Flame of Persia

1971 Documentary 57 minutes Directed by Farrokh Golestan

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About Flame of Persia

Orson Welles narrates a color account of Iran built around the October 1971 celebration of 2,500 years of the Persian Empire. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Empress Farah receive visiting heads of state. The Shah is also shown speaking about Iranian industry. Persian title: Forugh-e Javidan (فروغ جاودان).

Cast & crew

More about Flame of Persia

WorldCat credits Shahrokh Golestan as director of photography, Michael Tucner and Roohollah Emami as editors, and Loris Tjeknavorian as composer. ACMI lists Shahrokh Golestan as director. Wikidata lists the writer as Macdonald Hastings. The celebration the film records was staged by the Shah in October 1971.

Themes

  • A court celebrating 2,500 years of empire
  • Heads of state received by the Shah
  • An official picture of modern Iran
  • 2,500-year celebration
  • Persepolis
  • Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
  • Farah Pahlavi
  • Orson Welles
  • documentary

Background

The Shah's court marked 2,500 years from Cyrus in October 1971 with ceremonies at the Achaemenid sites and a tent city for visiting heads of state. The monarchy ended in 1979.

Making

Golestan's credit shifts by source: director on the ACMI record, director of photography on the WorldCat DVD. Welles is the narrator on both.

Look

Shahrokh Golestan is the director of photography on the IranianMovies.com DVD. ACMI's print is color 16mm.

Music

Loris Tjeknavorian composed the score. Orson Welles speaks the English narration.

Preservation

ACMI in Melbourne holds a 16mm access print and a digital preservation master. Viewing there is by researcher request. A DVD edition was issued by IranianMovies.com.

Notes

  • The Persian title on the IranianMovies.com DVD is فروغ جاودان (Furugh-i javidan).
  • The disc label describes the Shah and Farah receiving distinguished guests at the 2,500-year ceremonies.
  • ACMI holds a 16mm access print timed at 57 minutes 22 seconds, plus a ProRes preservation master.
  • A WorldCat DVD from IranianMovies.com in San Clemente is listed at about 60 minutes.
  • Spiro Agnew and Empress Farah appear among the guests in cast listings tied to the ceremony footage.
  • Wikidata classes the film as a documentary and as a propaganda film.

Scenes

  • The Shah and Farah greet visiting heads of state during the 1971 ceremonies.
  • Welles's narration ties the modern state to the older Persian empire.

Also available

  • IranianMovies.com DVD
  • ACMI collection (16mm access print, researcher request)