Author: [log in to unmask] (edwin jahiel) at SMTP-LINK Date: 12/9/94 11:45 AM [Editor's note: This message was submitted to SCREEN-L by the "Author" noted above, not by Jeremy Butler.] I dug up a capsule I had written once about one of the funnier antiquity films. LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955) Howard Hawks directed this spectacular about the building of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. William Faulkner was one of the three scenarists, and as it happened often during his movie days, he had not the slightest notion of what was going on. If not in his cups, he must have been chortling -- unless he felt sick at what he had to do for Hollywood. Cast includes Jack Hawkins trying to take himself seriously as the divine ruler, Joan Collins as a flamboyantly evil princess, the famous Greek thespian Alexis Minotis, the gruff James Robertson Justice, Sydney Chaplin, many supporting actors, thousands of extras. Music by Dmitri Tiomkin, impressive photography and production values, art direction by the great Alexander Trauner. Unwittingly, this movie is very funny as camp -in every way : sets, music, speech, the masses of people, the unholy mix of Western actors,their British accents and more. It is cynical filmmaking in which we are told that the Pyramids were built by hordes of volunteers. Quote from the solemn narration : "They labored over a year ...and still they sang" But then things changed. Quote again: "Years passed. Now it is the drum and the whip." Picture looks intimidating on TV, so you can imagine what its CinemaScope picture is like on a large screen where the logistics and statistics become so much more grandiose. The ending has a surprise twist. Not too long, this silly film is worth watching for unintended laughs. (Edwin Jahiel)