by Greg Mayer
Omar Sharif, the Egyptian film star, bridge master, and bon vivant, died earlier today in Cairo. The cause, at age 83, was a heart attack. Beginning as a star of Egyptian cinema, he became a figure of worldwide fame, starring in major roles in both British and American films. Two roles, especially, defined his acting greatness– as Sherif Ali ibn Kharish of the Harith in Lawrence of Arabia, and as the Russian poet-physician Yuri Zhivago in Doctor Zhivago. Both historical epics were directed by David Lean, and he starred in a number of other historical dramas (e.g. Night of the Generals), but also played very different roles, such as Nicky Arnstein, the singing love interest of Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl. (He also became the offscreen love interest of Barbra Streisand, who played Fanny). He continued acting until 2013, but his greatest roles were early in his career. Sharif was satisfied with this, telling the New York Times in an interview 20 years ago that he had the good and the bad, and that he had played in classic films and worked with great directors. As his roles became less prominent, he became a world expert in bridge, writing extensively on the game in books and newspapers. Later in life, he achieved acting acclaim again, winning the Cesar Award (the French ‘Oscar’) for his starring role in the French language film, Monsieur Ibrahim.
For me, Sharif stands out for his role as Sherif Ali, playing Peter O’Toole’s Arab counterpart, as a leading commander of the Sherifian forces allied with the British in World War I. (Jerry also savors his role as Nicky Arnstein.) One of the greatest scenes in all cinema is Sherif Ali’s introduction in Lawrence (which was also Sharif’s first appearance on screen in an English language film). He first appears as a dark streak shimmering above the horizon of a desert mirage, and then slowly approaches, becoming more real with each step of his camel.
Another great scene, that I have commented on here at WEIT before, is the Battle of Tafas. Sherif Ali pleads with Lawrence to continue the advance of the Arab Army to Damascus, and not be distracted by a column of Turks abandoning a small town that they have savagely ill-used. When I need to refocus my efforts, and stay on the important task– to keep my eyes on the prize–, I say to myself, “Damascus, Aurens, Damascus.”
The two scenes are brilliant cinema, not just alone, but in combination. In the first scene, we see Lawrence chastising Ali for what Lawrence sees as needless violence. In the battle scene, much later in the film, we now find it is Ali who clearly sees what is both right and militarily necessary, while Lawrence now engages in needless violence. Ali has grown, Lawrence has regressed. While based on actual events, much of the dialogue and action is fictionalized, and the scenes demonstrate the strength of the film as art, but also its limitations as history.
Sherif Ali in the film is a composite character, based in part (and in name) on Sherif Ali ibn Hussein of the Harith and, probably more so, on Sherif Nasir.
(The famous Ali ibn Hussein of today is a Jordanian prince who is one of the chief contenders to replace Sepp Blatter as head of FIFA.)
Omar Sharif was born Michael D. Shalhoub in Cairo, his parents Melkite Catholics from the Lebanon (curiously, one of the members of my high school graduating class was Michael D. Shalhoub, whose parents were Melkite Catholics from the Lebanon!). The name by which we all know him was a stage name. I will miss, as Robert Berkvist put it in the New York Times, Sharif’s commanding, darkly handsome, multilingual presence on the screen.
Ashamed to admit, I’ve never seen Doctor Zhivago. I have seen Lawrence of Arabia, and more recently, Monsieur Ibrahim. I loved both. It really was not too long ago that it was revealed that Sharif was suffering from Alzheimer’s. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear that, while he knew he had been an actor, he couldn’t remember much else about it.
He certainly belonged to a whole other class of actors.
Only thing to say is – they don’t make movies like this any longer. Too bad.
Sadly, they don’t make actors like this any more either. Only a few days ago I was reading that Hollywood now favours British actors because of difficulty finding Americans with the necessary gravitas for the big roles. Can you think of a present-day James Cagney or Edward G Robinson, because I can’t.
” . . . difficulty finding Americans with the necessary gravitas . . . .”
At least in part a consequence of fatuous, tawdry, shallow, attention-deficited, anti-intellectual U.S. pop culture?
I don’t know much about Sharif’s career, but “Lawrence of Arabia” is a tremendous movie. I saw the Widescreen version (or whatever it’s called) about fifteen or years ago at the Ziegfeld in NY. Incredible.
IMO this is one of those has-to-be-on-a-wide-screen movies. So glad I was able to see it like that when it first came out. The vastness of some of the desert backgrounds is almost like another character in the film.
I remember reading in the late 1960s (shortly after Funny Girl‘s release) that the Egyptian parliament had voted to strip Sharif of his Egyptian citizenship for having an onscreen romance with a Jewish woman (nothing was said about the offscreen stuff, nor Barbra Streisand’s own Jewish heritage).
I wonder if there’s any relationship between him and actor Tony Shalhoub, whose family is also from Lebanon (I checked and found no mention of a family connection, nor whether Tony’s family are also Melkite Catholics).
I was lucky enough to meet Sharif in Cairo in 1976–77. The brother of a dear friend of mine was Sharif’s bridge partner when Sharif was in Egypt.
May he rest in peace.
It is sad to see him go.
In England, we had a rather sweet (pun intended as you’ll find out below) joke that was in no way offensive to Omar Sharif:
How do you describe Omar Sharif’s eyes?
Like two Maltesers floating in warm nougat.
And who can forget Omar Sharif’s brilliant depiction of the unfortunate Agent Cedric, caught and compacted while trying to assist the French resistance in East Germany?
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When Lawrence of Arabia opened at the Cinerama Theatre, all the women in the audience leaned forward in their seats when Omar Sharif was first revealed – a giant thought balloon floated over our heads: WHO is THAT!?? Sigh. Then we also loved him as Antonio Banderas’ traveling companion in The 13th Warrior. Not a big role (not a big movie), but he was so good in it. Sigh.
I am sorry that quiscalus (above) has not seen Doctor Zhivago. This beautiful film , is the best love film ever made in my opinion.In the film, the good Doctor actually dies of a heart attack on seeing his lover,Lara who is seated in a moving bus(part player by Julie Christie)while he is walking down a street, Unfortantely, at this poignant moment,they cannot make physical contact although their eyes meet momentarily.Both actors are supreme at this moment in playing their parts.
The book is worth reading for the love poems of Boris Pasternak-These are master works of true love poetry.
I seem to remember that it was a moving tram and not a moving bus.
Yes Vierotchka, You are right.It was a moving tram when I cast my mind back to the time when I viewed the film as a boy.I thank you for the correction. In any case, a moving tram is much more fitting to a romantic film than a moving bus.
Ironically, Sharif only landed the role of Sherif Ali by default, and was originally cast as Lawrence’s guide, Tafas. What a superlative director Lean was, and Sherif’s introduction is a cinema classic. I remember an interview with David Lean in which he revealed that there was much more of this scene on the cutting room floor, and that he regretted not leaving it in and making it even longer, as intended, but he lost his nerve!
As a teenager I was hopelessly besotted with Julie Christie,and consequently very jealous of Omar Sharif, handsome devil that he was. That theme music made me shiver!
I loved the score and played it over & over. Also loved the theme from Lawrence of Arabia.
I remember Sharif most fondly as Maj. Grau, of German military intelligence in Night of the Generals. Wonderful movie. Have only seen Dr Zhivago once or twice.
Not only don’t they make actors like that, they don’t make directors either. David Lean was one of the all time great film makers – consider his CV: Laurence, Zhivago, Kwai, Brief Encounter.
I agree, but it actually seems to go deeper than that. Obviously, we all tend to look at the past through rose-tinted spectacles, but there is a general feeling that we don’t have authors, artists, or politicians of the same calibre that we had in the past. One suggestion is that people today haven’t experienced hardships like the Depression or the World Wars, which greatly influenced past generations, though I wouldn’t wish privation on anyone in the interest of character development!
totally agree!
Roles in two of my favorite movies! Expert on bridges, Love interest of Barbra Streisand ( ha, I do gossip)… A well lived life. RIP.
He had bucketloads of Charisma and the Scene shown above of his approach to the Well “his Well” surely is among the top 3 of iconic Cinema Scenes, he will be greatly missed, he managed to steal every Scene he was in.
Some of the dramatic scenes in Lawrence of Arabia were filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Back in 1974/5 I vacationed in Aqaba which is not far away. There was small restaurant in Aqaba called The Hyd Park Cafe [sic] and the owner was Omar Sherif’s stand-in and actually rode the camel in the scene instead of Sherif who was not an accomplished camel rider. Needless to say the restaurant was adorned with pictures from the movie.
I had completely forgotten (if I ever knew) that it was a stage name! Then again, I don’t know his work other than the trivia question level …
I did try to watch LofA once, but it was on at something like 1 AM and I fell asleep!
One on my favorites and two of my favorite films.
RIP Omar Sharif.