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Land of the Pharaohs (1955)

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Average Rating: 6.7/10
Reviews Counted: 7
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 356

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Movie Info

"Nobody knew how a Pharaoh talked!" That's how producer/director Howard Hawks explained some of the sillier dialogue exchanges in the William Faulkner-Harry Kurnitz-Harold Jack Bloom script for Hawks' Land of the Pharaohs. Extravagantly produced with a cast of seeming millions (actually there were some 10,000 extras), the film speculates on the circumstances surrounding the construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Jack Hawkins plays the Pharaoh, who orders enslaved architect James Robertson

Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

Directed By: Howard Hawks

Written By: William Faulkner, Harry Kurnitz

In Theaters: Jun 24, 1955 Wide

On DVD: Jun 26, 2007

Cast

Jack Hawkins
Pharaoh Cheops
Joan Collins
Princess Nellifer
Dewey Martin
Senta
Alexis Minotis
Hamar
James Robertson Justice
Vashtar
Luisa Boni
Kyra
Sydney Chaplin
Trench
James Hayter
Mikka Vashtar's Servant
Kerima
Queen Nailla
Piero Giagnoni
Prince Zanin
Carlo D'Angelo
Overseer
Alex Minotis

Critic Reviews for Land of the Pharaohs

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (3) | DVD (3)

When the viewing senses begin to dull from the tremendous load of spectacle, the script and Hawks' direction wisely switch to sex and intrigue.

May 13, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety

Top Critic

Fairly awesome if you can get beyond the clunky dialogue.

June 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Hawks forgoes any of those monstrous epic battle scenes, but as always most of his characters are made of shades of gray, which makes for fascinating confrontations throughout.

May 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Much of the picture concerned itself with the building of the pyramid, not an exceptionally exciting event to watch.

May 13, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

Blockbuster epics are usually not this thoughtfully put together.

January 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

...big and imposing, like the Great Pyramid itself and maybe just as enigmatic.

June 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

No wars; no battles; one dinky sword fight. But much pageantry.

June 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

A cracking script and a bittersweet ironic ending satisfy those wanting their drama on an epic scale.

June 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

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Audience Reviews for Land of the Pharaohs

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not as cheesy as it looks but still pretty damn cheesy

February 3, 2012

Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

Big budget nonsense with Joan vampig it up as a wannabe Egyptian queen. Some impressive set pieces but moves far too slowly to be really involving. Some of the acting is so stiff that if the actors mouths weren't moving you'd think they were trees. Jack Hawkins who in other films was a fine actor is strictly phoning it

February 3, 2012