Caravans

According to reports, James A. Michener, the source author of the film, disliked this filmed version of his novel and took legal action against the production. The adaptation strayed far from the novel's story. The book's main character, a fugitive Nazi war criminal, was removed entirely and does not appear in the film. Numerous other story elements were also left out of the novel, which prompted Michener's reaction.

INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

Sir Christopher Lee said in interviews that most of his role ended up on the cutting room floor.

BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

The film was shot entirely in Iran, including locations near the Iran-Afghanistan border.

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This was Barry Sullivan's (Richardson) last cinema film.

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It was the last film to be shown as part of Radio City Music Hall's Christmas presentation.

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It was the film debut of Duncan Quinn, the son of Anthony Quinn, who played the supporting role of Moheb.

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Richard Fleischer was set to direct it for MGM in 1968 as a major roadshow production, but the project was cancelled when a new management regime took over the studio.

PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

The film was released fifteen years after the publication of James A. Michener's source novel of the same name.

DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

The film was released in cinemas the same year as another James A. Michener adaptation, the television miniseries Centennial (1978).

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Anthony Quinn was cast for a role in this desert film based on Sir David Lean's famous screen persona in Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

It is one of three 1978 films starring Anthony Quinn, along with The Greek Tycoon (1978) and The Children of Sanchez (1978).

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Anthony Quinn does not appear in the first 44 minutes of the film.

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The film is set in a fictional country in the Middle East. James A. Michener, the author of the source novel Caravans, stated that the country in which the film takes place was Afghanistan. The film was shot in Iran, which may explain why the country is not specified.

DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

Uncredited, as an Arab.

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While the project was in development at MGM in the mid-1960s, Rod Taylor and Anthony Perkins were being offered the role of Mark Miller.

CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

Henri Verneuil was first assigned to direct in 1964.

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In 1970, MGM was pursuing Herbert Ross to direct.

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