Hildago
 

Just got through watching Hidalgo thought it was funny to see all these Saudis wearing Moroccan Koummya and the dagger that Omar Sharif had tucked in his belt was something really strange?

http://www.allmoviephoto.com/photo/2...dalgo_005.html

this one from the same film has a nimcha for a saif. after a bit of searching thru the internet i found that the film was made 'on location' in the USA and, wait for it....Morocco. would have never guessed. :D

that nimcha reminds me of a photo of one someone posted here recently from an antique store in morocco, silver grip and scabbard....

THE LATEST REMAKE OF "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" WAS FUN IT WAS CAST WELL AND THE CINIMA AND EFFECTS WERE ON A PAR WITH THE PIRATES OF THE CARABEEN MOVIES EVEN SOME OF THE SAME CAST. LOTS OF ACTION AND SWORD FIGHTING PRETTY MUCH ENTIRELY THEATRICAL BUT A FUN MOVIE THAT KEEPS MOVING. :D CURRENTLY OUT 2011 NOT SURE IF AVAILABLE ON DVD YET.

Just saw an interesting movie regarding the Ottoman Turks attempted invasion of Vienna, and got their tushes kicked by the Winged Hussars. As you all may know I am fascinated by the Winged Hussars heavy cavalry.

The Turks decided to attack Vienna and turn the churches into Mosques. If this was successful, they were going to press on to Rome and turn every Cathloic church into a mosque. With 300,000 soldiers against Vienna's 60,000 it looked like a slam dunk until the Winged Hussars charged and in three hours dramatically changed the battle from a rout of the Viennese to a massive retreat of the Turks.

The Turks left in such a hurry, running for their lives, that they left behind EVERYTHING! Weapons, tents, even their coffee beans (not in the movie). The Viennese grabbed up the beans, even opened coffee roasting plant where the Turks dropped them. Vienna is now know for great coffe, and here is where it started.

The battle took place on 9/11 1683.

Well worth a look.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899285/

Everyone seems to have forgotten the 1930's version of the Four Feathers, by the Korda brothers.

I think four versions have been made since the 1920's. I haven't seen the earlier version, but don't waste your time on the 1970's or the 1990's/2000's versions.

The one I recommend was filmed on original locations with either participants or the sons of participants. The technical consultants were accredited participants. The British side used all original uniforms and kit, and the Sudanese were shown as the were, original weapons and colorful clothing and no "costumes" designed by a costume designer. There was no artistic license taken by the director.

It shows the Sudan Campaign of the 1890's. In interviews with the cast, the battle scenes were so ferocious that the Western actors in some cases thought they were going to get torn apart.

In the last five or ten years it's become readily available again.

Lush photography, accuracy in the depiction of large scale attacks pre CG, cast of thousands, literally, and weapons galore!

I have seen the movie Bill is referring to and it is quite fun...though I was pulling for the Turks, even already knowing the outcome!...BUT I did not know the movie by that name, The Day of the Siege. The version I saw was from the UK and was titled Siege Lord II. They are the same movie.

Not many movies done on military...or any other...subjects of this period, so it's a good one to watch. The costumes are a little hokey, especially for the Turks, but don't let that turn you off to an otherwise fun movie!

Hi,
This sword of mine has an earlier Ottoman blade mounted with a later 1850 pattern Austrian hilt. I contacted the Army Museum in Vienna and they told me that this was a popular configuration amongst the officer class. Many of these trophy blades are regarded as heirlooms and were handed down through the generations and mounted with the regulation hilt of the day. I like to think that there is the chance that this blade was captured at the Siege of Vienna but of course I have no means to prove the possibility either way. Hope this is of some interest.
Regards,
Norman.

Great movies with great weapons :
Seven Samurai
The Samurai Trilogy...Musashi Miyamoto, The Duel at Ichijaji Temple, and finally The Duel at Ganuzyu Island
Legend of the Tsunami Warrior
Apocalypto
Warriors of the Rainbow
Best movie that I have never seen and should be made(if it has, someone please tell me), the defense of the Island of Malta by the Hospitallers in 1565 against the full might of the Ottoman Empire !