Land of the Pharaohs
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Land of the Pharaohs |
| Original title | Land of the Pharaohs |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1955 |
| length | 104 (UK) to 106 (USA) minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Howard Hawks |
| script |
Harold Jack Bloom , William Faulkner , Harry Kurnitz |
| production | Howard Hawks / Warner Bros. |
| music | Dimitri Tiomkin |
| camera |
Lee Garmes , Russell Harlan |
| cut |
Rudi Fehr , Vladimir Sagovsky |
| occupation | |
| |
Land of the Pharaohs (Original title: Land of the Pharaohs ) is a monumental film from 1955 by the American director Howard Hawks . Jack Hawkins and Joan Collins play the leading roles.
content
The Egyptian Pharaoh Cheops plans to build a tomb for himself, which will be the largest pyramid in the world. He commissioned the ingenious builder Vashtar, whom he captured on his last war expedition, to make the building safe from robberies, because the pharaoh has amassed huge treasures with his wars, most of which he wants to take with him to the grave for his life death according to Egyptian belief. In return, he promises freedom for Vashtar's enslaved people.
In order to get enough workers to build the pyramid, the pharaoh demands separate taxes from all countries that are ruled by Egypt. Princess Nellifer from Cyprus comes in place of the tribute that her people cannot afford. When the Pharaoh nevertheless insists on fulfillment, Nellifer defiantly opposes him. Impressed by her pride, he makes her his second wife. But the power- and gold-hungry princess has other goals: She wants to kill the Pharaoh and usurp the power and all treasures in Egypt. Shortly before the pyramid is finished, her plan succeeds: the pharaoh dies in a conspiracy. However, his friend and advisor, the high priest Hamar, suspects the truth. He outsmarted Nellifer by surprisingly locking her alive in the tomb during the funeral service for the Pharaoh, together with Hamar, who followed the Pharaoh to death voluntarily because of an oath he had taken together with some priests.
Before that, however, Vashtar, who is actually supposed to suffer the sacrificial death of the tomb builders against his will according to Egyptian custom, is pardoned by Hamar as part of Hamar's plan to lure Nellifer into the trap and also as thanks for the construction of his pyramid, which is completely secure from Vashtar and can thus lead his people to freedom themselves.
Remarks
The exterior shots for the film shot using the CinemaScope method took place in Egypt, the interior shots in Rome. The German version was shortened by six minutes. With 12,000 paid extras, Hawks set a short-term record that was broken again a year later by Cecil B. DeMille for his film The Ten Commandments .
Although William Faulkner only worked on the script and there is no original novel by him for this film, the German cinema posters read the reference to the bestseller by William Faulkner .
The method with the sand, with which the tomb is sealed in the film, only occurs with pyramids of the late 12th dynasty and afterwards and was by far not as sophisticated as in the film.
Princess Nellifer's murder plan, in which the Pharaoh's little son, unsuspectingly luring a cobra with his flute , cannot work because a snake has too little hearing to be able to follow these sounds. When conjuring snakes, these animals instead follow the circular movements that the fakir makes with his flute by sight .
Reviews
"A pseudo-historical drama that is impressive in terms of structural details, special effects and crowd scenes, the weakness of which - despite William Faulkner's participation - lies in his paper-based dialogues."
“Handcrafted, neatly photographed colossal painting from ancient Egypt with an adventurous plot. Historically of little value. Possible from 10. "
Web links
- Land of the Pharaohs in theInternet Movie Database(English)
- Land of the Pharaohs in the online movie database
- Land of the Pharaohs atRotten Tomatoes(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Land of the Pharaohs. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed January 8, 2017 .