FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

LeonLouisRicci To be Totally Honest, Howard Hawks Movies all Look Artificial. As Entertaining as some may be, they Look Staged. If Auteurs by Definition have Stylish Signatures, this is One of Hawk's Charms/Drawbacks. The Thing (1951), The Big Sleep (1946), Rio Bravo (1959), just to name a Few of His more Celebrated "Masterpieces" all Appear Staged and Presented, and for Better or Worse it is Undeniable.Ironically, this one, Considered by Most a Failure, is Somewhat Removed from that because of the Necessity for the Director to be Panoramic and Expansive. So the Staginess doesn't Work Against Hawks here, although some Stiffness Remains, it is some other Things like Miscasting and a Severely Corny Script and Dialog.The Movie, with its CinemaScope is Magical, the Costumes, the Colorful Palette, the Mighty Musical Score, all make this Watchable like some sort of Postcard from Antiquity. But, Oozing in on its Serious Scenario of Megalomania, Greed, and Tyranny is a Fifties Mindset. The Film in all its Grandeur is Full of Clunk. There is Enough here to make it a Pleasurable Viewing, it's Expensive Enough and it is a Showy, but Shallow Story that has Misplaced its Vision with a Contrived and Underwritten Exposure of One of the Most Extravagant and Interesting Periods in Human History.

Matthew_Capitano What's that, Joan Collins? You want all my pharaoh's treasure? Here you go, sweetheart, take the key to the vault. You want my wristwatch? I got 37 bucks in my wallet that ain't doing nuthin'. Take it, pretty girl. I love you, Joan.Joan Collins is hot as the new princess in town in this episodic costume drama which horribly miscasts Jack Hawkins as the big wheel of these particular pyramids. It takes awhile, but he finally gets gutted, though he dies rather slowly.... hey Jack, will you drop dead already? I would have pushed him into some quicksand at the earliest opportunity. A long and mostly boring film, the ending totally sucks.As for Joan... Hey beautiful! Wanna wear my crown and be Pharaoh? I'll kiss your feet, Joan - and anything else you want me to kiss.

misctidsandbits It has been said that Howard Hawkes had a hankering to try out the step-by-step building process in epic proportions, and ended up with this venue to experiment. TCM film introducer said he wanted first to do the building of the great wall in China, drawing from the huge Chinese population as extras, but was not able to work with the political environ there. Looks like he got it out of his system, to a staggering loss. The remarkable element of the experiment was that it proved his worth -- he was one of the very, very few to survive such a turkey. He went on to make many other memorable films.But it IS a turkey. Time won't fix it. It was a huge critical and financial bust at the time. That means -- a cast of thousands stayed away. And they haven't returned. It has been said of the movie Spartacus, that Kirk Douglas (produced as well as starred) didn't let the spectacle override or get in the way of the human drama. Not so here. If you like to see throngs and the like, there are too many other worthier examples. Or (it's your money) spring for the price of purchase and skip around to the teaming masses scenes, marvel at the execution, etc. Again -- your time, your money.Personally, I would feel a bit of a dunce to give another look-see. Jack Hawkins, being a good actor, is horrible in this. Joan Collins, who isn't, is flatter still. The all-consuming task of managing the crowds perhaps serves as the reason for the acting of (especially the principal players) being so neglected. It's horrible. There are better B movies -- a lot better. Again, if special effects and the like is your thing, to the exclusion of development and execution of storyline, go for it. The acting is easily the closest to an amateur production of anything to come out of Hollywood, glam or no.Seems best to follow the director's example after this movie -- just move on.

wes-connors About 5,000 years ago in Egypt, pharaoh Jack Hawkins (as Khufu) returns from a successful war, loaded with golden treasure and slaves for his collection. Away three months with his conquering men, Mr. Hawkins cleans up and has sex with beautiful wife Kerima (as Nailla). Hawkins loves gold and wants to take it with him to the afterlife. He has robbed graves and knows he needs to build an impenetrable tomb in order to keep his gold forever. For this purpose, Hawkins builds one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt...The film's narrator estimates three million huge blocks of stone are used to construct the pyramid...Enslaved architect James Robertson Justice (as Vashtar) plans the building. He wants payment to be freedom for his people - especially the son who kneels up to become handsome Dewey Martin (as Senta). Workers include slaves and others toiling in return for godly Hawkins' promise of life after death. After 15 years, pretty princess Joan Collins (as Nellifer) arrives. After she mouths off to Hawkins, he has her whipped, wearing a pointy bra and harem pants. She becomes one of Hawkins' wives, then plots against him...Ms. Collins is beautifully proportioned..."Land of the Pharaohs" was produced and directed by Howard Hawks, so everyone knew where to send congratulations or condolences. This film received most of the latter.Ordering a lot of medium and long shots, Mr. Hawks may have thought CinemaScope would take care of everything else. It is strange to read William Faulkner as one of the film's writers; we can only wonder what he was drinking, or not drinking, for his participation. The story should have been told from the perspective of "Vashtar" (Justice), who harbored the secret that "Senta" (Martin), seductively targeted by "Nellifer" (Collins), was the illegitimate son of "Khufu" (Hawkins). Lack of characterization, stand kneel or walk acting, and poor direction ruined a good plot and great ending.***** Land of the Pharaohs (6/24/55) Howard Hawks ~ Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, Dewey Martin, James Robertson Justice