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

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

i was asking because the run time on the shout preorder only matches up with the English version

You have as much information as I do. You could contact Sjout or wait until they finalize the special features to find out for sure.

[zekidk]

The tagline for LOD "A legend will rise, an empire will fall"? That is someone misleading if referring to Omar Mukhtar.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

The question is will it include both the Arabic and English versions of the films

Are you referring to LION OF THE DESERT? It's not the Arabic version that runs 30 minutes longer. There was apparently a Director's Cut Anchor Bay released on VHS in 1998 for LION that ran 206 minutes. But that was the only time that version was ever released, AFAIK it was never seen again after that. You also wonder if the running time there wasn't referring to all the content that was on the tapes but who knows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30417407292...wAAOSw5othXHUS

According to this DVD Talk review, THE MESSAGE had an Arabic version "shot simultaneously with a separate cast". But LION OF THE DESERT's Arabic version -- which was included on the Anchor Bay DVD years ago -- "is simply the same picture dubbed into Arabic, including the Italian sequences. And like the second DVD of The Message, it's not subtitled into English and thus is of no value, except to Arab speakers, that is."

https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/19149

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.

[emmet otter]

The shout sites says its a 3 disc release. I hope we are getting various version of this. Can hardly wait!!!!!!!

[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.

[Jr7936]

shout factory updated the info for both of the films. Disc 1 on each is the 4k version in English while disc 2 is the movie in English on a blu ray disc. Disc 3 is the arabic version of the movies without subs

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

shout factory updated the info for both of the films. Disc 1 on each is the 4k version in English while disc 2 is the movie in English on a blu ray disc. Disc 3 is the arabic version of the movies without subs

They couldn't get someone to do subs for the Arabic soundtrack?

[Dvd Aficionado]

They included the Arabic version without English subs? It's like the old Anchor Bay DVD. What's the point? Has Arabic become a second language now? I hope they don't screw up the aspect ratio.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

"The Message" is basically a Muslim Ben-Hur.

When compared to the original source material? Maybe. When compared to the movie? Probably not.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Originally Posted by Brian81

They couldn't get someone to do subs for the Arabic soundtrack?

was Bill Olsen secretly producing these sets?

[emmet otter]

Bummed on them not including the subs on the Arabic version as well. Would have been nice!

Glad to be getting away from the Starz release.

[Cecil B. DeMille]

Originally Posted by emmet otter

Bummed on them not including the subs on the Arabic version as well. Would have been nice!

Honestly that decision is bizarre! The numbers of individuals importing this from the Arab world will probably be in the triple digits at most. I strongly doubt there's that many blu-ray collectors there. So since this release is for the American (or Western) market, most purchasers won't be fluent in Arabic, so adding English subtitles would have been a no-brainer. Tbh I cannot recall an American or British release in the last years lacking English subtitles on a (from an English language perspective) foreign film.
The decision to one the one hand include it but on the other hand not invest in subtitles is mind-boggling to me. Who are they trying to attract with this second disc? The massive blu-ray collectors market in Dearborn (MI)?

[mohammad73]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

Honestly that decision is bizarre! The numbers of individuals importing this from the Arab world will probably be in the triple digits at most. I strongly doubt there's that many blu-ray collectors there. So since this release is for the American (or Western) market, most purchasers won't be fluent in Arabic, so adding English subtitles would have been a no-brainer. Tbh I cannot recall an American or British release in the last years lacking English subtitles on a (from an English language perspective) foreign film.
The decision to one the one hand include it but on the other hand not invest in subtitles is mind-boggling to me. Who are they trying to attract with this second disc? The massive blu-ray collectors market in Dearborn (MI)?

In my home country we never care about the Arabic version, as the main English versions was greatly dubbed in Persian. I wish they could add it to 4K version.

The Persian Dub was so good that I heard Akkad said, the movies would never failed in Box Office/Western Market, if the Persian voice actors could speak in English.

[mjk-94]

Originally Posted by mohammad73

In my home country we never care about the Arabic version, as the main English versions was greatly dubbed in Persian. I wish they could add it to 4K version.

The Persian Dub was so good that I heard Akkad said, the movies would never failed in Box Office/Western Market, if the Persian voice actors could speak in English.

I politely disagree, the Arabic version is amazing. Arabic is my first language, which makes my opinion biased. But, I think it is the ultimate version because almost all the cast are Arabic speaking people.

I truly wish they can include the English subs for the Arabic version because I want you guys to see it in the Arabic version.

[mjk-94]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

Honestly that decision is bizarre! The numbers of individuals importing this from the Arab world will probably be in the triple digits at most. I strongly doubt there's that many blu-ray collectors there. So since this release is for the American (or Western) market, most purchasers won't be fluent in Arabic, so adding English subtitles would have been a no-brainer. Tbh I cannot recall an American or British release in the last years lacking English subtitles on a (from an English language perspective) foreign film.
The decision to one the one hand include it but on the other hand not invest in subtitles is mind-boggling to me. Who are they trying to attract with this second disc? The massive blu-ray collectors market in Dearborn (MI)?

They sure attracted me with that second disc
but yeah you are right, I do not think many people will import this release from the middle-east, I was collecting DVDs when I was back home and I do not recall anyone buying movies when I went shopping, even my friends thought I was crazy.

[NeilZ]

Is the movie dubbed in English or dubbed in Arabic? Or are both dubs?

I’ve never seen these but looks interesting.

[Cecil B. DeMille]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Is the movie dubbed in English or dubbed in Arabic? Or are both dubs?

For "The Message" they filmed two versions simultaneously: An English version with Anthony Quinn in the main role, and an Arabic version with Arabic actors for the Arab market. Both versions were restored in 4K and will be released here, but only the English version will be in UHD, and the Arabic version will not include Arabic subtitles.

From what I can gather, they only filmed one version (in English) of "Lion in the Desert" though. The Shout release will include the English director's cut in UHD and an Arabic cut with Arabic dub in 2K (there might be some differences between the versions, I am not sure).

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

For "The Message" they filmed two versions simultaneously: An English version with Anthony Quinn in the main role, and an Arabic version with Arabic actors for the Arab market. Both versions were restored in 4K and will be released here, but only the English version will be in UHD, and the Arabic version will not include Arabic subtitles.

From what I can gather, they only filmed one version (in English) of "Lion in the Desert" though. The Shout release will include the English director's cut in UHD and an Arabic cut with Arabic dub in 2K (there might be some differences between the versions, I am not sure).

Thank you for that great explanation! I think I'll try these out. I have zero familiarity with the historical subject of these films but I love these kind of biblical epics so hopefully I'll like them.

[mohammad73]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Thank you for that great explanation! I think I'll try these out. I have zero familiarity with the historical subject of these films but I love these kind of biblical epics so hopefully I'll like them.

For sure both movies worth watching, even if it is only for hearing the masterpiece of Maurice Jarre. Some people believe that he was connected to a an immortal divine source while making the music of The Message, also known as its original title Mohammad: The Messenger of God.

[Mick555]

Wait a minute. You've gotta be kidding me. Why isn't the Arabic version of "The Message" in 4k? So the English version gets the 4k treatment and the Arabic doesn't!

Shout, has just screwed-up the release of a very important and historical, epic movie. I'm very disappointed and will definitely skip this one!