The Egyptian
The Egyptian is a 1954 American epic historical drama film made by 20th Century-Fox. Filmed in CinemaScope with color by DeLuxe, it was directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It is based on Mika Waltari's 1945 novel of the same name and the screenplay was adapted by Philip Dunne and Casey Robinson. Leading roles were played by Edmund Purdom, Bella Darvi, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Gene Tierney, Peter Ustinov, and Michael Wilding. Cinematographer Leon Shamroy was nominated for an Oscar in 1955.
Plot
In 18th dynasty Egypt, the story is narrated as the memoirs of an old man named Sinuhe, living in exile by the Red Sea as he writes them down in his remaining days. His tale begins with him as a baby floating down the Nile in a reed basket, found by a physician named Senmut and his wife Kipa who adopt him as their son. Sinuhe grows up with Senmut teaching him medicinal craft and the skill of trepanation, using his knowledge to help the poor. Sinuhe's friends include a tavern maid Merit who is fond of him, the son of a cheesemaker Horemheb serving as a lowly soldier and a one-eyed man of street-wise named Kaptah who comes to work as a servant at his parents' house.
Cast
- Angela Clarke
- Bella Darvi
- Bruno VeSota
- Carl Benton Reid
- Donna Martell
- Edmund Cobb
- Edmund Purdom
- Gene Tierney
- George Melford
- Henry Daniell
- Ian MacDonald
- Jean Simmons
- John Carradine
- Judith Evelyn
- Larry Duran
- Leo Gordon
- Michael Ansara
- Michael Wilding
- Mike Mazurki
- Mimi Gibson
- Nico Minardos
- Peter Ustinov
- Tommy Rettig
- Victor Mature