The Egyptian (Sinuhe El Egipcio ) Spanish Import

I have been looking for this film for many years now. There has been more than one version available but they have all been imported pan and scan. This one is a Spanish release and it seems it's all we are going to get for a long time. If you are a fan of this film and, like I was, you are a little hesitant to buy it in case it it wouldn't play in English, let me put your mind at rest. This is a beautiful transfer with pin sharp focus and vibrant colours. The film itself will play in English without subtitles of any kind, there doesn't seem to be anything cut out or censored in any way and you can't tell it's not produced in Britain - except for the packaging which is ALL in Spanish. The picture on Amazon shows an English cover but the one I ordered arrived with a Spanish cover. There is also a luxurious 32 page book included with many glossy photographs and printed on thick, high quality paper, the best I've ever seen with a DVD - but all in Spanish. But the main thing is that the movie itself is here, presented as it should be in 2.35:1 Cinemascope, with good, clear stereophonic sound. In audio you select, "V.O. Ingles" and Pelicula = play and there you have it. There's no real extras except for a cast list and a photograph gallery. Pity there's no trailer.

As for the movie itself, it's a typical epic of the time, made in 1954 just after Cinemascope was introduced and filmed accordingly. Shots are composed to show off and make full use of the new wide picture format. This was a time when studios engaged a Technicolor colour consultant to advise on how certain colours would appear when photographed, how light would be reflected, whether certain colours would clash or affect the complexion of an actor etc. A lot of care went into big productions in those days and it makes a refreshing change from todays overly mobile camera movements and sometimes dreary colours. I'm sure ancient Egypt never looked as colourful as this, but hey, this is, or should I say WAS, the movies.

You may find the movie a little slow in places, apart from a minute or so at the end there are no battle scenes. The story concerns a young Egyptian boy who becomes a physician and has everything going for him untill he drops himself in it by becoming besotted with an evil woman. He reduces himself to penury by giving her all he has and his father's house and tomb. Because he can't be found when Pharaoh's daughter is ill and dies he is sentenced to death and flees Egypt, much to the dismay of the girl who really loves him. What happens next, well, I wont spoil it for you. Get your own copy and watch it on a 50 inch tv, stuff yourself with popcorn and give your eyes a treat, and they WILL get a treat watching the fabulous photography. Revel for a little over two hours in pure movie nostalgia. They don't make them like this any more. Five well deserved stars for this one.

THIS REVIEW APPLIES TO THE VERSION WITH THE MOVIE POSTER COVER AND, "20th CENTURY FOX PRESENTS IN CINEMASCOPE," WRITTEN ACROSS THE TOP. ALL OTHERS ARE PAN AND SCAN VERSIONS.

for those of you who loves these biblical epics,will not be disapointed with this re-master of one of hollywoods golden age classics,but hurry,its only a limited edition.shown in anamorphic widescreen and restored technicolor,you will be surprised at the diffrence in the restoration, to the print quality shown on the bbc with its washed out colours.this print is amazing,this edition includes the original trailer,but unlike the film is un-restored.highly recomended for biblical movie epic collectors.

Based on the best seller by Mika Waltari set in 18th dynasty Egypt, Michael Curtiz' massive epic tells the story of a physician (Edmund Purdom), who becomes friend and doctor to the Pharaoh Akhnaton (Michael Wilding), and his adventures amid the religious and political intrigues of the enlightened but doomed Pharaoh's reign. With the exception of the tedious proselytizing about God toward the film's end, the film is quite an impressive, eye popping example of the Hollywood historical epic at its peak and much more entertaining than stuff like THE ROBE. Unfortunately, it's saddled with the bland Purdom as its central character though I'm not sure anyone could have made such a passive character interesting, even Brando (who turned the part down). Some of it is in the writing and the characters and not even a fine actress like Jean Simmons can do much with the saintly tavern maid who falls for Purdom. Much more lively and devious are the Victor Mature as the politically ambitious soldier, Gene Tierney as the wicked sister of the Pharaoh, Peter Ustinov as the lazy thieving rascal of a man servant and Bella Darvi as the evil and narcissistic Babylonian courtesan. With Judith Evelyn, Henry Daniell, John Carradine and Tommy Rettig. The film's excellent score is by two of the greatest, Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann and Leon Shamroy's CinemaScope lensing received an Oscar nomination.

The DVD import from Spain is a vivid and eye pleasing anamorphic 2.35 transfer.