![]() "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. And she's a greedy and conniving person who stops at nothing to get what she wants. Meanwhile, Khufu obtains himself wife # 2, a young princess named Nellifer (Joan Collins). 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. ![]() He desires the perfect pyramid to be built to house his body and his plethora of treasures obtained from war. Jack Hawkins plays an Egyptian pharaoh named Khufu, who wants to be extremely prepared for his "second" life. Hawks and company work with literally thousands of extras in some scenes, and the production design and CinemaScope photography are among the best one will see for this genre. On the contrary, it's actually exquisitely made, on an obviously very impressive budget. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bad film. It's rather giggle inducing when one thinks about the utter miscasting of most of the actors, and the utter silliness of so many lines. Undoubtedly, "Land of the Pharaohs" is likely overlooked when film buffs consider what constitutes Howard Hawks's best work. It was a minor flop at the box office and Hawks pretty much disowned it, but it's not without intelligence and in spite of its flaws it's a good watch for historical epic loving adults. The real stars are Tiomkin, Garmes and Harlan, who each bring the spectacle of the production to vivid life. There are stars in the film, but it does in fact lack star power. Also miscast is Collins, undeniably sexy, but never once does she convince as an Egyptian princess, and her make-up is awful. However, one has to really close off the ears at times to avoid the dreadfully wooden dialogue, and some scenes are painfully misplaced, such as the sight of a miscast 45 year old Hawkins wrestling with a bull, I kid you not. While the big finale is devilishly potent. This is not to say it's a dull picture, it maintains interest throughout, with shifty shenanigans afoot, femme fatale connivings and plenty of slaves standing proud for their cause. Land of the Pharaohs has all these things, what it does lack is a high end action quotient, the makers choosing to craft a picture about intrigue in Pharaoh Khufu's (Hawkins) court as the great pyramid is constructed. It falls into the filmic splinter of historical epics that thrived greatly in the 50s and 60s, where a cast of thousands are costumed up to the nines, the sets sparkle and location photography smooths the eyes. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin and cinematography by Lee Garmes and Russell Harlan. It stars Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, James Robertson Justice, Dewey Martin and Alex Minotis. Land of the Pharaohs is directed by Howard Hawks and collectively written by Harold Jack Bloom, William Faulkner and Harry Kurnitz. Worthwhile watching for Colossal aficionados. Epic scale direction by Howard Hawks is breathtaking and groundbreaking. The cast is frankly perfect, Joan Collins is wonderful in an overwhelming hammy acting as nasty queen, Alexis Minotis as high priest is excellent and James Robertson Justice as pyramid architect is fabulous. Fine score by Dimitri Tiomkin based on ancient music. Filmed in Egypt with a cast of thousands of the largest cast ever set abroad from Hollywood. The film was a colossal with big financial success, besides spectacularly and colorfully photographed by Lee Garmes and Russell Harlan. This huge epic film gets lots of crowd scenarios,fabulous gowns, dramatic scenes and is realized on a giant scale and full of spectacular sequences such as the building the Great Pyramid. Set design and Egyptian time production design by Alexandre Trauner are very spectacular. Intelligent screenplay by the Nobel Prize William Faulkner. The film blends drama, treason and hokey historical events. Warner Bros took pride in presenting one of the mightiest motion picture-making in entertainment history. Three pharaohs have pyramids on Gyze: Keops,Kefren and Micerinos. He is succeeded by Kefren who made the sphinx Gyze and the pyramid. Keops was the second pharaoh of four dynasty from old empire Egyptian, and he made the great pyramid of Gyze that hold his name. Regarding the historic deeds, the film talks about Khufu(alias Keops). Before he will have to face amount dangers and risks until obtain his objective. Their treachery stained every stone of the Pyramid. She and her lover (Sydney Chaplin) design one plot to kill him. The movie centers upon Khufu or Keops (Jack Hawkins) and the scheming Nellifer (Joan Collins) who holds dark schemes to inherit Egypt empire. This Colossal is the story of a barbarous love that left Egypt's Great Pyramid as its landmark.
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