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SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

One of the best films i have seen

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Technically, "Land of the Pharaohs" is pretty good. All the dialogue was looped in London (where the film was edited), so that not only do we have all the principals voicing their own lines, but harmonizing English accents given to the large roster of anonymous Italian support and bit players led by young Piers Giagnoni (and probably — the dubbing is so skillful, it's commendably difficult to tell — Luisa Boni). Less unobtrusive is an obvious difference in grading between the 2nd unit photography in Egypt (presumably the work of Russell Harlan) and that of the main unit both in Egypt and Rome. (On second thoughts, I incline to the view that three cinematographers were used: An unsung lens-man — maybe Skeets Kelly — with Noel Howard, Harlan with Hawks in Egypt, Garmes with Hawks in Rome). It must be admitted that most of Hawks' fans do view "Land of the Pharaohs" with a mixture of dismay and incredulity. They have all actually seen this one. After all it's been on television so many times they could scarcely avoid it. (Of course standard TV is no way to view this movie. Although Hawks does center most of his interior action in the middle of the frame, the full impact of the vast location exteriors is lost. Principal cause for complaint is the acting. The principal target of the critics' wrath is Joan Collins. (Actually I thought she was pretty good. She often seems to be sending herself up and playing her ridiculous lines with a wonderful sense of mischievous tongue- in-cheek. I've no doubt her apparent flair was not the result of deliberate artifice but simply due to her inexperience, but it's the end result that matters. Hers is a satirically spirited performance. And she looks great too). Hawkins is usually given the thumbs up. (I thought he was miscast, but managed the role with moderate credibility considering the heavy weather he makes of most of his lines). Dewey Martin is usually passed over in silence, though his is by far the least convincing portrait and his American looks and accent are way out of place. I will admit that Sydney Chaplin is even less engaging and that James Hayter seems equally anachronistic, but their roles are much smaller. Although handicapped by obvious aged make-up, Justice makes a fair fist of his captive architect. Kerima's portrait of the queen is so wholly engaging, I wish that her part was much larger. Oddly enough, it is Alex Minotis who effortlessly walks away with the film's acting honors. He is always personable, convincing, agreeable and even charismatic. In scenes with other players who often seem dumbfounded by their lines, he is a tower of assurance and confidence. His high priest is never less than totally appealing.The scriptwriters, headed by the Nobel Prizewinning William Faulkner of all people, have come in for a good deal of criticism. Trite dialogue, banal, imitative plotting (the hackneyed flute-snake incident, for example, stolen from a hundred books including Romer Godden's The River) and weak characterization are all just jibes. As a peg on which to hang the spectacle, though, the script is strong enough.As a spectacle, "Land of the Pharaohs" succeeds handsomely. Hawks has directed the crowd scenes with flair, using the full resources of the CinemaScope screen, and even a few pan and traveling crane shots. The camera-work is often intriguing, and the music score is so wonderfully audacious and distinctively atmospheric, it's hard to credit it wasn't even nominated for a Hollywood award. Certainly Hawks thought so highly of it that he plugs it in the film's advertising, a rare honor for a composer so far as a non-musical is concerned.

The one thing I did like about this was what everybody else hated... that there was no obvious good guy! That's what I loved when I first saw it at 7yrs old, and that's what I love now... all the 50's spectacle and nonsense, glamour and spangles, without the very 'disturbingly obvious' one faceted good guy.I found these silly people with their silly dialogues more real, as a consequence, even at that tender age.And I always was attracted to the macabre and gruesome, so the ending was perfect for me; I found it totally satisfying at the time. So much so, that I remembered the film and it's title for many years, after other, more polished films had faded.Silliness on a grand scale, and yet there is quite a dose of REAL flavour in there.

Land of the Pharaohs is directed by Howard Hawks and collectively written by Harold Jack Bloom, William Faulkner and Harry Kurnitz. It stars Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, James Robertson Justice, Dewey Martin and Alex Minotis. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin and cinematography by Lee Garmes and Russell Harlan.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. 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. 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. While the big finale is devilishly potent.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. Also miscast is Collins, undeniably sexy, but never once does she convince as an Egyptian princess, and her make-up is awful. There are stars in the film, but it does in fact lack star power. The real stars are Tiomkin, Garmes and Harlan, who each bring the spectacle of the production to vivid life. 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. 6.5/10

About 5,000 years ago in Egypt, pharaoh Jack Hawkins (as Khufu) returns from a successful war, loaded with golden treasure and slaves for his collection. Away three months with his conquering men, Mr. Hawkins cleans up and has sex with beautiful wife Kerima (as Nailla). Hawkins loves gold and wants to take it with him to the afterlife. He has robbed graves and knows he needs to build an impenetrable tomb in order to keep his gold forever. For this purpose, Hawkins builds one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt...The film's narrator estimates three million huge blocks of stone are used to construct the pyramid...Enslaved architect James Robertson Justice (as Vashtar) plans the building. He wants payment to be freedom for his people - especially the son who kneels up to become handsome Dewey Martin (as Senta). Workers include slaves and others toiling in return for godly Hawkins' promise of life after death. After 15 years, pretty princess Joan Collins (as Nellifer) arrives. After she mouths off to Hawkins, he has her whipped, wearing a pointy bra and harem pants. She becomes one of Hawkins' wives, then plots against him...Ms. Collins is beautifully proportioned..."Land of the Pharaohs" was produced and directed by Howard Hawks, so everyone knew where to send congratulations or condolences. This film received most of the latter.Ordering a lot of medium and long shots, Mr. Hawks may have thought CinemaScope would take care of everything else. It is strange to read William Faulkner as one of the film's writers; we can only wonder what he was drinking, or not drinking, for his participation. The story should have been told from the perspective of "Vashtar" (Justice), who harbored the secret that "Senta" (Martin), seductively targeted by "Nellifer" (Collins), was the illegitimate son of "Khufu" (Hawkins). Lack of characterization, stand kneel or walk acting, and poor direction ruined a good plot and great ending.***** Land of the Pharaohs (6/24/55) Howard Hawks ~ Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, Dewey Martin, James Robertson Justice