The Message (1976 film)

The Message
The Message
	DVD cover
Directed by	Moustapha Akkad
Written by	English version:; H.A.L. Craig; Arabic version:; A.B. Jawdat al-Sahhar; Tawfiq al-Hakim; A.B Rahman al-Sharkawi; Mohammad Ali Maher;
Based on	Muhammad
Produced by	Moustapha Akkad
Starring	Anthony Quinn; Irene Papas; Michael Ansara; Johnny Sekka; Garrick Hagon; Michael Forest; Damien Thomas;
Cinematography	Jack Hildyard
Edited by	John Bloom
Music by	Maurice Jarre
Production; company	Filmco International Productions Inc.
Distributed by	Tarik Film Distributors
Release dates	29 July 1976 (London); 9 March 1977 (New York);
Running time	English version:; 178 minutes; Arabic version:; 207 minutes;
Countries	Lebanon ; Libya ; Kuwait ; Morocco ; United Kingdom
Languages	Arabic ; English
Budget	$17 million
Box office	$5 million

The Message (Arabic: الرسالة, Ar-Risālah; originally known as Mohammad, Messenger of God) is a 1976 epic film directed and produced by Moustapha Akkad that chronicles the life and times of Muhammad, who is never directly depicted.^[4]

Released in separately filmed Arabic- and English-language versions, The Message serves as an introduction to the early history of Islam. The international ensemble cast includes Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, Michael Ansara, Johnny Sekka, Michael Forest, André Morell, Garrick Hagon, Damien Thomas, and Martin Benson. It was an international co-production between Libya, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria and the UK.

The film was nominated for Best Original Score in the 50th Academy Awards, composed by Maurice Jarre, but lost the award to Star Wars (composed by John Williams). Then-Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi provided the majority of the financial support.

^ "'Mohammad' Preems In London, July 29". Variety: 5. 7 July 1976.
^ Fitzpatrick, Coeli; Walker, Adam Hani, eds. (2014). Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LLC. p. 98. ISBN 9781610691789.
^ "THE MESSAGE [ARABIC VERSION] (A)". British Board of Film Classification. 20 August 1976. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
^ Gzt (12 July 2021). ""Çağrı filmi nasıl çekildi?" Mustafa Akkad anlatıyor". Gzt (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 January 2022.