The Message" (1977) & "Lion of the Desert" (1981) 4K UHD

[Cecil B. DeMille]

Really looking forward to adding these movies to my collection. I've been wanting to see these two epics for years, so I am very glad they will finally be released on on blu-ray, and in UHD, no less! I am just wondering whether there will be any slipcovers. I really like the artwork for these.

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Shout's going to release whatever HD master was produced and available to them, which at this point, certainly seems to be the "standard" English theatrical release at 173 minutes. That's what was on the DVD and Blu-Ray releases also.

Apparently the Arabic version was restored simultaneously and rereleased in theaters in the Arabic world. Here is the trailer for this version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAm0AWFy3b0

Unfortunately, these will probably remain the only such restorations of films from the Arabic world. The region has a rich cinematic heritage. Unfortunately though, the money is nowadays mainly located in those Arabic countries which are anti-film, or rather anti-art. In countries with an important film history, such as Egypt or Lebanon, the OCNs are probably currently succumbing to vinegar syndrome and (I assume) nobody cares - not even dedicated organizations like the Film Foundation (or Criterion). What one would actually need is basically a kind of Film Foundation clone for the Arabic countries.
I assume this restoration was funded by Gulf countries, but probably primarily for religious reasons. "The Message" is basically a Muslim Ben-Hur.