Caravans

I was a teacher in Iran when this movie was being filmed there in 1977. Although the country mentioned in the film was a fictional place, I think the actual place in the Michner novel was Afghanistan or thereabouts. However, most of this film was made on location in the Esfahan area of Iran. The scenery is really beautiful, and although the movie time era is supposed to be the 40's, what you see in the film was typical of what you saw there in 1977, and most likely typical of today as well. It's a good and enjoyable story, somewhat whimsical, but still very enjoyable, especially if you have an interest in the Middle East, Iran in particular. Jennifer O'Neill plays the runaway diplomat's daughter, Anthony Quinn is the crusty, wise, much older tribal leader she supposedly runs away with (although there doesn't seem to be an actual romantic connection with them), Michael Sarrazin (who was a bit of a heartthrob circa 1977) is the young diplomat sent into the desert to find her and convince her to come home, and Anthony's son Duncan Quinn plays the role of Quinn's son. Many of the tribal people you see in the film are actual Qashqai tribal members who were living in their tents around the Esfanhan area and who migrate around the area just like the tribe in the film, so they are the real thing and most of them are not actors. The film's background music is good, too. This film was a big deal when I was there in Iran, and as I recall the film was some sort of a project which had the late Shah's sponsorship...I believe he was trying to jump start the film industry in Iran at the time. The Iranian actor who played O'Neill's Iranian husband was at the time one of Iran's biggest actors.

Middle East as it really was before the revolution.

This is a great movie that reflected the turmoil in Iran in the late 70s. Is the movie perfect, no but it's a capsule of the conflicts that forever changed the lives of millions.

The screen take did not impart as well as Michener's expose of Afghanistan. Perhaps Michener's account is a theme too comprehensive, but the script jocks and producers missed or excluded key semaphores and symbols critical to the core conflict of the story. As with many movie productions, the outcome of the story was altered, leaving one's impression off course. May be that is to Michener's advantage in his original "Caravans".

I have only just finished viewing Caravans. I read the troubles some people had with their movies. It did put me off for a couple of weeks, but in the end decided to purchase. I enjoyed the movie and there were no jumps or breaks in my picture and the sound was just fine. I watched this movie years ago on TV. Came across it on the Amazon site. Originally it was the music I was after. I found the CD on the Amazon site and purchased. Music was so great I decided to purchase the movie as well. I was not disappointed in the movie at all. It is not a fast trotting movie but it is certainly great viewing. You can not gone terribly wrong with a movie with the fantastic music score popping up through as your watching.

I love this movie. It explains a lot about the Afghan people. The music is beautiful and the story never gets tiresome. I have watched it many times.

A long time ago I had the CD Soundtrack that has a lot of great middle eastern music but watching the movie was pretty boring as I can not really tell you what it is about and found I did not even want to finish it and such a waste of Anthony Quinn Oh well I changed it to a John Wayne film that was a lot more fun and interesting as well

The picture quality is very good, colours are fantastic, sound is stereo. Highly recommended. What you can learn from this movie? To respect and accept other cultures and their custom. Not the whole world have the be like the western people even some like it so.

Film arriver dans les temps prescript.SEries de guerre avec un Malade de l'Irak qui essaie de retrouver sa femme mais sa femme se fais tuermais son ex est un haut placer dans l'armee iraquienne.

hi sorry for complaining it was a christmas present it is the right one he said it wasent because of the cover. he played it and found it is the right onethanks sorry for inconviance thanks ian

I don't consider myself any sort of movie expert. I bought this specifically for the soundtrack, and wasn't disappointed in that. The score is by Mike Batt, one of my favourite writer/composers, and there is some exciting music here. The movie? Well, as I said . . .

awaiting refund from 8th January told this would be processed I have checked credit card and bank account where there is no sign of a refund. Please processand give me confirmation this has been done

Lange habe ich auf diesen Film gewartet, und war dann doch herb enttäuscht. Der Kino-Film hat ein Seitenverhältnis von 1:2,35, die DVD hat ein Seitenverhältnis von 4:3, in die ersten und letzten Minuten ist darin das Original-Bild gequetscht. Der ganze eigentliche Film ist jedoch im Verhältnis 4:3, wobei alles was, rechts und links wäre, einfach abgeschnitten ist. Es gibt viele Szenen, wo dann rechts und links jemand miteinander redet, man sieht praktisch nur die Nasen der Leute und viel Leere in der Mitte. Ein weiterer Kritikpunkt ist die Qualität des Films an sich. Bei vielen Szenen im Dunkeln sieht man praktisch gar nichts, und das Rauschen und eine Bildunschärfe lassen einen den ganzen Film verleiden.