The Egyptian (1954)

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(948 ratings)

Based on the novel by Mika Waltari and helmed by Casablanca director Michael Curtiz, The Egyptian, a lavish period soaper, is set several centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ. Young Egyptian healer Sinuhe Edmund Purdom (ere accompanied by his servant, Kaptah, played by Peter Ustinov) draws the… More Based on the novel by Mika Waltari and helmed by Casablanca director Michael Curtiz, The Egyptian, a lavish period soaper, is set several centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ. Young Egyptian healer Sinuhe Edmund Purdom (ere accompanied by his servant, Kaptah, played by Peter Ustinov) draws the affection of barmaid Merit (Jean Simmons) who seeks his hand in marriage. Sinuhe provides medical assistance to the epileptic Pharoah, Akhnaton (Michael Wilding), who, meanwhile, becomes convinced that only one god exists, and thus infuriates all of his polytheistic priests, who secretly plot to assassinate him. Sinuhe has an affair with a Babylonian whore, Nefer (Bella Darvi), but grows listless with her and eventually ends the relationship, harkening back to Merit. However, she is soon extinguished, with an arrow through the heart, for also being monotheistic. Angered by this, and believing Akhnaton's ideas directly responsible for Merit's death, Sinuhe and his muscular friend, the affable Horemheb (screen heartthrob Victor Mature) poison the Pharoah. Akhnaton then dies while Horemheb prepares to ascend to the throne. Ingmar Bergman had a point when he admonished the idea of falling for one's lead actress, and it is a lesson one wishes producer Daryl Zanuck had learned; he purportedly had an extramarital affair with Darvi, taking her as a "plaything," but grew sick of her after casting her in seven films. Her career then torpedoed. (Little wonder - her horrendous performance in this film must be seen to be believed; Variety called it "less than believable or skilled.") This $4.2 million film (a massive amount for 1954) suffered from additional production problems as well, with Marlon Brando originally slated to star, but replaced, at the very last minute, by Purdom, a contract player for 20th Century-Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Michael Curtiz
Written By: Casey Robinson
Genres: Drama, Faith & Spirituality

In Theaters: Aug 24, 1954 Wide

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Lavishly produced by Zanuck, this big-budget historical epic is preposterously plotted and acted, though Shamroy's color cinematography is good.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Overlong, risible and plodding historical blockbuster.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Creaky biblical balderdash with Jean Simmons as always giving a good performance and Peter Ustinov a fun one, everybody else is stiff. Curtiz, usually able to keep something like this going, provides a leaden pace.

Cast

            Edmund Purdom as Sinuhe the Egyptian

            Jean Simmons as Merit

            Victor Mature as Horemheb

            Gene Tierney as Baketamon the Pharoah's sister

            Michael Wilding as Akhnaton

            Peter Ustinov as Kaptah

            Judith Evelyn as Taia the Queen Mother

            Henry Daniell as Mekere the High Priest

            John Carradine as Grave robber

            Carl Benton Reid as Senmut

            Tommy Rettig as Thoth

            Donna Martell as Lady in Waiting

            Mimi Gibson as Princess

            Harry Thompson as Nubian

            George Melford as Priest

            Lawrence Ryle as Priest

            Tiger Joe Marsh as Libian Guards

            Ian MacDonald as Ship's Captain

            Michael Granger as Officer

            Don Blackman as Nubian Prince

            Joan Winfield as Governess

            Mike Mazurki as Death House Foreman

            Michael Ansara as Hittite Commander

            Angela Clarke as Kipa

            Edmund Cobb as Patient in Dispensary

            Henry Corden as Hittite Officer

            Bella Darvi as Nefer

            Karl (Killer) Davis as Libyan Guard

            Carmen De Lavallade as Egyptian Dancer

            Tyler MacDuff as Cadet

            Peter Reynolds as Sinuhe at Age Ten

            Paul Salata as Egyptian Official

            Anitra Stevens as Nefertiti

            Eghiche Harout as Syrian at Nefer's
See full cast