Vegas Buzz

IS "LORD OF WAR"

BASED ON

A STOLEN MOVIE SCRIPT?

[SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - VEGAS BUZZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE] A recent news release states “Director –writer Andrew Niccol based the “Lord of War” story of international arms dealer Yuri Orlov – Cage’s character- on assorted shady characters from news accounts during the past couple of decades.” Could it be that Niccol got this idea from a copyrighted movie script entitled “Merchant of Death?”

The “Merchant of Death” movie script and treatment were registered and copyrighted with the Library of Congress in 1999 by George Tallas, a Las Vegas resident.  Director Gregory Tallas and his son George Tallas wrote the script in the early 1980s’.

The script is a true story about Basil Zaharoff, arms merchant (1848-1936).  He was the most feared and ruthless man in the world during a period from 1880-1936. Kings, Presidents, and warlords bowed down to this man.

During the last four years the script (original screenplay) and treatment were circulated to various agents, producers, and others.

Photo: Nicolas Cage as international arms dealer Yuri Orlov.

The following is a synopsis of the screenplay and the life of Basil Zaharoff, the munitions merchant. Although it is an espose of the arms industry, strangely enough it is anti-war in conclusion. Being a realist, he recognizes that war is a lucrative business and so he sets out to “organize” it in a practical manner. When young Winston Churchill challenges him, “How can you sell arms to our enemies?” his reply is “Munitions merchants do not have enemies, only customers.”

We discover his liaison with a number of famous personalities, such as Queen Maria of Rumania, the young Duchess Villefranca of Spain and others, who are helpful in introducing him to all of the royal courts of Europe.

When he entertains, he provides a bevy of his “companions” as dinner partners to his famous guests, such as David Lloyd George, Alfred Kruppe and others.

Zaharoff saw the evils of communism and warned about the rise of Lenin and Stalin. Later he warned about the rise of Hitler.

We see him become a partner in the Monte Carlo Casino. He also buys the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. Here he also forms the Monte Carlo Ballet.

A vital force in his time, Zaharoff created wars for profit and influenced famous men, by bribe with women as bait.

“Who was Sir Basil Zarahoff? The notoriety of Sir Basil Zaharoff struck the imaginations of scribes both in the U.S. and abroad, especially Hollywood. Famous actors like Paul Muni, Edward G. Robinson, Edward Arnold, and John Barrymore were all anxious to play Zaharoff “in flickers on various occasions.” The day after the death of Zaharoff, December 1, 1936, “One enterprising agent contacted all leading producers within two hours of the flash of his passing, to offer bio of him. There is a reason why a film of Zaharoff was not made while he was alive. “Possible international complications and the power of the old wizard called off all previous plans to film his career.” Weekly Variety December 2, 1936.

Regarding “Lord of War” and “Merchant of Death” it seems that life is full of strange coincidences.

(C) 2005 Vegas Buzz News