User reviews

Today I watched this movie for the very first time. Back in the 80's this movie never made it to my home town, I guess because of the poor critics, and that was a shame because i really wanted to watch it, I had such a big crush on Brooke Shields during the early 80's. I knew that the movie was probably just a lame excuse to expose her sex appeal and popularity, and there were probably little to none substance in the movie it self. After reading the reviews I thought that this was probably a horrible fiasco of a movie I still wanted to watch it, but like i said I was never able until today. What a surprise... the movie is indeed not a big deal at all, but by far boring, it was rather entertaining, I mean not every piece of cinema has to be a master piece, but as long it is entertaining it will be alright, and this one it is alright. The rating is 4 out of 10, my self out of watching it and enjoying it and being able to watch again young Brooke in her prime it was worth it. I would give it a 5 out of 10.

Okay, so it's no Academy Award winner. The writing is poor, some of the movie is just plain silly, but there is a lot to enjoy.

I love the chemistry between the Brooke & Lambert Wilson... the seductive and emotional nature of their scenes together. Lambert Wilson takes my breath away! He did in 1983 when I first saw the film (okay, I'll admit -- a few times). I just finally found a copy recently and watched it again for the first time in 23 years or so, and he STILL takes my breath away! Brooke is beautiful and he is terribly handsome -- his face, his eyes, his voice -- he looks at her as if he's going to drink her. It's incredible. Mesmerizing. In my book, this is one of the sexiest movies ever (and without actually having any sex in it).

I looked up Lambert Wilson on IMDb and realized I didn't recognize him 20 years later in "Matrix Reloaded" or the newer "Sahara" (but it had been a long time -- the french accent and clean-shaven face threw me off). It looks like he's been working steadily in France all along, thank goodness. I'm thrilled to know he's been a success. I hope he'll do more American films. Oh, and the score was haunting. It added a lot to the film.

And one more thing: Brooke was practically a child when she did this film. I thought her acting was fine, especially considering her age and the poor script with which she had to work.

It's a shame that everybody knocks this movie, because it really is good. Sure, it is cheesy in parts, but hey it's a 1983 Brooke Shields movie, what do you expect? The best way to describe this movie is probably that it is very much like a Harlequin romance in many ways. Brooke Shields gives a very good performance, as does movie veteran Sir John Mills. It seems with this movie you either like it or you don't. Personally, I liked it and do recommend it. So go ahead, get some junk food, and a friend who likes romance flicks, and watch it on a rainy day.

Dale Gordon (Brooke Shields) is the falpper heiress to an American car company in the 1920s who upon her father's death takes it upon herself to enter an auto race across the Sahara dessert to prove the mettle of her father's car. Once there Dale and her two companions become embroiled in a tribal war between two factions and a sheik (Lambert Wilson) who becomes infatuated with her.

Sahara was one of a number of attempts by b-movie production company Golan-Globus to break out of their profitable but derided niche and break into the mainstream. Many of these films (Lifeforce, Superman IV, Over the Top) were big budget attempts to compete in the blockbuster field of the big 6 studios but all were failures (though Lifeforce has come to appreciate a cult following). Sahara was one of Golan-Globus' earliest attempts at trying a blockbuster and was inspired not only by popular adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark but also the 1921 silent drama The Sheik of which producer Menahem Golan was a fan. The movie tries to be part rousing adventure, part romance, and part comedy and it fails at all three.

Easilly the biggest drag on the film is Brooke Shields. Shields exploded onto the scene with the hits The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love, but Shields unfortunately is not a good actress. She cannot carry an adventure film because she can't bring the needed enthusiasm and investment needed to bring in the audience investment. But even if Shields were replaced with a more competent actress, they'd still be dragged down by a script that is equally parts messy, unfocused, and jarring. The movie is allegedly about a cross country road race, but the race is really only used as a book end since the majority of the movie involves a feud between two desert tribes that are both violent and sadistic, but one's slightly less sadistic than the other one meaning they're this movie's "heroes". Why we the audience are supposed to care about the sheik falling in love with dale or defeating the rival tribe is anyone's guess as the romance feels cringey and the tribal warfare lacks any stakes or reason to care.

That said, the movie does have merit to it. John Rhys Davies and Lambert Wilson are genuinely good even if they are unsympathetic despite the movie's attempts to make us think otherwise. The movie is also well shot with some beautiful shots of the Sahara as well as a genuine sense of scope and scale in the racing and battle scenes. The movie's budget was $25 Million (of which it made back $1 Million) and you can see the money in the movie, it's just a shame it's for a movie that is lacking in character or story.

Sahara is a bad movie made well. It's about as good as a bad movie can be made. While the performances range from good to bad, and the story is a cluttered unfocused mess, there is entertainment value to be had from the technical aspects on display. It's not good, but it is watchable.

The TV was on while I was busy with a household chore, so I missed some of the beginning. Then the story started to catch my attention and boy am I glad to have discovered Lambert Wilson. Someone else already said it... his eyes, his lips, his sheik's stature. He was mesmerizing and had great chemistry with Brooke. Her acting was better than I've seen her in later films. She handled the character role rather well, except for the boy/moustache sequence. Definitely a cheesy movie, yet I couldn't stop watching. The fantasy story drew me in and swept me away... yes, kind of like a Harlequin romance. Did I mention that Lambert Wilson is breathtakingly handsome? As soon as the credits rolled and I caught his name, I ran to google the web. He's French?! Mais certainement!

OK, I am a big Brooke Shields fan (that's why I have bought a DVD of this movie), but, honestly, I can understand why she was nominated for a Razzie award for this one... But it's not only the unfortunate Brooke, (except for C. Lambert, who plays the Arabic sheik in love with Brooke's character) the acting is uniformly bad in this movie. The parts where there are attempts at "humour" are the worst parts. The parts where there are attempts at drama come a close second worst. Or maybe the parts where there are attempts at romance. Nevertheless, the movie picks up some strength towards the end. The tribal battle scene is very good and the scene where Brooke is placed in a pit with black panthers and leopards is marvelous. For a western-made movie set in the Orient, I also liked the idea that the male protagonist was a non-westerner: you don't have a heroic white guy saving the white damsel in distress. Brooke's character is not the typical weakling damsel in distress either, she is a strong character herself.

I'm a pushover for the Saharan setting, but discovering Lambert Wilson was the best surprise. He made the whole movie. His eyes, voice, stature......just wonderful. I liked the adventure of the movie.......much like the Great American Race.

Intent on winning a competition in place of her distinguished late father (Steve Forest) , beautiful young heiress Dale (Brooke Shields) competes in his spot, takes on the guise of a man and then takes his place in a trans-African auto race, but ends up being abducted and falling in love for a desert sheik (Lambert Wilson) .embarking on a car race that crosses the unforgiving Sahara desert. Along the way, she must fight against nasty Arabs (Ronald Lacey) and for her survival in the sunny desert. The hottest place on earth is about to get hotter!. The Romantic Adventure of a Lifetime!.She challenged the desert, its men, their passions and ignited a bold adventure!.

An amusing but uneven ¨Perils of Pauline adventure¨ type adventure with thrills, chases, battles and romance. Starring Shields as a leggy little rich girl attempting to fulfil her dead daddy's dream by winning trans-Sahara car race is bound to attract some disconcerting jokes. Yet though an ugly crier and an indifferent actress, Shields throws herself into the part with gusto, doing many of her own stunts and suggesting that, given the fun script, she would work hard to be more than just a pretty face. Although this isn't as bad as one might expect, the film results to be mediocre with its fits and starts . Plenty of action and silly situations combined with so-so performances makes this one on step below the usual adventure movies. It really isn't bad as one might expect, but then expectations raised by this sand-strewn romantic adventure, inspired by the Prime Mnister Margaret Thatcher 's son driving his fast car into the middle of Africa and getting lost, barely reached ankle height. Stars beautiful Brooke Shields giving a lousy acting as young Dale who disguises herself as a man to complete a race across the desert in honor of her late father and a sheik captures her. And Lambert Wilson as the dashing sheik who takes her in his strong hands. In Sahara (1983) stands out a stunning support cast, such as: John Rhys-Davies, Horst Buchholz, Perry Lang, Cliff Potts, John Mills, Steve Forrest and Ronald Lacey

It contains an emotive and spectacular musical score by the grean Ennio Morricone. Likewise, colorful and brilliant cinematography by David Gurfinkel and Armando Nannuzzi. Shot on location in Jaffa, Israel, Negev Desert, Eliat, Israel, and London , England United Kingdom. The motion picture was middlingly but professionally directed by Andrew McLagen, and it has flaws, gaps and shortcomings. McLagen marshals his desert scenary nice, and the script almost manages to hold one's ttention much of the time. Andrew was the son of Ford's stock company stalwart, Victor McLagen. He was born in London but grew up around Hollywood, where his father often took him on movie sets. He learned the art of directing from greats like John Ford, who eventually gave him a job as assistant director on The Quiet man (1952). He holds the distinction of directing the most episodes of Gunsmoke (1955) and of Have gun Will travel (1957) . Being one of the few directors to have directed both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne , including Undefeated (1969) and Chisum (1970). He was a prolific craftsman who made all kinds of genres , such as : Wartime : Dirty dozen next mission, Sea wolves, Breakthrough, Wild geese, The Devil's brigade . Action adventure genre: Sahara , Ffolkes , Mitchell, On wings of eagles . And Western : Shenandoah, The way west , The rare breed, Bandolero, The last hard men , The Blue and the Gray and The shadow riders again with Katharine Ross. Rating : 4.5/10 . Average, though passable and acceptable at times. Well worth watching for Brooke Shields fans.

Ludicrous bodice-ripper starring the wooden Brook Shields as the kind of plucky romantic heroine who can change outfits in mid-kidnapping. Features such silliness as nomadic Bedouin chiefs who keep stone dungeons on hand, other Bedouin who have frosted lipstick and gold lame party outfits lying around, more Bedouin going on a human hunt using leopards instead of hounds (the leopards are kept on leashes where they can't chase anything), hairstyles that range from 1910 to 1983 (story set in the 1920's), incredible continuity problems with the trans-Sahara race that forms the basis of the plot (Brooke spends about a week in one spot, and suddenly the other drivers all appear at once; her two assistants appear and disappear randomly) etc. etc.

Just about the dumbest, silliest, most badly acted, worst plotted excuse for a movie you'll ever see. Young Brooke Shields is so bad that you swear she couldn't get the lead in a a high school play, much less a real movie. Even by the low standards of the romance genre, it's pathetic.

I`ve never seen as many bad actors in a single movie, it seems that they have bought their acting diplomas - if they have one!Not even Brooke's beauty makes this movie tolerable. Unless you are a big fan of her, don't waste your precious time watching it.

I saw this film (sic) recently, and by modern production techniques it is awful. By production techniques of the time I guess it is less than average. Continuity, story logic, 'special' effects, and editing are worse than woeful. On paper, I think it a reasonable story; in actuality it is ham-fisted, over-acted, wooden (yes, the two together) and laughable. You can see how the film was edited, how it was shot; it is almost like watching how a film was made. Brooke Shields gained fame for her looks, not her talent, as she became older she became a capable actress - and lost her looks. Take your pick; talentless babe, or competent worker. Either way, do not bother with Sahara - it makes Xanadu and Ishtar (yes, that dates me) look cool.

How can a great actor like Lambert Wilson son of one of the greatest french actor accepts to participate in such a stupid and pathetic scenario and movie. Even the worst of spaghetti movies is better than this monstrosity. How did Ennio Morricone waste his time and talent to compose a score for that! Do those guys have bank accounts problems? Even my concierge would not watch such movie! There are limits not to be overshoot in the production of movies and this one has by far overtaken them showing the total lack of culture of Andrew V. McLaglen as far as knowledge of the Muslim culture, ways. It's a total lack of respect towards a great civilization whatever our feelings are for the extremists we see at work today who also betray their own civilization and faith.

This movie is really not bad! Sure it is somewhat cheesy and not too realistic. But I look at it as an 80s adventure film - a piece of escapism! It's romantic and admittedly, a bit cheesy. But the movie is entertaining from start to finish and even keeps you at the edge of your seat during the action sequences that are actually pretty good. Obviously, Brooke Shields was a very beautiful woman, just 17 in this movie, but I really don't think she deserves a razzie for worst actress. Overall, I think she did a good job. I think a lot of people just viewed her as a pretty face. But she is actually a good actress. Envy, I wonder?

OK. To be completely fair here, I can't put the total blame for "Sahara" being an utter failure on the exquisite shoulders of the beautifully radiant Brooke Shields. I'd sure like to, but, alas, I cannot.

I mean, even though darling Brooke may very well be about the worst actress alive on the entire face of this whole planet, there's certainly a whole lot more to "Sahara's" dang-blasted problem than just Brooke's inability to act (the poor, untalented dear).

'Cause, believe me - "Sahara" really is a tacky film, all round.

And, just remember - While watching "Sahara" that any resemblance this film may have to actually being good movie-entertainment is purely a hallucination.

Or is it thirst trap? Whatever the case: No pun intended ... and fair warning, this is a testament of its time ... or bygone times. Talking about cultural ... well let's just say that certain people playing characters that do no equal their nationality ... and or skin color ... and I am mincing my words here, because if I talk about certain shortcomings of the movie ... well the review itself may be seen as not appropriate.

That said, Brooke Shields is not just beautiful, but is trying to play her role as earnest as possible ... not to mention that the script is giving her character some arc ... no matter the obstacles and discrimination ... she for one is not allowed to participate in the racing technically.

The movie needs you to suspend your disbelief ... a lot and be willing to deal with the cringe themes and topics (some of which I already touched upon) ... if you are sensitive .. and easily offended this will not be for you.

It is romantic though (again different settings) and fun to watch if you let it ... the actors are the ones that make it worth while after all.

This film essentially begins with a man by the name of "Gordon" (Steve Forrest) who has built a sports car and needs a bank to finance further production. Not willing to take a chance on an unproven product he is given the opportunity to prove the car's reliability by entering it in a grueling race known as the "Trans-National Auto Race" which takes place in the Sahara Desert. Unfortunately, he dies just before the race and as a result his daughter "Dale" (Brooke Shields) disguises the fact that she is female and enters the race in his place. Initially, all of the racers are given their choice of paths to take on this race but they are warned if they take the shorter one there is a risk of a tribal war starting and are advised against that route as a precaution. Considering that the shorter route may save 3 or 4 days in the process, Dale accepts the risk but what she doesn't realize is that war has indeed broken out and that she will now have to contend with both warring factions if she is to have any chance of winning. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay film which had a decent plot and some good action scenes. It also had a lighthearted feel which tended to limit some of the scenes requiring drama or passion. That being said, although Brooke Shields was certainly quite beautiful, her acting wasn't really sufficient to overcome this problem and as a result I have to rate this film accordingly. Average.

THIS FILM ACHIEVED ONE GOAL... It made BROOKE SHEILD'S earlier two films "BLUE LAGOON" & "ENDLESS LOVE" seem like absolute Masterpieces. This movie had NOTHING going for it. No hot romance. No tragedy or tears. No provocative scenes. Nothing. We always knew deserts were boring, but come on.. Give us some exciting love scenes in an oasis or something. The adventure part is very unexciting. The leading man is a bad actor. Brooke is a bad actress but the better directors of Blue Lagoon and Endless Love covered that up well enough. There is nothing to this movie worth watching. You're much better off just watching Brooke's first movie "ALICE, SWEET, ALICE" even though she dies in the first 15 mins.. because her death scene in the church is more memorable than being the star in every scene of this entire 2 hour movie 👎

(1983) Sahara ACTION ADVENTURE

The movie is supposedly takes place during the year of 1924 which at the opening has a young lady, Dale (Brooke Sheilds) driving her car around a track, with sponsors looking onward. For the celebration of the new model car, is a party and when the father goes for a ride, he gets into an accident and dies. Before he dies, he tells his only child, Dale to compete into the race called the Sahara rally for the intention of impressing sponsors, except that only men are allowed to enter. So she disguises herself as a young man so that she can meet an old rival of her dad's, Von Glessing (Horst Buchholz). During the Sahara race each contestant are warned about a war that is brewing on the desert between two factions of the Chambra tribe and the Hamancha tribe. And it is not long before she begins to cross paths with the Chambra tribe with the senior uncle Ibrahim Rasoul (John Rhys-Davies) abducting Dale and her two crewman. And she begins to meet and eventually fall for his uncle's nephew sheik, Ahmed Al Jaffar (Lambert Wilson) while captured.

Although, there are no cringe worthy scenes, that upon watching this, the movie can't seem to know what it wants which at the opening show cases a group of gypsies mercilessly killed by the Chambra tribe for no reason. Then the next thing you know, they are then supposed to be the side, viewers are supposed to root for since it is the same tribe the Brooke Sheilds character falls in love with. This is one of those movies in which producers may have seen actor John Rhys-Davies in "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and loved his performance so much that they may have intervened during the making of this one, and try to become directors themselves by replicate the same tone as the Indiana Jones movies.