Saladin (Film 1963 - ENG & FRE SUB)

Saladin the Victorious, also known as Saladin and the Great Crusades is a 1963 Egyptian epic film directed by Youssef Chahine. It is written by Yusuf Sibai and others, based on the novel by Naguib Mahfouz. Audio in Arabic with English and French subtitles (Click on CC).

It tells the story of Saladin ruler of the kingdoms surrounding Jerusalem, during the events of the Third Crusade. The film features an ensemble cast, It stars Ahmed Mazhar, Salah Zulfikar, Nadia Lutfi, Omar El-Hariri, Mahmoud El-Meliguy, Leila Fawzi, Hamdi Gheiss, Ahmed Luxor, Hussein Riad, Laila Taher and Zaki Toleimat.

It was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. The film was restored to its original running time of 186 minutes from the original negative by the Cineteca di Bologna and was shown at Il Cinema Ritrovato in June 2019. Saladin the Victorious is one of the Top 100 Egyptian films.

The film is considered one of the most important Arabic movies of all time, although some viewers took issue with the film's historical inaccuracies. It is also infamous for a production mistake showing a military officer wearing a wristwatch.

Richard I was not shot by a poisoned arrow as depicted in the film but both Richard I and Philippe Augustus II of France were sick from arnaldia, a disease similar to scurvy. Saladin did not kill Raynald of Châtillon in a duel but did personally execute him.

Cast & Characters:
Ahmed Mazhar as Saladin
Salah Zulfikar as Issa El Awwam
Nadia Lutfi as Louisa de Lusignan
Hamdi Gheiss as King Richard I (Richard the Lion-Heart)
Leila Fawzi as Virginia, Princess of Kerak
Mahmoud El-Meliguy as Conrad, Marquis of Montferrat
Tewfik El Deken as Prince of Acre
Omar El-Hariri as King Philip of France
Hussein Riad as Hykari
Zaki Tulaimat as Duke Arthur
Laila Taher as Queen Berengaria
Ahmed Louxor as Raynald of Châtillon
Fattouh Nchati as Guy of Lusignan
Ibrahim Emara
Mohamed Hamdi
Mohamed Abdel Gawad