jvdesuit1 Although not a cult movie, Valley of the kings is a nice entertaining movie. For me it has a special flavor as I had left definitely Egypt 3 years before to settle with my parents in Paris.I saw the movie when it was released in Paris in 1954. I enjoyed it. It was the occasion to see those magnificent temples and especially Abu Simbel where is shot one of the main scenes. At that time the Assuan Dam had not provoked the disastrous effects we know today nor obliged to move the temple. The faces of Ramses II were not spoiled by the cuts visible today due to the move in several sections of this splendid masterpiece of art and architecture.It is worth seeing such a movie with a good cast and dream a little to what was the shock in those times for the lucky traveler able to reach them. Imagine what was the shock of Belzoni when he discovered the temple sunk into the sand!

Neil Doyle Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker make a handsome couple in this story about an archaeologist agreeing to search for holy relics in an Egyptian tomb, lured by the beautiful Parker. She's married to Carlos Thompson who goes along on the desert adventure and it's easy to guess what the outcome will be as the plot develops.The story ingredients are promising, but the picture takes a long time to get to its most suspenseful moments, including a climactic fistfight between Taylor and Thompson at the top of ancient ruins that is artfully staged for maximum effect. Too bad more time wasn't spent developing the slow-paced script which hardly matches the effectiveness of the location photography in Egypt and the striking score by Miklos Rozsa.Fans of Taylor and Parker will enjoy seeing them together, both at their physical peak and demonstrating some good chemistry as romantic leads. He's ruggedly convincing as the Alpha-male archaeologist but the story isn't up to the level of a similar yarn Metro did previously, "King Solomon's Mines." Summing up: A weak script is the real problem.

MartinHafer One of the reviews struck me. One of the reviewers really disliked this film--mostly because the film got so much of the Egyptology wrong. When I read this, I thought perhaps it was written by my own daughter! She is an ancient religions/Egyptology major in college and watching a film like this is NOT an enjoyable experience if you are just looking to be entertained! She, too, spots all the methodological flaws. Now I can't blame my kid--I am a history teacher and watching films like "Pocahontas" with me is no treat, either! To those who love the topics, the way Hollywood cavalierly handles these topics is appalling. All the public usually cares about, however, is whether or not they enjoy watching the film! So, in light of this, my review is NOT intended for Egyptologists or those in the know--just for the average schmuck out there! The film plays like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and a traditional MGM epic film of the 50s. In other words, while there is lots of adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones, there is a greater emphasis on spectacle as well as a bit of a nod to the popular Biblical epics of the day (boy, were they popular back then!).Robert Taylor plays the role of an archaeologist who is digging in Egypt at about the turn of the 19th century. Eleanor Parker approaches him and asks for his help to try to prove that the Biblical Joseph really existed---and during the reign of Ra-hotep. However, Taylor is convinced that Joseph did not exist and it's all a waste of time. But, reluctantly, he agrees---apparently because he thinks Ms. Parker is kind of hot. However, what they don't know is that there is a traitor in their midst--someone who is more interested in stealing whatever treasures the two of them unearth. Plus, this evil piggy and his friends are more than glad to kill if need be.Overall, the film has some very nice Egyptian locales and nice acting. While the story is a bit slow at times, the overall effort is pretty good--though far from Taylor's best work. It should be enjoyable for the average viewer--not a must-see be certainly a bit better than just a time-passer.

Dejael In 1900 Egypt, an American archaeologist (Taylor) has a race with a rival exploitive British adventurer-explorer (Thompson) to find the fabulous [fictional] lost tomb of King Rahotep, a Pharaoh who may have known the Israelite Joseph, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. Matters are complicated by unscrupulous Egyptian Arab black market antiquities dealers (in fine performances by character actors Victor Jory, Kurt Kasznar, Leon Askin) and the romance of a beautiful British Egyptologist (Parker) who arrives on the scene. The plot and story are contrived and melodramatic, but the production values, locations, acting, dialog, music score by the master Miklos Rozsa, and visual effects are superb. In other words, it makes up in style what it loses in content. Filmed partly on location in Egypt, in Cairo, the Giza Pyramids, Sakkara, Karnak and Luxor (the Great Temple of Amenhotep III), and the Valley of the Kings. Of particular interest is a fight scene staged atop one of the four colossi of King Ramoses II the Great at the Temple of Abu Simbel: part of it was filmed on location; part of it was replicated in the MGM studio soundstages with clever matte photography and grandiose sets. Climactic scene is the discovery of the splendiferous tomb of King Rahotep – full of art objects replicated from the artifacts found in the actual tomb of King TutankhAmen – in the Valley of the Kings. [Special note: there actually was a Pharaoh named Rahotep, who lived during the 17th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, circa 1750 B.C. and could have known sephardic Israelites like Joseph, who most likely lived circa 1850 B.C.] The Technicolor is beautiful. Highly enjoyable action romance. Great fun for fans, Egyptologists, and film addicts who just want to enjoy a good old fashioned yarn.