He might be known as one of Scotland's most celebrated actors, but Sean Connery didn't just keep his varied roles to home turf.
In fact, the award-winning star portrayed a character from the region in a film often eclipsed by some of his more revered roles.
Connery took on the role of a Saudi Arabian national, and government minister, in the 1976 film The Next Man (also known as The Arab Conspiracy).
The first 007 played fictional Saudi Arabian minister of state, Khalil Abdul-Muhsen, in the political thriller, which was set during the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-1974.
In the film, Abdul-Muhsen proposes to the UN that his country will recognise Israel and support Israeli membership to Opec as a non-producing member. After announcing his radical plan, chaos ensues at the UN as Arab nations stage a mass walk-out.
With a plan to protect developing countries from the threat of communism during the Cold War, Abdul-Muhsen’s idealism makes him the target of assassination attempts, not only by terrorist groups, but also by the cool, female assassin Nicole Scott (Cornelia Sharpe) who grows close to the minister.
However, while fans have lauded Connery's performance following his death last week, the film did not please the Saudi Arabian government at the time.
The plot led Saudi's government to send producer, Martin Bregman – who also produced the classics Scarface, Carlito's Way and Dog Day Afternoon – an official protest at the depiction of events in the film.
The 1973 oil crisis began in October 1973, when the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo targeted at nations perceived as supporting Israel during the Arab-Israeli war.
The nations targeted, included Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa. By March 1974, the price of oil had risen nearly 300 per cent from $3 per barrel to nearly $12 globally.
In the film, which was described by late film critic Roger Ebert as having an “impenetrable plot that nevertheless has its moments”, Connery chose not to attempt a Middle Eastern accent.
The decision made the role one in a long line of international character roles in which he used his famous Scottish brogue to play an Irishman (The Untouchables), a Russian (The Hunt for Red October), a Norwegian (The Red Tent), a Scandinavian (The Terrorists), an Egyptian (Highlander) and a Moroccan (The Wind and the Lion).
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
MATCH STATS
Wolves 0
Aston Villa 1 (El Ghazi 90 4' pen)
Red cards: Joao Moutinho (Wolves); Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
Man of the match: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
Fixtures
Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
