The Egyptian

"To Nefer, shameless temptress of Babylon, he surrendered his parents' hope of immortality!"

1954 2h 19m EN

😐

6.5

MID

★6.5TMDB · 112

HistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In eighteenth-dynasty Egypt, Sinuhe, a poor orphan, becomes a brilliant physician and with his friend Horemheb is appointed to the service of the new Pharoah. Sinuhe's personal triumphs and tragedies are played against the larger canvas of the turbulent events of the 18th dynasty. As Sinuhe is drawn into court intrigues he learns the answers to the questions he has sought since his birth.

“To Nefer, shameless temptress of Babylon, he surrendered his parents' hope of immortality!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Edmund Purdom
Sinuhe
Victor Mature
Horemheb
Peter Ustinov
Kaptah
Jean Simmons
Merit
Gene Tierney
Baketamon
Bella Darvi
Nefer
Michael Wilding
Akhnaton
Judith Evelyn
Taia

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Curtiz
Writers: Philip Dunne, Casey Robinson
Languages: Greek, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.0× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

72 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Greek, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Curtiz, shot by Leon Shamroy. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Bernard Herrmann. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Barbara McLean shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Edmund Purdom and Victor Mature and Peter Ustinov carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "To Nefer, shameless temptress of Babylon, he surrendered his parents' hope of immortality!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Curtiz directs. Leon Shamroy behind the camera. Bernard Herrmann scores. Barbara McLean cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Greek, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 3.0× over at the box office.
272 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Greek, English.
4Directed by Michael Curtiz, shot by Leon Shamroy. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Bernard Herrmann. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Barbara McLean shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Edmund Purdom and Victor Mature and Peter Ustinov carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "To Nefer, shameless temptress of Babylon, he surrendered his parents' hope of immortality!".
9IMDB entry: tt0046949 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Leon Shamroy
Original score: Bernard Herrmann
Editing: Barbara McLean
Makeup / hair: Ben Nye
Runtime: 139 min · 2h 19m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $5,000,000
Box office: $15,000,000
Return: 300% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Egyptian (1954)

Also by

Michael Curtiz

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-11-21
★ 6/10
Edmund Purdom plays the title role in this scalpel-and-sandal melodrama that may be loosely based on "The Tale of Sinuhe" from the 12th and 13th dynasties (c. 1900 BC) as a physician and his friend who encounter the Pharaoh (Michael Wilding) in the desert and rescue him from a lion after he has had some sort of fit. "Sinuhe" becomes a wealthy and well patronised doctor to the court and to the rich and famous and the film takes us through his, and the kingdom's, ups and downs. Victor Mature plays his ambitious friend Horemheb; Peter Ustinov is great as the rather morally challenged "Kaptah" and Bella Darvi is super as the enigmatic "Nefer". The writing is a bit long-winded and the acting stilted, but Michael Curtiz keeps it just about moving until a rather flat ending.

Production companies