Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt (1938)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Nice entry in MGM's TravelTalks series takes a look at Egypt with the main key being to show us that not too much has changed over the past three-thousand years. James A. FitzPatrick once again narrates all the story as we get to see various interesting locations with the highlight clearly being the Valley of Kings burial spot where thousands were buried throughout various centuries. We get some brief talk about the most famous person, which of course was King Tut. We then get to see some modern hotels that remain "true to the past" by still being surrounding by rock structures and other objects, which have been around for centuries. Once again the real highlight is the Technicolor, which really does this film a lot of justice especially during those wide shots of the deserts and the beautiful sands. The print shown on TCM was a little dirty but there's still enough clean color to really have the images jump off the screen.

TravelTalks goes to Egypt starting with the Valley of the Kings. Narrator James A. FitzPatrick emphasizes the old age of this civilization. He visits many ancient monuments. One can't go wrong showing Egypt this way. It is interesting to see some of old irrigation works and the old river boats. I really love the old water mechanisms. The ancient monuments are certain to be still around but the old water systems have probably been replaced with modern pumps.

James A. Fitzpatrick sends the Technicolor cameras with Hone Glendinning to take pictures of the ruins of Egypt, taking a look at things more than 3000 years old.

Fitzpatrick's commentary is loud and emphatic, and for once, justified, awed at works of man which have survived so long in the dry dessert. It's the Valley of the Kings, where tombs, temples and pyramids stand side by side with water wheels. It's a humbling sight, the remnants of one of the places where civilization arose.

The copy of this short that plays on Turner Classic Movies is in very good shape. Although most of it is the lighter tan of the stone and sand, the final shot of the sunset shows that the Technicolor elements are in very good shape.