridge the cultural gap between Western and Islamic cultures, to say the film had a difficult time getting to the big screen is an understatement. Due to Hollywood's resistance in tackling the subject matter, and difficulty securing funding, Akkad eventually had to leave the United States in order to make it, and continued to encounter financing problems and religious objections to the film, initially shooting in Morocco (with the blessings of King Hassan II), only to be kicked out several months later when the King changed his mind. After shutting production down for two months, Akkad somehow managed to get funding and filming locations from none other then dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi of Lydia (who even provided a few thousand soldiers from his army to act as extras).

Unfortunately, the film's release didn't mark the end of its problems; the supreme council of the world mosque conference in Mecca denounced the film, and the scholars from The Council of Islamic Research at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, who had helped research and approve the script, [[FaceHeelTurn denounced the film]] as an insult to Islam. In short, ''nobody'' in the Islamic world seemed to approve the movie, and it was widely banned (though Turkey and Tunisia did show it for a short while).

* TheVoiceless[=/=]TheGhost: For ''[[AgainstMyReligion very obvious reasons]],'' Muhammad is never seen or heard in the film. The closest we ever get to seeing him is glimpses of his staff, sword, and camel. Interestingly, at certain times the film actually has the camera present Mohammad's point of view (though he remains silent).

Though born from a personal desire of director Akkad to try and help bridge the cultural gap between Western and Islamic cultures, to say the film had a difficult time getting to the big screen is an understatement. Due to Hollywood's resistance in tackling the subject matter, and difficulty securing funding, Akkad eventually had to leave the United States in order to make it, and continued to encounter financing problems and religious objections to the film, though he did get help from none other then the rulers of Morocco and Libya (King Hassan II and Muammar al-Gaddafi, respectively), who both provided funding and location shooting.

Unfortunately, the film's release didn't mark the end of its problems; the film was banned in several Middle-Eastern countries at the time due to religious conflicts over the idea of a movie about Mohammad. Even worse, a radical group, believing that the film was sacrilegious, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Hanafi_Muslim_Siege took 149 hostages in a siege shortly after the film's release]], and killed a reporter and police officer, while demanding that all copies of the film be destroyed (though they did have other demands that were not related to the film).

Despite its troubled production and release (and subsequent fall into obscurity), the film seems to be enjoying a slow, but steady rise in critical favor, with many noting that it tries to present a balanced view of Islam and Mohammad (Akkad worked closely with Islamic scholars and religious groups to ensure accuracy to the Quaran). A [[http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/10/28/remake-of-respectful-mohammed-movie-is-planned/ remake]] was talked about in 2008, but nothing has been heard about it since. Coupled with the current political climate regarding Islam, it remains to be seen if it will ever be made.

Despite it's troubled production and release (and subsequent fall into obscurity), the film seems to be enjoying a slow, but steady rise in critical favor, with many noting that it tries to present a balanced view of Islam and Mohammad (Akkad worked closely with Islamic scholars and religious groups to ensure accuracy to the Quaran). A [[http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/10/28/remake-of-respectful-mohammed-movie-is-planned/ remake]] was talked about in 2008, but nothing has been heard about it since. Coupled with the current political climate regarding Islam, it remains to be seen if it will ever be made.

Unfortunately, the film's release didn't mark the end of its problems; the film was banned in several Middle-Eastern countries of the time due to religious conflicts over the idea of a movie about Mohammad. Even worse, a radical group, believing that the film was sacrilegious, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Hanafi_Muslim_Siege took 149 hostages in a siege shortly after the film's release]], and killed a reporter and police officer, while demanding that all copies of the film be destroyed (though they did have other demands that were not related to the film).

A 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'' (US title: ''The Message''), is the story of Islam on film. Actually, it can best be described as the story of Muhammad's impact on the lives of others. His uncle, Hamza, helps him spread the word about his teachings. This leads to their battle to reclaim the city of Mecca from corrupt leaders.

Akkad also filmed an Arabic version of the film (in which Muna Wassef played Hind) simultaneously with an Arab cast for audiences in the Middle East. He felt that dubbing the English version in Arabic would not be enough as Arabic acting style differed from Hollywood's. The actors would take turns doing the English and Arabic versions in each scene. Both the English and Arabic versions are now sold together in some [=DVD=]s.

* TheVoiceless[=/=]TheGhost: For ''[[AgainstMyReligion very obvious reasons]],'' Muhammad is not shown once on screen or heard off camera. The closest we ever get to seeing him is glimpses of his staff and camel.

* TheVoiceless[=/=]TheGhost: For ''[[AgainstMyReligion very obvious reasons]],'' Muhammad is not shown once on screen or heard off camera.