Princess of the Nile is a 1954 American adventure film directed by Harmon Jones and starring Debra Paget, Jeffrey Hunter and Michael Rennie. It was shot in technicolor and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Originally conceived as a more lavish film, it ended up produced as a second feature.
| Princess of the Nile | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Harmon Jones |
| Written by | Gerald Drayson Adams |
| Produced by | Robert L. Jacks |
| Starring | Debra Paget Jeffrey Hunter Michael Rennie |
| Cinematography | Lloyd Ahern |
| Edited by | George A. Gittens |
| Music by | Lionel Newman |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | Panoramic Productions |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $475,000[1] |
Plot
edit
Egypt, 1249: The father of Princess Shalimar has fallen under the spell of the sinister Shaman, who drugs him and tries to keep daughter Shalimar a prisoner. She knows a secret passage, however, and slips away at night to entertain the oppressed villagers of Hanwan by disguising herself as Taura, a popular dancer in the Tambourine Tavern.
Prince Haidi, the son of the caliph of Bagdad, rides into town accompanied by Captain Hussein, his close friend. At the same time, the menacing Rama Khan and his powerful army arrive. Rama Khan is conspiring with the Shaman to overthrow the Hanwan rulers.
Hussein is killed by Khan, and in the confusion, Taura the dancing girl stabs Prince Haidi with a dagger, unaware he is a potential ally. Haidi's wounds are not fatal. As he consults Princess Shalimar's father about how to conquer the invading horde, he inquires about the dancer Taura who stabbed him, unaware she and Shalimar are one and the same.
Rama Khan wants the princess for himself. He threatens to kill villagers unless she gives herself to him. A battle ensues, in which Haidi, who now realizes her true identity, overcomes Khan, while the Shaman also endures a well-deserved death.
Cast
edit- Debra Paget as Princess Shalimar / Taura
- Jeffrey Hunter as Prince Haidi
- Michael Rennie as Rama Khan
- Dona Drake as Mirva
- Michael Ansara as Captain Kral
- Edgar Barrier as Shaman
- Wally Cassell as Goghi
- Jack Elam as Basra
- Lisa Daniels as Handmaiden
- Phyllis Winger as Handmaiden
- Merry Anders as Handmaiden
- Honey Bruce Harlow as Handmaiden (as Honey Harlow)
- Suzanne Alexander as Handmaiden
- Genice Grayson as Handmaiden
- Cheryll Clarke as Handmaiden
- Kitty London as Handmaiden
- Bobette Bentley as Handmaiden
Production
editIn January 1953 Fox announced the film would be made in CinemaScope as a vehicle for Marilyn Monroe. They hoped to get Tyrone Power to play the male lead.[2]
References
edit- ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p249
- ^ FOX SLATES 2 FILMS WITH NEW PROCESS: ' Prince Valiant' and 'Princess of Nile' Will Be Made for 3-Dimensional Screening By THOMAS M. PRYORS New York Times 29 Jan 1953: 24.
External links
edit- Princess of the Nile at IMDb
- Princess of the Nile at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Princess of the Nile at the TCM Movie Database
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