I thought I had watched this before and didn't like it. But, I decided to at least start watching it again, and overall I liked it. Must have been confusing it with some other film.
When I was a kid I thought Sophia Loren was the most beautiful woman in the world. After watching this film I can see that while she may have been the most beautiful woman in the world, it took a little work to make her that way. She looks a little ratty here...but that does go along with her character. But still very entertaining.
The biggest problem with this film is that there is so much time trudging across the Sahara. It's part of the plot, of course, and had to be done, but those parts get just a bit tedious.
Otherwise, this is a pretty enjoyable film, and the ending provides real surprises...including that, for once, John Wayne doesn't save the day.
The plot involves Rossano Brazzi whose father may have discovered treasure in a lost city in the Sahara Desert, and Rossano is out to reclaim the treasure, possibly find his father, and -- with religious fervor -- save Sophia Loren from life as a prostitute. He hires John Wayne as his guide, and Sophia Loren tags along because she wants to the "saved" by both Brazzo, but at various times falls in love with both Brazzo and Wayne. They do find the treasure, which turns Roassano into...well, we'll let you find out that for yourself.
John Wayne, who I enjoy...or not...depending on the film, is pretty good here; it's sorta classic John Wayne, just a different desert. The messy Sophia Loren is good here, also, although I think the writers and directors didn't develop a particularly deep character. Rossano Brazzi is excellent...at least in the earlier parts of the film, but I though his character changed a bit too much later in the film, but again, that would be the fault of the writers and director, not Brazzi. Kurt Kasznar is decent early in the film as a local official.
This won't end up on my DVD shelf, but I did like it. Give it a try.
When I was a kid I thought Sophia Loren was the most beautiful woman in the world. After watching this film I can see that while she may have been the most beautiful woman in the world, it took a little work to make her that way. She looks a little ratty here...but that does go along with her character. But still very entertaining.
The biggest problem with this film is that there is so much time trudging across the Sahara. It's part of the plot, of course, and had to be done, but those parts get just a bit tedious.
Otherwise, this is a pretty enjoyable film, and the ending provides real surprises...including that, for once, John Wayne doesn't save the day.
The plot involves Rossano Brazzi whose father may have discovered treasure in a lost city in the Sahara Desert, and Rossano is out to reclaim the treasure, possibly find his father, and -- with religious fervor -- save Sophia Loren from life as a prostitute. He hires John Wayne as his guide, and Sophia Loren tags along because she wants to the "saved" by both Brazzo, but at various times falls in love with both Brazzo and Wayne. They do find the treasure, which turns Roassano into...well, we'll let you find out that for yourself.
John Wayne, who I enjoy...or not...depending on the film, is pretty good here; it's sorta classic John Wayne, just a different desert. The messy Sophia Loren is good here, also, although I think the writers and directors didn't develop a particularly deep character. Rossano Brazzi is excellent...at least in the earlier parts of the film, but I though his character changed a bit too much later in the film, but again, that would be the fault of the writers and director, not Brazzi. Kurt Kasznar is decent early in the film as a local official.
This won't end up on my DVD shelf, but I did like it. Give it a try.