zardoz-13 Review of Queen of the Nile

Queen of the Nile (1961)

Romance, Intrigue, and Death in the Land of the Pyramids

[9/10 · 15 July 2023]

Writer & director Fernando Cerchio's sprawling Egyptian epic of the antiquity, "Queen of the Nile," toplining Jeanne Crain, Edmund Purdom, Vincent Price, and Amedeo Nazzari, chronicles the rise of the eponymous queen from her impetuous youth to becoming the Pharoah's wife of the during a time of malice in the palace. Mind you, snobbish critics ridiculed these one-dimensional, costume-clad spectacles populated by cardboard heroes and heroines. Undoubtedly, "Queen of the Nile" must have received its share of deleterious criticism since it qualifies as a 'female' peplum. Nevertheless, if you give this sword & sandal saga a chance, you'll be rewarded not only by its brisk pace, but also for its bittersweet romance between a forbidden couple. Moreover, two supporting characters that typically blend into the scenery and generate little sympathy stand out in this movie. Indeed, Hollywood starlet Jeanne Crain takes top billing as Nefertiti, the once and future queen in the land of the pharaohs. During her upbringing, she abhors her life, with its austere regimentation and her conspicuous lack of freedom. She bridles at the restraints imposed on her by a sinister High Priest, Benakon (Vincent Price of "The Abominable Dr. Phibes"), and wants only to abscond with a lowly sculptor so they are live and love anonymous lives together without interference. Tenet (Jeanne Crain of "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes") has fallen in love with a young man outside of her social status named Tumos (Edmund Purdom of 1954's "The Egyptian"), who shares her devotion. Sadly, these two characters are in for a load of grief and heartache throughout this 106-minute larger-than-life period piece. Ironically, the characters who deserve our sympathy the most are Amenophis IV, (Amedeo Nazzari of "Nights of Cabiria") as the future Pharoah. Amenophis suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has killed so many adversaries as a soldier that the bloodshed has driven him over the edge. Imagine that in a peplum movie! Meantime, as Tumos' assistant Merith (Liana Orfei of "Django Kills Softly") who worships the sculptor so passionately that she jeopardizes her life for him. Fernando Cerchio maintains headlong momentum throughout color "Queen of the Nile," and it never wears out its welcome. "Fistful of Dollars" lenser Massimo Dallamano's widescreen cinematography enhances this opus. Some of the dialogue in the screenplay penned by Cerchio, John Byrne, and Ottavio Poggi from a story by Emerico Papp stands out as quotable.