La regina delle piramidi

Here's a film hotly criticized by not only many who saw the film, but by director Hawks himself. It's true, there's a bit of the Hollywood glam element to the production, but I'd say no more so than a half dozen other Hawks films, including the much more often praised "Rio Bravo" and "Hatari!"! (which both followed directly after "Pharaohs"). And the plot of "Pharaohs" makes a lot more sense than that of Hawks' earlier film, "The Big Sleep," which I believe is over praised because of its cast.

As a grand epic from the era where they made them big and were not afraid to spend money where it would show up on screen, "Land of the Pharaohs" surpasses many other epics of its period and even many recent films dealing with a similar subject (1999's "The Mummy" comes to mind). "Pharaohs" has an impressive and very satisfying climax that makes perfect sense historically and dramatically.

Also, no one seems to have mentioned the marvelous handling of crowds, particularly in the lengthy building of the pyramid sequence. I'll even go so far as to say the way Hawks composes his crowds for the cinemascope screen - arranging his Egyptian workers and pharaoh worshipers in intricate patterns with complex movements - rivals even Fritz Lang's similar work in "Metropolis" (1926), famous for its handling of crowds.

I think one of the reasons the film keeps getting bashed is because people haven't seen it in its original widescreen format in many years. Until recently, no Region 1 DVD has been available, so in its cropped, pan and scan VHS incarnation, the film comes across as wimpy and ridiculous. As can be seen in the widescreen DVD release, the grandeur is stunning, its art direction, costumes, sets and locations all holding up marvelously.

It must be said that composer Dimitri Tiomkin probably never wrote a score as majestically spirited as this one, a vast canvas of antiquity and drama. The cast is very much of its time, and some of the dialog is stilted and dated, but with the passing of time, most films suffer from this. Time passes and acting styles change. But a good plot holds up, and "Pharaohs" has plenty of the devious vs altruistic characters that drove many of Hawks plots effectively.

The powers that be in Hollywood finally released the film on DVD, promoting it as a camp classic, adorning the cover with a cheesy shot of Joan Collins, the one thing they apparently consider notable and sell-able about the film. Too bad. Yes, "Land of the Pharaohs" does have an element of campiness, but there is true grandeur in the vastness of the production and the fact that its cast of thousands was indeed a cast of thousands, not CGI. Perhaps one day the wonders of this film will be given the appreciation it deserves. As time passes these epics seem to be acquiring as much antiquity as the genuine historical period itself.

This Colossal is the story of a barbarous love that left Egypt's Great Pyramid as its landmark. The movie centers upon Khufu or Keops (Jack Hawkins) and the scheming Nellifer (Joan Collins) who holds dark schemes to inherit Egypt empire. She and her lover (Sydney Chaplin) design one plot to kill him . Their treachery stained every stone of the Pyramid. Before he will have to face amount dangers and risks until obtain his objective.

Regarding the historic deeds, the film talks about Khufu(alias Keops). Keops was the second pharaoh of four dynasty from old empire Egyptian, and he made the great pyramid of Gyze that hold his name. He is succeeded by Kefren who made the sphinx Gyze and the pyramid. After goes on pharaoh Micerinos. Three pharaohs have pyramids on Gyze: Keops,Kefren and Micerinos.

Warner Bros took pride in presenting one of the mightiest motion picture-making in entertainment history. The film blends drama, treason and hokey historical events. Intelligent screenplay by the Nobel Prize William Faulkner. Set design and Egyptian time production design by Alexandre Trauner are very spectacular. 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. The film was a colossal with big financial success, besides spectacularly and colorfully photographed by Lee Garmes and Russell Harlan . Filmed in Egypt with a cast of thousands of the largest cast ever set abroad from Hollywood . Fine score by Dimitri Tiomkin based on ancient music. 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. Epic scale direction by Howard Hawks is breathtaking and groundbreaking. Rating : Better than average. Worthwhile watching for Colossal aficionados.

It's hard to know how to rate movies like this because the genre is so inherently cheesy. In the grand scheme of all cinema, it probably should only get a 6 out of 10, but within the "swords and sandals" genre, it surely rates a 10! There are many classic themes here: an aging man's wish to be remembered through a great monument, a slave's desire to win freedom for his people, an ambitious woman's lust for power at any cost. Of course, everything is overacted and obvious as hell, but the plot stays focused, unrolling inexorably to it's horror-movie ending. This is Saturday afternoon escapism at its best.

Land of the Pharaohs is a fascinating, sometimes morbid glimpse into the Hollywoodized past. Unlike many epics, the film forsakes the usual Judeo-Christian perspective in favor of a completely pagan outlook. That, combined with some striking scenes involving the building of Khufu's pyramid, makes this worthwhile entertainment.

Over the years, many have criticized the film, including Howard Hawks, Hawkins and Collins. On close examination, their criticism of the dialogue is only partially justified. While there is some verbosity, and the discourse between Khufu and his first wife over his desire for a son seems unnecessary if not ridiculous(in this instance actions would speak louder than words)the dialogue is more than serviceable. During the funeral ritual for the heroic dead, the grand, evocative speech is even inspired.

Hawks also lamented that the film contained "no one to root for." Indeed, Hawkins' Pharaoh is decisive, infrequently warm and unquenchably greedy. As Princess Nellifer, Joan Collins is even more unsavory. There exists however, a necessary counterpoint in the character of Vashtar, who designs the pyramid in order to free his people. James Robertson Justice gives a sympathetic performance as the designer who is alternately good natured, thoughtful, and indignant at the pharaoh's cruelty. As the pharaohs advisor, Alexis Minotis manages a remarkable acting feat by enforcing Khufu's will and simultaneously evoking audience sympathy. As Vashtar's son, Dewey Martin's All-American boy persona is the only off key note.

Despite the generally capable acting, the film's chief attraction is the abundant spectacle. The thousands of workers toiling to build the pyramid, and the colorful court pageantry, are what linger most in the viewer's mind. The much-discussed ending may or may not be historically accurate, but is nevertheless filmed with a chilling sense of realism. In short, Land of the Pharaohs is an interesting thematic departure from the epics of the 1950s.

After years of war victories and accumulated wealth circa 2600 BC, Pharaoh Khufu (Jack Hawkins) becomes obsessed with building an impenetrable tomb for his body & riches, etc. Khufu turns to the brilliant architect and newly acquired slave, Vashtar (James Robertson Justice), to build the Great Pyramid, aka the Pyramid of Cheops or Giza. Joan Collins in on hand as Nellifer, Dewey Martin plays Vashtar's son and Alexis Minotis the high priest of Egypt.

"Land of the Pharaohs" (1955) is a sword & sandal epic that doesn't overstay its welcome at well under 2 hours. It was director Howard Hawk's first box office failure and so he took four years off from filmmaking to tour Europe before returning with the hit Western "Rio Bravo" (1959). It has since become a cult film and Martin Scorsese admitted that it is one of his favorites.

The subject is fascinating. The Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to remain relatively intact. It is estimated to have taken almost three decades to build. There are several theories of its planning & construction and the movie brings this to life for the viewer. The Egyptian government supplied 3000-10,000 extras for the 50-plus day shoot, half of them soldiers. While Jack Hawkins and the actor who plays Vashtar look decidedly European as opposed to anyone from the ancient Egypt region, producers wisely darkened Joan's skin and her potential lover looks serviceably Egyptian.

Although critics decry the subplot in the second half concerning an assassination conspiracy, there's plenty to enjoy in this lush spectacle: cowards thrown to crocodiles, the curious beliefs behind building such a unique colossal structure, the obsession & perseverance it took to see it through, thousands of extras, real vessels in the river, authentic locations, recreations of hauling the 2.5 ton stones, the Pharaoh taking on a bull, death traps, athletic dancing, Joan's youthful beauty, a quality sword fight to the death, the tragic close and Dimitri Tiomkin's great score.

Lastly, the flick inspires one to look up the actual pyramid, its history and videos of its exterior and innards. It might even inspire you to see it firsthand.

The film runs 1 hour, 46 minutes, and was shot in Egypt with studio stuff done in Rome.

GRADE: B.