Selahattin Eyyubi (film)

Selahattin Eyyubi (1970) is a historical adventure and war film co-produced by Turkey and Iran. Directed by Süreyya Duru from a screenplay by Bülent Oran and produced by Akün Film, it was made in both Turkish and Persian, reflecting its joint-production nature, and treats the Crusades era within a biographical frame.

The film depicts the defense of Jerusalem led by Saladin against the attacking Christian West. As the Crusader armies under Richard the Lionheart advance on the city, Saladin—denied the support he expected from the Muslim emirs—harasses the invaders with hit-and-run tactics before defeating them in a decisive battle to protect Jerusalem. Cüneyt Arkın stars as Saladin, alongside Cihangir Gaffari, Katayoun Amirebrahimi and Orhan Günşiray as Richard the Lionheart; in keeping with the era's tradition, many performers were dubbed by voice actors.