Product Details

• Actors: Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Gene Tierney, Michael Wilding, Bella Darvi
• Directors: Michael Curtiz
• Writers: Casey Robinson, Mika Waltari, Philip Dunne
• Producers: Darryl F. Zanuck
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: March 15, 1995
• Run Time: 139 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301412796
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,428 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gloriously fine movie, excellent script and photography., August 11, 1999

By	John Barry Kenyon (Pattaya City, Chonburi Thailand) - See all my reviews

Often attacked for being historically inaccurate (who cares?), The Egyptian is spellbinding from start to finish. Edmund Purdom is in top form as the truth seeking physician who loses all his wordly goods, twice, in return for eventual spiritual enlightenment. Michael Wilding as the pharoah who believes in one God plays the part of the peace loving Akhnaton with enormous sensitivity. The thematic music is sensational, most particularly in the destruction of Aton's temple in a sequence known as The Martyrdom of Merit, played by Jean Simmons. Henry Daniels is on top form as the scheming high priest. Bella Darvi as the femme fatale is riveting as the high class prostitute who manages to avoid sex altogether. Seldom shown on cable TV, The Egyptian is a must!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Epic Retelling Of A Turbulent Era Of Egypt's History, June 3, 2004

By	Simon Davis - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I've always loved Twentieth Century Fox's massive epic "The Egyptian", despite its reworking of many of the historical facts of this period. Taking place during the reign of Egypt's controversial "Heretic" Pharaoh Akhenaton, the film has a colourful and dramatic setting for its story and makes great use of the fascinating characters and events that made up the Egyptian "Amarna" period. Apart from historical fact being "reshaped" I've always thought "The Egyptian",is another example of the solid expertise Hollywood had in the 1950's and early 1960's for producing large scale historical epics. While certainly not as well known or respected as such efforts as "Ben Hur", it has alot to offer from some great performances, elaborate sets, stunning costumes and enough intrigue and drama to satisfy all lovers of Hollywood epics. Being all wrapped up in gorgeous Fox technicolour also helps immensely in giving this story of a humble physician who rises to become the personal aide to the Pharaoh only to be undone by his reckless love for a seductive courtesan, a vivid look and feel that increases its impact.

Based on the novel by Mika Waltari, "The Egyptian", strangely contains no great battles or overwhelming crowd scenes involving thousands of extras and the emphasis is most definately on the characters involved and their often very human emotions. The story told in flashback begins with an abandoned infant found in a reed basket on the Nile who is taken into the home of a talented physician Senmut. Named Sinuhe he grows into an idealistic young man (Edmund Purdom), and undertakes studies to become a physician just like his father. He becomes best friends with the energic and extroverted Horemheb (Victor Mature),who is training for the army at the same school run by the priests. Very different in character they become fast friends and one day on an excursion hunting lions in the desert they save the life of a strange lone man who they find worshipping the carved image of the sun. Unbeknown to them he is actually the new young Pharaoh Akhenaton (Michael Wilding), who is introducing a far less war like type of rule into Egypt based on the worship of one god the Aten. Dragged before the whole court on the charge of having touched the august person of the Pharaoh, the high priest Mekere (Henry Daniell), demands they be both put to death. Akhenaton however overrules him and makes Sinuhe personal physician to the royal family and Horeheb a commander in his army. Enjoying the good life Horemheb one night takes Sinuhe to the home of an infamous Babylonian courtesan Nefer (Bella Darvi), with whom Sinuhe becomes instantly besotted. Nefer however only plays with men and before too long Sinuhe has sacrificed everything for her only to be then cruelly rejected when she is tired of playing with him. Having neglected his duties to Pharoah and having turned from the real love offered by simple tavern girl Merit (Jean Simmons), Sinuhe is a marked man and flees Egypt spending many years in foreign countries practising his medical genius. When he returns home however Egypt has slipped into serious trouble as Akhenaton has lost the respect of the military and his new religion is dividing the country. Sinuhe even finds Horemheb is plotting against the Pharaoh with his ambitious Princess Baketamon (Gene Tierney). In the rebellion that follows Meret is killed when Akhenaton's temple is sacked and Sinuhe loses forever his young son Thoth (Tommy Rettig). Dragged into the plot when it is revealed he is actually the Pharoah's half brother Sinuhe finally realises how he has comprimised all of his principles and leaves to start a lonely existence on his own in the desert, bereft of family or love.

Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by veteran Michael Curtiz "The Egyptian", boasts great talent on both sides of the camera. Edmund Purdom, (taking over from Marlon Brando who dropped out of the role!), is excellent in the central role of the naive Sinuhe and makes a nice contrast to the rowdy bullying Victor Mature ideally cast as the soldier Horemheb. One of the most interesting performances in the film is delivered by Gene Tierney in a non tradtional "strong" woman role of the almost mannish Baketamon, hers is a great performance and was one of the last important roles undertaken by this great actress. The two pieces of casting always laughed at from this film, Michael Wilding as the gentle Pharaoh Akhenaton, and Bella Darvi as the courtesan Nefer, I actually find very interesting and Wilding in particular captures alot of the dreamy quality associated with the rule of the real Akhenaton. The film's other great assets are its atmospheric musical score created by Alfred Newman which incorporates use of the Egyptian Sistrum and the beautiful use of colour photography which enhances the lavish scenes in Aten's open air temple and in the magnificent palace of Akhenaton.

"The Egyptian", is a Hollywood production of the old school and despite its historical inaccuracy must be viewed first and foremost as sheer entertainment. Michael Curtiz once again reveals his diverse directing talents in this story so different to alot of his other work on "Casablanca" etc. The cast are also what make this film memorable and even the smaller parts taken by performers such as Peter Ustinov, Judith Evelyn and John Carradine are memorable. I highly recommend to all lovers of old style historical epics this great production set in the time of Pharaoh Akhenaton's Egypt.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE EGYPTIAN: AN EPIC BEFORE ITS TIME, December 3, 1999

By	Grey McDan (HOLLYWOOD) - See all my reviews

Filmed in 1954, this incrediable epic motion picture tells the story of a physician who could have been Pharaoh, by his birth, and chose to assist the poor and needy the majority of his life.Gene Tierney,Jean Simmons, Michael Wilding and especially Edmund Purdom give outstanding performances. Edmund Purdom never performed in another movie after he made this picture.Hollywood must have scared this most talented actor off! what a shame...what a talent he is.THIS IS A MUST SEE FOR ANY AGE.