The Egyptian

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David W @Wheels642 Apr 1 Much better picture than its reputation allows. Has some basic historical truths and one of the best examples of the results of misplaced desire in film history. Beautiful and historically accurate sets and costumes from a period of history that only a few films have portrayed. Some of the areas the film discusses: Monotheism, early medical practice, the introduction of iron, all discussed with some reasonable actuality. Edmund Purdoms performance is somewhat unjustly criticized as wooden, when the character is more an observer to history than a maker of it. Peter Ustinov is a delight in a performance that pre stages his Oscar for Spartacus and his wonderful Nero in Quo Vadis. See more Steve D @RT35616104 01/24/2024 Dated and unconvincing. See more grey g @greygalah 04/20/2022 This film is loosely based on a 1950s novel that's so overly packed with detail to make it tedious to read. The script thankfully removed the suffocating pessimistic tone but, unfortunately, replaced it with a 50s pop culture interpretation of the Egyptian sun-god Aten as being a precursor to Christianity. It would take almost a decade before films set in the ancient world would be free of religion, thanks to Kubrick's Spartcus. This quaint addition shifts the focus off Sinuhe and away from the Machiavellian maneuvers of Pharaoh's sister and general, and nowadays makes the story seem dull and contrived. The other problem of the film is the casting of Bella Davi as the prostitute Nefer. A cruel but accurate joke on the set was "she's the actress who Nefer was." On the up side, the acting, sets, costumes etc are compelling. The downfall of Sinuhe after Nefer makes for a tragic tale that should have been at the core of the film. When you consider there have been at least eight reboots of Batman movies - no, not another origin story - this film is begging to be remade. See more 10/04/2019 Interesting movie, good acting and plot. See more 10/03/2018 saw this film on youtube. what a great film. quo vadis, the egyption, ben hur, ten commandments... these are all good films. i wonder why THIS film did not get all the credits which it rightly deserved. See more 01/27/2016 There are worse things than marriage. Sinuhe was an orphaned boy that was fortunate enough to receive an education and ultimately becomes the pharaoh's primary physician. It happens to be the pharaoh was Sinuhe's best friend growing up. They encounter numerous situations in working together, one that even may lead to the demise of the pharaoh. Best friends rule Egypt the best they can. "Soon the vultures and the jackals will make a poor meal of what is left of me." Michael Curtiz, director of Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, White Christmas, Mildred Pierce, The Breaking Point, Bright Leaf, and Dodge City, delivers The Egyptian. The storyline for this was a bit stale at times but contains fascinating scenarios and characters. The acting is fairly solid and the cast includes Jean Simmons, Gene Tierney, Victor Mature, John Carradine, Michael Wilding, and Henry Daniell. "Observe the mercy and wisdom of my master." I recently came across this on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR it since Michael Curtiz is one of my all time favorite directors. This may have been my least favorite project of his. It was still good in that I loved the characters, and some of the sub plots were well done, but the overall film was a bit more slow than I had hoped. Overall, I only recommend this to fans of the classics. "In the end, the sand conquers all." Grade: C+ See more Read all reviews

The Egyptian

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