Search - Biography - Queen Noor on DVD

The "Light Of Hussein" ~ East Meets West In The Kingdom Of

Brian E. Erland | Brea, CA - USA | 01/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an 50 minute A & E production, part of their award-winning "Biography" series chronicling the life of Lisa Halaby, the beautiful 27 year old American who married King Hussein of Jordan in the late '70's. It's the romantic true story of the woman who was to become Queen Noor, the "Light of Hussein."



Positives: This is the usual well constructed presentation that A & E is known for. Nothing speculative or fabricated, just the basic facts with lots of reviews with the Halaby family and old school friends.



Negatives: All of the footage of Lisa's childhood and college years are still photos. I would have liked to have seen some film footage, but if none exists there's nothing you can do about that. More importantly, I really would've enjoyed seeing some on camera interviews with members of the royal family other than Queen Noor, particularily at least one or two of her eight step-children.



All in all a worthwhile watch, specially if you're a big Queen Noor fan like I am."

Well put-together DVD for fans of Queen Noor

z hayes | TX | 01/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've always liked Queen Noor of Jordan and this DVD does an admirable job of providing insight into the life of the "Light of Hussein" as Lisa Halaby was known upon her marriage to King Hussein of Jordan. Lisa Halaby was 4 yrs out of Princeton when she met the King of Jordan and after the tragic death of his third wife, Queen Alia, the pair began to get closer and their friendship soon turned into love and then marriage. The documentary which is actually an A&E biography of Queen Noor traces Lisa Halaby's early life in America - her childhood, the constant moving with her family entailed by her father's job, and her years at Princeton[briefly] as well as her meeting King Huseeing, their whirlwind romance and marriage. It contains some insightful interviews with her friends from school, acquaintances etc. There is some film footage but not sufficient in my opinion - what we get are mostly pictures of her early life and even after becoming Queen of Jordan, there aren't that many film footage of Queen Noor and her royal family. The few times she appears in interviews here, we get a clear picture of her regal bearing, her candidness and overall, the impression is of a woman who was genuinely in love with her husband and who cared a great deal about him [this was made after King Hussein's death in 1999].



I do wish there were interviews with other members of the family - especially with her children and also her step-children. I wish there had been an interview with King Abdullah of Jordan [the reigning king] and his wife, Queen Rania. It would have been nice and insightful to have gained their perspectives on Queen Noor.



Queen Noor is a remarkable woman who has successfully bridged the chasm between two cultures, and who has and continues to exercise a potent influence on Jordanians. Conclusion - a DVD worth viewing for those keen to know more about Queen Noor."