Customer Reviews

Land of the Pharaohs

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This DVD version is letterbox, but that's about all one can appreciate in this edition. Picture quality doesn't even match the VHS version. Large crowd scenes have characteristic jiggle common to VHS. Focus is not sharp and crisp.

I compared my VHS with the DVD and the VHS actually had better picture quality, albeit pan & scan full-screen. I would wait for the studio edition of this DVD (if it ever happens.)

COME ON WARNERS, PLEASE RESTORE AND REMASTER LAND OF THE PHAROAHS FOR OVERDUE DVD RELEASE.

THE LASER DISC WAS VERY BLUE BUT WE THEN AT LEAST HAD A LEGAL WIDESCREEN COPY FOR OUR NOW OUTDATED LASER PLAYERS.

ALSO, AS WITH A STAR IS BORN (1954), PLEASE CARRY OUT A SEARCH FOR THE LOST FOOTAGE EXCISED FROM LAND OF THE PHAROAHS PRIOR TO ORIGINAL RELEASE
IN 1955. TWENTY OR SO MINUTES WERE DELETED FROM THE RELEASE PRINT AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO SEE THE FULL VERSION FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF WE FANS OF FILMS PRODUCED IN OR SET IN EGYPT, AND THOUGH WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DVD RELEASE OF 1980'S SPHINX, ANOTHER REVIEWER HAS MENTIONED THE AS-YET-UNAVAILABLE, PROPER STUDIO DVD VERSIONS OF THE EGYPTIAN AND VALLEY OF THE KINGS.

ALL OF THESE FILMS HAVE HUGE FAN BASES SO PLEASE GRANT OUR WISHES FOR THEIR RESURRECTION, RESTORATION AND RELEASE TO THE HOME VIEWING MARKET FOR THEY ARE ALL FILMS THAT INVITE REPEATED VIEWINGS AND NOT JUST A ONCE ONLY VISIT.
THAT WE STILL WANT THEM FIFTY YEARS AFTER FIRST RELEASE IS PROOF ENOUGH.

Seems strange that this movie is still gathering "Star Dust" on 'Time/Warner Film Vault Library' when it carries an screenplay gemstone, written by no other than the great American literary genius: WILLIAM FAULKNER. While sadly now, only poor Korean copies are circulating the internet for the sale of this classic.

I only wish that this film, with some help from us, that by our favorable votes on this review, would let the studio know that we need it now finally released on Anamorphic Widescreen DVD format fully restored, preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition in Cinemascope. Along with the movies "Samson and Delilah," "The Egyptian" and "Valley of the Kings (A Warner Bro. Movie)," all of which are also classic films been sorrow ignored and neglected by those people in charge, at the Studios Corporate Suites.

But for all of us who love and appreciate classic Hollywood's movies of the 1950th vintage, we fell that it is now time for the Movie Studios Executives and in particular those at "Time/Warner" to take time, do please listen to our requests and fully remaster fully restored on DVC copies of all these clasic movies. Ending once and for all this benign neglect to these wonderful feature films of that era.

Director Howard Hawks, worked brilliantly on this large scale epic, a gigantic production filmed on location in Egypt, using thousands of extras. This movie plot takes place during the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza, for Pharaoh Khufu, played here by Jack Hawkings, who also starred on the epic film "Ben Hur."

Also as the pharaoh's mistress second wife, which is been played by the sexy "Joan Collins" (in one of her first starring roles long before her "Dynasty's character") whose insatiable lust and greed, leads to murder, made worth it buying and seen this movie. Which beside all this wonderfull team of Director/Stars, also at the same time, like an extra unique BONUS features the unique screenplay by one of "America Greatest Intellectuals," our fabulous literary genius "William Faulkner."

It is a very entertaining film, that along with the story line, feature and shows the saga of an slaved people which finally it is allowed to return to their promise land, with their fellow architect, who designed the 'Seven Wonder of the World,' after the death of the conquering Pharaoh. All of them set free by a benevolent high priest, upon the completion of the Pyramid as this wonderfull film ends.

"The Land Of The Pharaohs" with detailed sets including the pyramid inner labyrinth, booby traped so no one can learn its secrets, and vast desert vistas fill the screen and astonish the eye.

Am sure that the late Henry Luce, (Yale Alumnus founder of "Time/Life Inc.") would not have wasted a minute of his time, if he would still be alive and in charge at "Time/Warner," to see it remastered in all its glory. Am sure that Mr. Luce, would have ordered his workforce the unconditional release on "DVD Widescreen" of this classic film; if he would have notice this request/review or just bothered to see it by himself at one of the screening rooms at Warner Bros.

SO LET IT ROLL SKULLS AND BONES. Get back to work guys, and last but not least "THANKS" in advance from all of us for doing so.

I have the VHS version; was ready to buy widescreen DVD. It's not yet been done! This is one film that must be restored properly and Time Warner needs to get on with doing this. I'll buy when it happens.

The format is not full screen. It is letterboxed widescreen. None the less, I find that it portrays the people of the time in a more accurate light than the atypical "slave" role of so many other movies. It's easy to see in this movie where Joan Collins developed her "catty" side. Too bad it was not better produced as full screen or anamorphic widescreen.

Hey, Egypt-o-maniacs...Seems somebody at Warner Brothers got smart and paid attention... Forget about the terrible Korean print and throw away the old VHS. The new, fully restored, wide-screen, stereo DVD edition of LAND OF THE PHARAOHS is finally on the way -- due date, June 26. You can pre-order this on Amazon now...then settle back and watch Joan, Jack and Dewey -- and that can-you-top-this finale!!!

The pharaoh (Jack Hawkins) returns home after months in the desert, having fought his fifth war in six years...

During his victorious escapades he has zealously and aggressively accumulated a large quantity of gold... He tells his loyal friend Hamar (Alexis Minotis), the high priest, that he desires two things: a son by his queen, Nailla (Kerima), and a secure tomb where he, and his marvelous treasures will be buried for eternity...

Because he wants the royal tomb to be impregnable, he assigns the slave Vashtar (James Robertson Justice), an arquitect far superior to any Egyptian, to design it... Vashtar agrees to help the pharaoh on the condition that once the pyramid-tomb is constructed, his people will be freed... Only Vashtar, who will know the secret to entering the tomb, will have to die...

With "one heart" the people of Ancient Egypt responded to the call of their "living god", and came from every town and village to raise for him the immense impressive structure for his second life... They marched to a "holy labor" with great faith and great joy... They came singing from every corner of Egypt for the great task...

But the condensed work on the pyramid goes for years... During this time the queen bears the pharaoh a son, and Vashtar's son Senta (Dewey Martin) grows into manhood...

The pharaoh asks every nation to send him a tribute in gold... But Cyprus sends him an attractive young woman named Nellifer (Joan Collins) instead... Although her refusal to obey his commands angers him, she excites him like no one ever has, and becomes his second wife...

While the pharaoh is distracted by the progress on his pyramid, Nellifer carefully set a malicious plan to become heir to his throne and to his enormous treasures... She wins the heart of Treneh (Syney Chaplin), a palace guard, and together they plot to kill the queen...

With a selected group of bald, tongueless priests who allowed themselves to be buried alive, some cowards who get thrown into an alligator pit, and a sultry, dark-haired beauty with the highest ambition, "Land of the Pharaohs" is an interesting excursion into Ancient Egypt, basically a macabre melodrama with a final spectacular twist... The engineering details would make a fascinating documentary...

Pay no attention to the technical specifications blurb. Here's all you need to know: This DVD is multi-region and will play on any NTSC-compatible DVD player anywhere in the world.

This DVD is in gorgeous WIDE-SCREEN format (not 3:4 cut-and-pan) and the audio soundtrack is in sensational stereo. So you can lean back and enjoy Dimitri Tiomkin's glorious musical score.

The stereo sound makes you feel you are actually in the tomb with Joan Collins as the stone blocks fall into place, entombing her alive for all time. You have to hear it to believe it, since the mono VHS version you have heard until now doesn't come close. With this DVD you get the same effect audiences thrilled to in the 1950s.

There are a couple of drawbacks to this DVD. The default mode is with Chinese subtitles. You have to switch them off manually using your remote control. There are no extras whatsoever with this DVD.

In addition, you should crank up the color saturation on your TV to get full benefit of the original WarnerColor hues, which are a bit faded in this print.

Also, the opening credits and closing credits have been deleted. The movie just starts with the opening scene without any introduction. But every scene, and every word of dialogue is here.

All in all, this is the best version available anywhere of this sadly underrated movie at least until Warner Bros. get around to releasing the definitive DVD version.