A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.
- Kyra
- (as Luisa Boni)
- Egyptian Architect
- (uncredited)
- Captain of the Guard
- (uncredited)
- Dancer at the Party
- (uncredited)
- Priest
- (uncredited)
- Nabuna, Nellifer's Bodyguard
- (uncredited)
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
- Mea
- (uncredited)
- Dancer at the Party
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie was Producer and Director Howard Hawks' first commercial failure. It caused him to take a break from directing and travel through Europe for a few years. His next movie, Rio Bravo (1959), was the longest break between two movies in his career.
- GoofsIn the opening scene the pharaoh is described as a descendant of the sun god Amon / Amun. But during the Old Kingdom the the sun god was Ra. Amun only rose to prominence, and merged with Ra, as Amun-Ra, during the Middle Kingdom, some thousand years later.
- Quotes
Hamar: You must give the order, your Majesty.
Princess Nellifer: The order is given.
[a priest walks around the pharaoh's sarcophagus breaking the clay pots which will release the sand and set the sealing of the pyramid in motion]
Hamar: It is done, your Majesty.
Princess Nellifer: Then I Nellifer am now Queen of Egypt and I now order...
[she pauses listening to a distant sound]
Princess Nellifer: What is this?
Hamar: The tomb is being sealed, your Majesty.
Princess Nellifer: NO! Show me the way out! I command you; show me the way out!
Hamar: There's no way out. This is what you lied and schemed and murdered to achieve! THIS is your kingdom!
Princess Nellifer: No, no, no.
[she sobs uncontrollably]
Princess Nellifer: I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die; Please help me!
[she collapses on the floor of the burial chamber]
- ConnectionsEdited into The Story of Mankind (1957)
Jack Hawkins plays an Egyptian pharaoh named Khufu, who wants to be extremely prepared for his "second" life. He desires the perfect pyramid to be built to house his body and his plethora of treasures obtained from war. He learns that one of his current prisoners, Vashtar (James Robertson Justice), is an experienced architect, and indeed Vashtar comes up with some ingenious ideas for crafting an impregnable fortress. Meanwhile, Khufu obtains himself wife # 2, a young princess named Nellifer (Joan Collins). And she's a greedy and conniving person who stops at nothing to get what she wants.
"Land of the Pharaohs" may be a challenge for some people to take seriously, but technically it really is well made, and it's consistently entertaining. Also in the cast are Dewey Martin as Vashtars' son Senta, Alexis Minotis as Khufu's loyal high priest Hamar, Sydney Chaplin as the traitorous Treneh, and James Hayter as Vashtars' friend Mikka. These people all do the very best that they can, but it's the ravishing young Collins who tends to steal the show - and whom the audience is likely to remember the most.
Among the heaviest assets that this can boast are Dimitri Tiomkins' rousing music score, the cinematography by Lee Garmes & Russell Harlan, the art direction by Alexandre Trauner. and the various costumes (especially those worn by Collins). Viewers may also get a big kick out of the fairly grim twist ending.
Seven out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Apr 16, 2015
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Howard Hawks' Land of the Pharaohs
- Filming locations
- The Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan, Egypt(Quarry scenes)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,900,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1