Misc

Scene shows Omar Khayyam at Alamut with Hassan Sabbah and the Hashashin (Assassins). Clip info says this movie was never shown in Iran, because the word "Shah" was used in it.



Info on YouTube:

This is a scene from "Omar Khayyam," the movie Hollywood has made in 1957 about one of the greatest characters of Persian history. It is a fairy tale loosely based on Khayyam's life and time. Although it is a very positive portrait of Khayyam, Persia, and "The Shah," it is very ironic that this movie was never shown in Iran because of "the Shah" and will never be shown in Iran because of "the Mullahs."

By today's standards, it is not a great movie and somehow it sounds and looks very "cheesy." However, one critic has seen it as a wonderful and interesting movie mainly because he sees 9/11 in it. Here it is:

By: Wade R. Goria "Historian" (Brooklyn, NY USA)

This is a wonderful film and it came as a most pleasant surprise. Omar Khayyam provides us with a splendid cinematic introduction to Persia's greatest poet. Khayyam was a compassionate and noble figure whose extraordinary literary talent and all-encompassing intellect displayed no natural boundary. Important aspects of Khayyam's fascinating personality are admirably portrayed by Cornell Wilde. The casting of the movie was exceptional and we are treated to fine supporting performances by distinguished actors such as as Michael Rennie and Sebastian Cabot among others.

I was particularly impressed by extent to which this movie explored key historical issues surrounding the life and times of Khayyam. We learn about the Byzantine Roman Empire's war with Persia involving an alliance composed of Bulgars, Greeks, Franks and Lombards. We also confront a number of other historical and scientific issues in this film that are portrayed with an interesting admixture of detail and insight that seems to be unusual for such Hollywood productions. Omar Khayyam additionally provides us with a fascinating glimpse of the Assasins of Syria, believed by some to represent one of the world's first terrorist organization. As an advisor to the Persian Shah, Khayyam's effort to root the Assassins out of their extrodinary mountain fortress in northern Syria bears a striking resemblance to events taking place in Afganistan in the wake of September 11th.

There is indeed an eerie parallel between the Persian Assassins, as depicted in this film, and the American and Northern Alliance-led effort now being waged to blast Osama Bin Laden and his al Qaeda units from out of the caves of Tora Bora. Omar Khayyam has a most satisfying ending. After seeing it, the viewer should be encouraged to read Fitzgerald's splendid translation of the Rubaiyat. By all means see Omar Khayyam - the film's artistry, poignancy and depth will not elude the sensitive viewer.