Land of the Pharaohs

Play trailer

Land of the Pharaohs

1955,

1h 46m,

History/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

80%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Obsessed with his fate in the afterlife, the egotistical Pharaoh Khufu (Jack Hawkins) recruits oppressed architect Vashtar (James Robertson Justice) and forces him to design the most lavish and well-secured pyramid ever built. Vashtar struggles to meet Khufu's lofty expectations, knowing that, if he does so, the ruler will release his enslaved brethren from bondage. As construction begins, Khufu's new wife, Princess Nellifer (Joan Collins), plots to secure her own piece of the tyrant's riches.

Variety Staff

Variety

May 13, 2008

When the viewing senses begin to dull from the tremendous load of spectacle, the script and Hawks' direction wisely switch to sex and intrigue.

Go to Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Jun 16, 2007

Fairly awesome if you can get beyond the clunky dialogue.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 23, 2023

2.5/4

It sports that proverbial cast of thousands (close to 10,000) to lend it majesty and authenticity, and its sets are simply breathtaking. That’s not to say the movie is a roaring success.

Go to Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Oct 17, 2019

William Faulkner shared in writing this better-than-average widescreen spectacle drama, with ancient Egypt as its locale.

Go to Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Aug 22, 2014

Intelligent epic mixes spectacle and social commentary.

Go to Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

May 30, 2008

Hawks forgoes any of those monstrous epic battle scenes, but as always most of his characters are made of shades of gray, which makes for fascinating confrontations throughout.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Poe S

Jul 7, 2018

Just wanting to make an epic is not enough, and this "epic" seems made entirely to prove exactly that point. Howard Hawks has a cast of thousands but has nothing for them to do. And why? Lousy writing. Jack Hawkins works hard to imbue his pharaoh with life but the guy only has the love of gold to sustain his character. Joan Collins gets a little more mileage simply by vamping. The entire effort comes off like a lesser than version of Egypt, Yul Brynner and Cecil B. DeMille shaking your memory.

See more

Read all reviews

Howard Hawks

Director

Jack Hawkins

Pharaoh Khufu

Joan Collins

Princess Nellifer

Dewey Martin

Senta

James Robertson Justice

Vashtar

Alex Minotis

Hamar

Murder Ahoy!

53%

Murder Ahoy!

Watchlist

That Girl From Paris

17%

That Girl From Paris

Watchlist

Forty Carats

61%

Forty Carats

Watchlist

Against the Wind

60%

Against the Wind

Watchlist

The Secret Garden

78%

The Secret Garden

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Obsessed with his fate in the afterlife, the egotistical Pharaoh Khufu (Jack Hawkins) recruits oppressed architect Vashtar (James Robertson Justice) and forces him to design the most lavish and well-secured pyramid ever built. Vashtar struggles to meet Khufu's lofty expectations, knowing that, if he does so, the ruler will release his enslaved brethren from bondage. As construction begins, Khufu's new wife, Princess Nellifer (Joan Collins), plots to secure her own piece of the tyrant's riches.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: William Faulkner, Harry Kurnitz, Harold Jack Bloom
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros., Continental Company Ltd.
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 1955, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 46m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings