Sahara Cross

• Franco Nero as Jean Bellard
• Michel Constantin as Carl Mank
• Pamela Villoresi as Nicole
• Mauro Barabani as Hamid
• Antonio Cantafora as Georges (as Michael Coby)
• Nazzareno Zamperla as Captain Zaft

The film was originally very different than the completed film.[4] Valerii stated that the film was originally titled Arissa Ballerina and written by Adriano Belli.[4] Valerii commented that "In short, everything was the opposite of what Hitchcock recommended, that is, that characters must ignore what the viewer knows. I told the producers I would make a film out of that script, because it just made no sense!"[4] Gastaldi and Valerii re-wrote the script, but struggled as the Tunisian co-production signed on to Belli's script. Gastaldi's contribution added new motivations for characters and included a few new scenes such as the battle between two bulldozers.[4] Valerii wasn't initially happy with casting Pamela Villoresi, stating that "Sometimes you have to make do with compromises or economical limitations, Villoresi is a very good actress, but I wouldn't cast her as a terrorist, if it weren't for a pre-signed agreement."[4]

The film was shot in nine weeks.[4] It was shot at Cinecitta with exteriors shot in Tunisia.[1] Valerii used a steadicam for the desert shots.[4] As it was a very first model, director of photography Franco Di Giacomo and cameraman Gianfranco Transunto were sent for special training in Vienna to use it.[4]

Sahara Cross was released in Italy on September 7, 1977 where it was distributed by F.A.R.[1] The film grossed a total of 706,960,000 Italian lira on its theatrical run.[1]

• Sahara Cross at IMDb