In 1900, Ann Mercedes (Eleanor Parker) travels to Cairo with her husband Philip (Carlos Thompson) and Mark Brandon (Robert Taylor). She is interested in visiting and studying the tomb of Pharaoh Rahotep. After many adventures, she seeks to prove its link with the tomb of Joseph.
The film was based on an original story by Robert Pirosh. It was bought by MGM who were attracted by a project similar to their highly successful adaptation of King Solomon's Mines (1950). They announced it in 1952 with Eleanor Parker attached from the beginning. There were a number of Egyptian themed projects in development in Hollywood at the time, others being The Egyptian and Serpent of the Nile.[2]Sam Zimbalist was meant to produce and Vittorio Gassman was to co-star with Parker. Filming ended up being postponed a number of months. Gassman dropped out; Howard Keel was named as a possible replacement.[3] Eventually the male lead was given to Robert Taylor, who had successfully teamed with Parker in Above and Beyond. Carlos Thompson played the second male lead.
MGM bought the rights to the archaeology text Gods, Graves and Scholars for "protection purposes", as it contained a chapter titled "Robbers in the Valley of the Kings", which might have been seen as having influenced the film's script. They paid a reported $25,000.[5]
Eleanor Parker recalled the film as the most difficult experience she ever had making a movie:
[It] was simply a dreadful nightmare. We had a terrible producer who made no accommodations for the company or crew on location. We were in Egypt, out in the desert filming, with no sanitary facilities, no dressing rooms to speak of, it was unbelievable. Robert Taylor and I had to use the bathrooms with the locals, hiding behind coats. Additionally, the director (Robert Pirosh) had no idea what he was doing; the head cameraman (Robert Surtees) was directing the film. Then the crew wasn't getting paid and our great cameraman told them that we were all going out on strike until everyone got paid. Believe me, the money showed up.[7]
The film's world premiere took place simultaneously on 21 July 1954 in Cairo and Alexandria (as well as New York City). It marked the first time an American film had a world premiere in Egypt.
The film shows the Abu Simbel temples as they had existed for 3000 years, before they were relocated due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
Reception
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $1,591,000 in the US and Canada and $1,714,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $204,000.[1][8]
References
^ abcThe Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^Pryor, Thomas (September 27, 1952). "NEW METRO MOVIE TO BE SET IN EGYPT: Studio's 'Valley of the Kings' Is Third Hollywood Picture Using That Background". New York Times. p. 13.
^"MOVIELAND BRIEFS". Los Angeles Times. August 22, 1953. p. 9.
^Pryor, Thomas (October 31, 1953). "METRO SCHEDULES FILM ON U. S. YOUTH: ' I'll See You Again,' Original Scene by Dore Schary, Listed for Production Next Year". New York Times. p. 10.
^Weiler, A.H. (November 8, 1953). "THE LOCAL SCREEN SCENE: Metro Buys 'Gods, Graves and Scholars' -- On Disney's 'Prairie' -- Other Items". New York Times. p. X5.
^Weiler, A.H. (January 10, 1954). "RANDOM OBSERVATIONS ON PICTURES AND PEOPLE: 'Act of Love' to Be Released Without Advertising Sanction -- Other Items". New York Times. p. X5.
