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The Message (1976, 1977) (aka Mohammed, Messenger of God)
D. Moustapha Akkad

Taglined as "The Story of Islam," this epic-length 178 minute dramatic biopic was the debut feature film of Islamic, Syrian-born producer/director Moustapha Akkad (who later produced John Carpenter's successful horror film Halloween (1978)). It starred Mexican-born actor Anthony Quinn (Abdallah Geith in the 198 minute Arabic version) - following his success in the desert epic Lawrence of Arabia (1962) -- as Mohammed's desert-dwelling warrior uncle Hamza. It was set in 7th century Mecca and documented the beginnings of Islam and the life and teachings of the prophet. The film's script - written by Irishman H.A.L. (Harry) Craig - took two years of research and writing before its readiness for filming, due in part to the restriction that Muslim authorities had to approve the finished screenplay before filming could commence.

Problems began almost immediately when it was unfoundly rumored that Peter O'Toole, and then American star Charlton Heston, would star in the lead role, causing two days of bloody riots in Karachi, Pakistan. This caused a stir because it was feared that the film would violate the strict Muslim belief (forbidden by Shari'a, Islamic holy law formed after Mohammed's death) that any representation of the Diety Allah or His Prophet Mohammed (and his immediate family including wives, daughters, and sons-in-law) could not be depicted on screen nor could his voice be heard. However, the politically-correct film represented him either off-screen, as the camera's point-of-view, or with occasional symbolic appearances (i.e., his camel-riding stick, his tent, and his holy camel). Nonetheless, endless protests, riots and death threats (by telephone) accompanied the film's production and making (totaling seven years).

In its troubled production history, the film was forced to move from Saudi Arabia to Morocco for filming, where Akkad promised that he would construct a $100 million film production studio, as well as recreate the city of Mecca (and a model of the town's sacred holy shrine, the Kaaba, at a cost of $400,000), and hire thousands of extras. [The film was originally backed for up to $60 million by Saudi monarch King Faisal, until he pulled out of the project while disallowing filming on location in Mecca and Medina. Later, Faisal denounced the infidel filmmakers in Morocco and caused the dismantlement of the whole film operation, resulting in relocation costs of more than $2 million.] Akkad was forced to move and find financial backing and sponsorship from terrorist-friendly Libyan leader Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi. Ultimately, The Message was shot in two versions with different cast members, a Western version in English and a special Arabic version (entitled Al-Ris-Alah), adding to the costs.

The film faced a dilemma regarding its marketing for US audiences, for its emphasis on a non-Western religious leader who didn't even appear in the film. Eventually, it was decided to use the tagline: "In four decades only four... "The Robe" "The Ten Commandments" "Ben-Hur" and now... For the first time...the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!" Difficulties with the film's title forced it to be changed to The Message for its world premiere in London in late July, 1976. Various religious groups called the film 'sacrilegious' and 'an insult to Islam' and it was banned from showings in much of the Arab world. Without all the surrounding controversies whirling about, the film was still viewed as a bland, compromising film that was overlong.

There was further controversy when the film was scheduled to premiere in the U.S. in Washington, DC, in March, 1977. The Hanafi Black Muslim extremist group led by Hamas Abdul Khaalis staged a heavily-armed siege against the local Jewish chapter of the B'nai B'rith (its national headquarters) under the mistaken belief (without having seen the film) that Anthony Quinn played Mohammed in the film. During the two-day crisis, they took nearly 150 people hostage, and threatened to blow up the building while demanding the film opening's cancellation. Future DC mayor Marion Barry was shot when the terrorists overran the District Building, and many others were injured. The hostage situation was eventually defused by the FBI and Muslim ambassadors, and the theater chain that had booked the film cancelled the showing. This disastrous opening unfortunately ruined US box-office for the controversial film, as various moviehouses were forced to cancel their showings due to political pressures and further fears of violence.

Ironically, in late 2005, Akkad died from injuries sustained during terrorist attacks in Jordan.

Arabic and the ability to speak English is necessary plus any of the languages listed below or multiple language skills would be advantageous. The applicant should be professional and punctual. Prestige requires reliable interpretors and qualified translators in all languages including Eastern European, African and Asian, based all around the UK for face-to-face interpreting assignments, Multilingual publishing, Voice recording, Braille, Sign Language(BSL) and professional translation work. Regular freelance work is available for experienced linguists.

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Heloo, my name is Amine , im from Algeria, and  im finaliste on a web  video contest called "Democracy challenge" with my video  : "democracy is a free mind"..... im on the 3erd round,  the voting round... i represent Algeria, north africa and..may be the hole near east..its a big thing :)

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clique on "vote now" then look for my video name :

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thanks a lot!!!
amine

Choukrane :)

No... I did not know that there was this coffee here, and it is at Harvard square, nice...

Thank you, I will have a look inchallah

lazamelkoum:

1L et 1/2 d'eau - 250g farine hmissa - 1 oeuf - 1 c a soupe de sel - 1/2 verre d'huile

Khaltou bien comme il faut ---- mettre le tout dans un moule ---- laisser une epaisseur d'environ 2 - 2 et demi de cm ( 3ynek hiya mizanek ) ---- au four 400 degres ---- une fois tabda tahmar, allumer le four du haut...bien surveiller pour que ca brule pas ----Et chahiya tayiba!!!

Pour les amateurs de kamoune et de hrissa..up to them !!!

J'attend de vos nouvelles !!!

webmaster@al-djazair.com

Marhaben biki ila Boston

You picked a nice city ! Enjoy !

Did you have coffee at "Algiers" Coffee place?

Momo

my adress mail is : rose_from_tlemcen@hotmail.fr

Thanks :)

Salam everyone

I am Nissia from Paris, and I am doing an internship at Harvard.

I would like to go visiting new york city and I know that there is more algerians at New york than here, in Boston ...

So, if a family or girls are interested in being my "guide" to visit New York, it will be very nice !

I am sorry for my english, I just came 2 month ago... :)

Well, in a way what you are saying is 100% true, but what we overlook is the fact that even with open position many of us Algerians would not work and if we does we slack off, for the same salary the Chinese worker works for 12 hours, our worker works for almost 8 hours and still complains about a ton of things, Chinese (and i am taking them as example because they are the biggest portions in that area) not only work hard but they do exactly what they are toled, while us Algerians do not like being ordered by, well hello you wanna be your own boss then?

That is why the Authority is bringing Foreigners to work, because they will work unlike us.

Some will think i live somewhere else others in Algeria, well no i do live here and i have never been out of the country and I tell you the truth, if We wanna work we will work because we can do better but no we stick to old believes such as the bad
government and Poverty and stuff like that, we take those as reasons to not do our best, and I am not denying we don't have those, but instead of passing tie against the wall cursing your country your government and other matters, and when time comes you don't wanna work 12 hours and do your best, you dont wanna learn you don't wanna be ordered you do things your way and your way only..? How do you expect to work then?

Or am I wrong?

..I do not really know what's wrong with the Algerians, everybody wants to flee the country for a better life.... for god's sake WHERE IS THIS BETTER LIFE? there is no better life anywhere in the world, every single country has its own poblems....., why you do not just try  to seek a better life in our home country  , I believe everyone can have a chance , we need just to be positive , to start working instead of being ashamed, and stop criticizing... Algeria is your home, no home like  Algeria whether you like that or not.  Algerien jusqu'au dans la peau.

from  where did you get this valuable info...? Is it realy important to be posted here...?

El Salam to all my brothers, and sisters living in the united states!

My name is Fethi, and I'm a 28 year old french algerian person living in the northern suburbs of Paris, I take my orgins from both Constantine and Guelma.

This summer, i made a trip to NYC ! i spent a week there and it was amasing! but unfortunately i did not meet any algerian there, except from few egyptians and morrocans. Any way a week is not enough to visit the whole city so i mainly visited Manhatan, Herlem ,coney island ,the queens and brooklyn and was surprised that there was an arabic neighborhood 'around the 48th street i guess' i dont really remember.

After the Algerian national team performance i was really happy to see our community out in brooklyn streets and i had this feeling:

"there are algerian out there in new york and they express such a unity...I just wanted to make part of this community".

To summarize, I just have a great desire to live there just for a while or why not stay there among my brothers and sisters.

The probleme ans as you might guess is that i know strictly no one there.

If someone sees my words , let me thank you for reading me and wish you all the best,and for others who can provide help and want to offer me a friendship or a chance of an opportunity to live there i join my Email: touhafethi@hotmail.com

thank you all and may allah bless you, us and our beloved country.

any one algerianlive in usa can help me i live in algeria
i just need one think he just seel in usa

Algeria decided to send hundreds of police officers to Sudan

Indeed, there is a cultural association:  the Algerian-American National Association (AANA-NY) was the first to be created in the US in 1989.... and it continues to be active with cultural and community events. You can e-mail me and I will keep you informed of all the activities.
My e-mail: hamidkherief@gmail.com

Salam aleikom;
I just wanted to introduce myself and to know if there are any Algerian families in Brooklyn area of NYC.

wa aleykon salam wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh
You just asked what I exactly wanted to know,If you found out anything please let me know.
Thanks in advance!

Salam Alikoum,

I see that the Algerian communities in other area's of the country have created cultural organizations - but I have yet to find one in NYC. If anyone knows of an organization here in NYC, and they have the contact information - if you could pass it along, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks!

Nygal

 i think it's normal for our Arab countries. they are giving everything for the sake of money and power.
the prophet Peace Be Upon Him was insulted by the Danish man with a total silence of the gouvernment but till now the Arab countries in general and the Gulf countries specifically are consuming the products of this country. Shame on us.
See you friend

Congratulation to our football team

ALGERIA  1 – 0 ZAMBIA