A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.
- Kyra
- (as Luisa Boni)
- Egyptian Architect
- (uncredited)
- Captain of the Guard
- (uncredited)
- Dancer at the Party
- (uncredited)
- Priest
- (uncredited)
- Nabuna, Nellifer's Bodyguard
- (uncredited)
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
- Mea
- (uncredited)
- Dancer at the Party
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie was Producer and Director Howard Hawks' first commercial failure. It caused him to take a break from directing and travel through Europe for a few years. His next movie, Rio Bravo (1959), was the longest break between two movies in his career.
- GoofsIn the opening scene the pharaoh is described as a descendant of the sun god Amon / Amun. But during the Old Kingdom the the sun god was Ra. Amun only rose to prominence, and merged with Ra, as Amun-Ra, during the Middle Kingdom, some thousand years later.
- Quotes
Vashtar: Listen to them, Vashtar! This is a funeral, but they're not sad. They almost seem as if they're happy
Vashtar: The life they hope for in the future seems to mean more to them than their present life.
Vashtar's servant: I wonder if any of them ever saw or spoke to someone living in the future.
Vashtar: I don't think so, Mikka.
Vashtar's servant: I'd rather enjoy this life. Mind you, the wine in the grave sounds like a good idea, but how do I know I'll be thirsty?
- ConnectionsEdited into The Story of Mankind (1957)
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.
- kirksworks
- Dec 7, 2006
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Howard Hawks' Land of the Pharaohs
- Filming locations
- The Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan, Egypt(Quarry scenes)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,900,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1