The Devil of the Desert

A sword-and-sandal adventure set in an ancient tribal society about a Zorro-like figure who decides to rebel against the tyrannical ruler of his village. Chahine’s first actioner, featuring another early performance by a young Omar Sharif, was dismissed by the future Lawrence of Arabia star and would mark the end of his brief collaboration with Chahine. Today, this largely unseen film stands as a unique entry in Chahine’s canon and contains many of the hallmarks that would be refined in the director’s subsequent work: grand vistas, striking visuals, the combination of socio-political subtext with sensational entertainment, and the celebration of the human body. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)