Suez (1938)
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80% of users liked it
(57 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
- Directed By
- Allan Dwan
- Written By
- Sam Duncan, Philip Dunne
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1938 Wide
- Studio
- Fox
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The historical drama suffers for being undramatic.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Tyrone Power
as Ferdinand De Lesseps
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Loretta Young
as Empress Eugenie
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Annabella
as Toni
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J. Edward Bromberg
as Said
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Joseph Schildkraut
as La Tour
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Henry Stephenson
as Count de Lesseps
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Sidney Blackmer
as DuBrey
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Maurice Moscovich
as Mohammed Ali
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Sig Rumann
as Sgt. Fellerin
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Nigel Bruce
as Sir Malcolm Cameron
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Miles Mander
as Benjamin Disraeli
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George Zucco
as Prime Minister
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Leon Ames
as Louis Napoleon
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Rafaela Ottiano
as Maria De Teba
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Victor Varconi
as Victor Hugo
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Frank Reicher
as Gen. Chargarnier
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Carlos De Valdez
as Count Hatzfeld
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Jacques Lory
as Millet
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Albert Conti
as Fevier
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Brandon Hurst
as Franz Liszt
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Marcelle Corday
as Mme. Paquineau
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Odette Myrtil
as Duchess
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Egon Brecher
as Doctor
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Denis D'Auburn
as Wrestler
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Jean De Briac
as Engineer
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Jerome de Nuccio
as Wrestler
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Louis La Bey
as Servant
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Frank Lackteen
as Swami
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Fred Malatesta
as Jewel Merchant
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Alphonse Martell
as Gen. St. Arnaud
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Alberto Morin
as Achmed
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Leonard Mudie
as Campaign Manager
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Jean Perry
as Umpire
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C. Montague Shaw
as Elderly Man
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George Sorel
as Assistant
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Louis Vincenot
as Jewel Merchant
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Michael Visaroff
as Jewel Merchant
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Robert Graves
as Official
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Jacques Vanaire
as Old Engineer
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Tony Urchell
as Wrestler
