Press Photo Moustapha Akkad, Director of "Lion of the Desert" Movie - hcq41694

Moustapha Akkad, a Syrian-born American citizen who graduated from the U.C.L.A. Theater Arts Department, captured the imagination of the film world with his production, "The Message", based on the life of the prophet Mohammed. He later financed and presented John Carpenter's incredibly successful box-office hit, "Halloween", an economy-budget film that made millions. "Lion of the Desert" was inspired by a magazine article about Omar Mukhtar which Akkad read in 1974. He spent nearly five years preparing for his production of the story of the legendary Bedouin freedom fighter, starring Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, Rod Steiger, John Gielgud, Raf Vallone and Irene Papas.

Photo is undated.

Photo measures 8 x 10.25 inches.