Suez (1938)

75% of users liked it
(51 ratings)

This is an epic Darryl F. Zanuck production that plays fast and loose with historical facts regarding early 19th century French politics and the building of the Suez Canal. Tyrone Power stars as Ferdinand de Lesseps, an engineer and son of a French nobleman (Harry Stephenson). At the start of the… More This is an epic Darryl F. Zanuck production that plays fast and loose with historical facts regarding early 19th century French politics and the building of the Suez Canal. Tyrone Power stars as Ferdinand de Lesseps, an engineer and son of a French nobleman (Harry Stephenson). At the start of the film, he is in love with Eugenie (Loretta Young), but so is the French President Louis Napoleon (Leon Ames). After his father is appointed French consul to Egypt, the younger de Lesseps travels there and conceives the idea of a canal connecting the Mediterranean and Red seas. Back in France, he is promised help by Eugenie, now Napoleon's mistress, in exchange for Count de Lesseps' agreement to dissolve the government temporarily. Napoleon then declares himself emperor, making Eugenie his empress. The elder de Lesseps dies of shock at the political betrayal, while the younger de Lesseps starts building the canal, overcoming attacks by tribal people and severe heat. France cuts off backing, and de Lesseps has to get help from England to finish the project. A sandstorm injures de Lesseps, and his French-Egyptian lover Toni (Annabella) straps him to a post to save him, sacrificing her own life for the canal. Power and Annabella married each other after the film. The descendants of de Lesseps sued 20th Century Fox for libel, but lost. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Allan Dwan
Written By: Sam Duncan, Philip Dunne
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1938 Wide

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Cast

            Tyrone Power as Ferdinand De Lesseps

            Loretta Young as Empress Eugenie

            Annabella as Toni

            J. Edward Bromberg as Said

            Joseph Schildkraut as La Tour

            Henry Stephenson as Count de Lesseps

            Sidney Blackmer as DuBrey

            Maurice Moscovich as Mohammed Ali

            Sig Rumann as Sgt. Fellerin

            Nigel Bruce as Sir Malcolm Cameron

            Miles Mander as Benjamin Disraeli

            George Zucco as Prime Minister

            Leon Ames as Louis Napoleon

            Rafaela Ottiano as Maria De Teba

            Victor Varconi as Victor Hugo

            Frank Reicher as Gen. Chargarnier

            Carlos De Valdez as Count Hatzfeld

            Jacques Lory as Millet

            Albert Conti as Fevier

            Brandon Hurst as Franz Liszt

            Marcelle Corday as Mme. Paquineau

            Odette Myrtil as Duchess

            Egon Brecher as Doctor

            Denis D'Auburn as Wrestler

            Jean De Briac as Engineer

            Jerome de Nuccio as Wrestler

            Louis La Bey as Servant

            Frank Lackteen as Swami

            Fred Malatesta as Jewel Merchant

            Alphonse Martell as Gen. St. Arnaud

            Alberto Morin as Achmed

            Leonard Mudie as Campaign Manager

            Jean Perry as Umpire

            C. Montague Shaw as Elderly Man

            George Sorel as Assistant

            Louis Vincenot as Jewel Merchant

            Michael Visaroff as Jewel Merchant

            Robert Graves as Official

            Jacques Vanaire as Old Engineer

            Tony Urchell as Wrestler
See full cast

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