The Favorite
Encyclopedia
For the opera by Donizetti, see La favorite
. For the stadium in Palermo, Italy, see La Favorita
. For the Canadian early music ensemble, see La Favoritte
. For the Brazilian soap opera, see A Favorita
.
The Favorite (also titled Intimate Power) is a 1989 film
based on the life story of Aimée du Buc de Rivéry
that takes place at the dawn of the 19th century.
's harem
in Turkey
. Fiercely independent, she resists, but must make choices in order to survive. She begins to influence the sultan toward more fair manners of solving his conflicts, but finds herself at odds with another of his wives, who wants her son Mustafa to become the new sultan. As the years pass, she must deal with the new sultan's advances while protecting her adopted son Mahmud, and helping the Ottoman Empire
against the Russians who have better weapons then they do.
The source for the story is a novel by Prince Michael of Greece titled Sultana - La Nuit du Serail.
La favorite
La favorite is an opera in four acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a French-language libretto by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz, based on the play Le comte de Comminges by Baculard d'Arnaud...
. For the stadium in Palermo, Italy, see La Favorita
Stadio Renzo Barbera
Stadio Renzo Barbera is a football stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on January 24, 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio in homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta, with Palermo winning 5–1...
. For the Canadian early music ensemble, see La Favoritte
La Favoritte
La Favoritte is an early music ensemble, founded in 2002, that has specialized in the performance of Baroque music on period instruments. The ensemble also enjoys stretching the bounds of its repertoire to include Medieval, Renaissance and contemporary works...
. For the Brazilian soap opera, see A Favorita
A Favorita
A Favorita was a popular and award-winning telenovela, first broadcast in Brazil at Rede Globo from June 2, 2008 to January 17, 2009. During its broadcast, it ranked within the top of the most watched shows in Brazil....
.
The Favorite (also titled Intimate Power) is a 1989 film
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
based on the life story of Aimée du Buc de Rivéry
Aimée du Buc de Rivéry
Aimée du Buc de Rivéry was a French heiress, a cousin of Empress Josephine, who went missing at sea at the age of eleven...
that takes place at the dawn of the 19th century.
Premise
A young French woman is kidnapped and forced into a sultanSultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
's harem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Fiercely independent, she resists, but must make choices in order to survive. She begins to influence the sultan toward more fair manners of solving his conflicts, but finds herself at odds with another of his wives, who wants her son Mustafa to become the new sultan. As the years pass, she must deal with the new sultan's advances while protecting her adopted son Mahmud, and helping the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
against the Russians who have better weapons then they do.
The source for the story is a novel by Prince Michael of Greece titled Sultana - La Nuit du Serail.
Cast
- F. Murray AbrahamF. Murray AbrahamFahrid Murray Abraham is an American actor. He became known during the 1980s after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus. He has appeared in many roles, both leading and supporting, in films such as All the President's Men and Scarface...
as Abdul Hamid - Maud AdamsMaud AdamsMaud Solveig Christina Wikström , known professionally as Maud Adams, is a Swedish actress, known for her roles as two different Bond girls: in The Man with the Golden Gun , and as the title character in Octopussy .-Early life:Adams was born Maud Solveig Christina Wikström in Luleå, Sweden, the...
as SineperverAyşe SineAyşe Sine Ayşe Sine (Devletlu İsmetlu Ayşe Seniye Perver Valide Sultan Aliyyetü'ş-şân Hazretleri) (or Sûltanā A'ishā Sinā Pervar) (née Sonia) Ayşe Sine (Devletlu İsmetlu Ayşe Seniye Perver Valide Sultan Aliyyetü'ş-şân Hazretleri) (or Sûltanā A'ishā Sinā Pervar) (née Sonia) (ca... - Amber O'Shea as Aimée Dubucq de Rivéry
- Ron Dortch as Tulip
- James Michael GregaryJames Michael GregaryJames Michael Gregary is an American actor, best known for playing the recurring role of Clint Radisson on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, which he had played from 1989 to 1990, and again briefly in 1991, and returned to the role briefly in early 2009...
as SelimSelim IIISelim III was the reform-minded Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1789 to 1807. The Janissaries eventually deposed and imprisoned him, and placed his cousin Mustafa on the throne as Mustafa IV... - Laurent Le Doyen as Sebastiani
- Francesco QuinnFrancesco QuinnFrancesco Daniele Quinn was an Italian-born actor. The third son of Oscar winner Anthony Quinn and Jolanda Addorlori , Francesco is perhaps best known for his breakout role as Rhah in Oliver Stone’s Academy Award-winning Platoon...
as Adult MahmudMahmud IIMahmud II was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. He was born in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, the son of Sultan Abdulhamid I... - Andréa ParisyAndréa ParisyAndréa Parisy , in civil life Andrée Marcelle Henriette Parisy, is a French actress. She was born in Levallois-Perret on 4 December 1935...
as Mirishah - Tom McGreevey as Uncle (as Thomas McGreevey)
- Celeste Simpson-Boyd as Zinah
- Robere Kazadi as Orchid
- Garth Wilton as British Consul
- Reuven Bar-Yotam as Algerian Captain
- Farouk Peker as Baktar
- John Kennedy Hayden as Chief Janissary
- Mike Johnson as First Mate
- Thomas Rosales Jr. as Third MateThird MateA Third Mate or Third Officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The third mate is a watchstander and customarily the ship's safety officer and fourth-in-command...
- Michael Saad as Jeweler
- Dale DyeDale DyeDale Adam Dye is an American actor, presenter, businessman, and retired U.S. Marine captain who served in combat during the Vietnam War.-Early life & Marine service:...
as French Officer - Joseph Darrell as Manservant
- Ayse Gungor as Harem Girl
- Starr AndreeffStarr AndreeffStarr Andreeff is a music manager and vice president of Maple Jam Music Group. She was a film actress in the 80s and 90s. Andreeff was born in Hamilton, Ontario to a police officer mother.-External links:*...
as Harem Girl - Erica Zeitlin as Harem Girl
- Victoria Dakil as Old Woman
- Roz WittRoz WittRoz Witt is an American television and film actress.She has appeared in minor roles in the television series Monk, Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Judging Amy, The X-Files, Diagnosis: Murder, Brothers & Sisters, The West Wing, Without a Trace, She Spies, Big Time Rush,...
as Nun - George Marshall RugeGeorge Marshall RugeGeorge Marshall Ruge is an American filmmaker, film director, second unit director, stunt coordinator, actor, and writer.George Marshall Ruge is known for his work as second unit director and stunt coordinator on such film projects as the Pirates of the Caribbean four-film franchise, and as stunt...
as Kamir - Joe El Rady as Boy at the bazar
- Jonathan Vuille as Young Mahmud
- Glenn ScarpelliGlenn ScarpelliGlenn Christopher Scarpelli is a child actor and singer. Born in Staten Island, New York, he is the son of long time Archie Comics artist Henry Scarpelli. He attended a private Catholic school, St. Joseph Hill Academy, from K to 8th grade....
as MustafaMustafa IVMustafa IV was sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1807 to 1808.-Biography:...
Production
- Director: Jack SmightJack SmightJack Smight was an American theatre and film director.Smight was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and went to school with future actor Peter Graves...
- Production Company: Ascona Films, Inc.
- Filming Locations: Istanbul, Turkey