How pitiful. Pure propaganda. Neither the Israelis nor the Arabs deserve such shallow "description" of what was going on at that crucial time of history. Hollywood at its worst. Spartacus? More, Mr. Deeds goes to Jerusalem.
shareCouldn't agree more, but I recommend this all the same, especially to young viewers who may not fully appreciate the ubiquity of propaganda in film. The propaganda here is blatant enough for middle-schoolers to pick up on mainly because the dialogue is so unsubtle. But I'd have them watch the scenes in Palestine again with the sound turned off. How does Topol play a Bedouin? How "empty" does the landscape look (e.g. devoid of indigenous Arab women, children, old men?) How much screen time do Arabs get and how are they presented? Once young viewers work this out, they can spot ideological manipulation in other films more easily. And that is a skill/habit well worth cultivating.
shareBrilliant idea, totally agree. I've not seen this, don't think I will ever bring myself to be able to. I have a low tolerance for this kind of bull but, yeah good idea.
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The landscape in 1948 WAS devoid of Arabs, and of Jews, Bedouins and Druze. At the time of it's founding, while Jews were the majority in Jerusalem (from about the late 1800's) the country was mostly desert with a tiny population.
Even today, with the major metropolis' aside and the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem corridor, there are vast empty areas.
That is simply a lie there were nearly two million people there in 1948, 68% of whom were Arabs. Palestine was one of the most densely populated regions on earth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Palestine
this film is israeli hasbara….
FREE PALESTINE!!
What was propaganda about it? The truth about the Jews taking their land back? How they kicked the Arabs off their land.
shareLOL seriously...is it a bit slanted? yeah, obviously. IT was made in the 60s but it was still a decent film and some great scenes. Especially if you're a fan of history and wondered how a riffraff army can defeat an Arab army of 5 nations, 20 times its size.
shareTopol makes this film, the way he talks and insults everybody's father and mother is awesomely amusiing.
Come on you can't say these aren't funny...
To Ram Oren: "When you were 3 years old, I was stealing cattle from your father. There was a man! A lion! He shot me twice, and we came to an agreement of gentlemen. I was a guest in your house. I held you on my knee. Twice you wet your pants and mine. You have no honor." and "Hush, hush, I'm far from dead. You can ask that bag of fat who just danced for us." lol
And also: "Don't worry I did not steal the finest camels in the entire desert to, to have them butchered by Abdullah's guns".
And: "I am not familiar? I was having woman in these hills when your father was sucking milk, and your mother was..." (then gets cut off) hahaha classic.
And to Yul Brynner's character (Asher): "who is this idiot?" lol I have never seen Yul so insulted.
And talking to Kirk's character (Mickey) about Asher: "yallah azeem if one of my men spoke to me in this way I would draw my knife and make of him a eunuch...but perhaps in his case it has already been done". lol
And only because I have Arab friends who talk and act like Topol in this film, you guys might not get the humor.
There's heaps more, I wont bore ya's any longer, but if you watch this film as a comedy it's really good.