- Sand, swords, pagans and pyramids abound in these historical tales! The collection includes Sergio Leone’s debut Colossus of Rhodes, Land of the Pharaohs and The Prodigal which stars Lana Turner. Runtime: 383 min Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: NR Age: 085391145240 UPC: 085391145240 Manufacturer No: 114524
No Description Available.
Genre: Cult
Rating: NR
Release Date: 26-JUN-2007
Media Type: DVDWho says history has to be boring? Warner Bros.’ series of “cult classics” is a cheese-popcorn fiesta just waiting to pop. This set includes three “historical” epics long on action and cleavage and proudly short on those dull pesky facts. The Colossus of Rhodes (1961), a splashy toga party starring Rory Calhoun, marks Sergio Leone’s credited directorial debut. As sword-and-sandal films go, it’s a rollicking tale with excellent special effects, especially the earthquake and its resulting devastation.
Howard Hawks took time in between Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Rio Bravo to direct Land of the Pharoahs (1955), with a cast of thousands, led by the heaving bosoms of Joan Collins. No expense was spared, with nearly 10,000 extras “and 1600 camels in the production!” as the marketing materials of the time proclaim. William Faulkner co-wrote the screenplay, which features delicious turns of events like a lying, scheming so-and-so getting comeuppance by, yes, being sealed alive in a pyramid: “A structure to house one man–and the greatest treasure of all time.”
And The Prodigal (1955), directed by Richard Thorpe, tells the ancient biblical tale of two toiling brothers, but ups the ante for the wandering son with a decidedly ungodly pagan temptress in the form of Lana Turner (it’s a wonder he ever made it back to his father’s farm!). Originally an MGM release, The Prodigal hearkens to the mid-’50s era of the great biblical epic (which many fans believe is due for a renaissance), though it takes extreme liberties with Jesus’s parable. Then again, if Lana Turner’s figure doesn’t signify “debauchery” and “riotous living,” what does?
The boxed set also includes some very instructional extras, like vintage interviews with Hawks and contemporary interviews with Peter Bogdanovich and film historians. Let the catapulting begin! –A.T. Hurley
Buy “Cult Camp Classics 4 – Historical Epics “ For Only $15.49
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March 15, 2010
#1
Of the four boxsets, this is the best of Camp Classics series.
Land of the Pharaohs isn’t that campy. It just lacks the umph in casting and dynamics. it’s like watching a TLC show about how to build pyramid. Joan Collins does get whipped. Bogdanovich’s commentary includes tapes of his interviews with director Howard Hawks.
The Colossus of Rhodes is an out of control Italian epic about the statue. it’s loaded up with fighting and bare chests. Sergio Leone keeps the weirdness coming at Rory Calhoun. Mr. Burns loves this.
The Prodigal is the camp best. You have the Prodigal son fighting a vulture! Plus Lana Turner….yummy. Slaughter the calf to get this film in your collection.
March 15, 2010
#2
Cult Camp Classics, indeed! They just don’t make movies like this anymore! Big budget, widescreen, lots of extras, and not a CGI special effect in sight! Those are real people running around on all those sets, mister! The color is gaudy, the costumes are skimpy, and the music is loud. What more can you ask for from Hollywood in its heyday!
Actually, of these three, “Colossus of Rhodes” is actually an Italian production, the first directorial credit for Sergio Leone, no less, later famous for his so-called “spaghetti westerns,” like “Fistful of Dollars,” etc. Here he seems to handle the crowds well, though Rory Calhoun looks out of place in a mini-skirt. Still, it’s all good fun, as the good people plot to overthrow this year’s tyrant, and the statue looks good.
“Land of the Pharaohs” is more of a paradox. The first part is all about the building of a pyramid, with massive crowds of workers struggling away. Then it devolves into a plot of intrigue, involving malicious bad-girl Joan Collins, some would say type-cast, trying to take over the Pharaoh’s heart and his treasure. Frankly, the pyramid part is more interesting than Ms.Collins’ tight bodice, let alone her acting. But the visuals are fun, the music is by classic film score master Dimitri Tiomkin, the direction is by no less than Howard Hawks, and the script is I understand the only film credit ever issued to, you’ll never guess, no less than William Faulkner! True.
Lastly, we have “The Prodigal,” with Lana Turner giving her all as the “High Priestess of Astarte.” Really. This was one of two costume epics which caused the end of her career at MGM. (The other was “Diane.”) Here Ms.Turner applies her considerable wiles to so-called impressionable Edmund Purdom, in what is essentially a gussied-up version of the Biblical parable of The Prodigal Son. Mr.Purdom is just as earnest here as he was the previous year, in “The Egyptian,” and, as many have said, just as wooden. But it’s all good fun. See the Temple Virgins! See the Pagan Idol! See the Human Sacrifice! See Lana Turner’s skimpy costumes! Actually very entertaining.
All three of these films are available in a boxed set, costing considerably less than each of them separately. Not only fun entertainment, but a great buy into the bargain!
Enjoy!
March 15, 2010
#3
The best film in this pack is Colossus of Rhodes, which has many memorable moments but it’s wildly uneven. It’s still worth seeing for any fan of old Italian Sword & Sandal films.
Of the two other films (which are American made) Land of Pharaohs and The Prodigal, Pharaohs is the best but the script is not good. It starts off brilliantly and then it becomes the Joan Collins show. Joan Collins in blackface no-less. The score is amazing though.
The Prodigal is the worse of the bunch. I watched it once and won’t be watching again. Aside from the miscast Lana Turner, there’s almost nothing to recommend, even the much vaunted sets are tacky looking.
As camp value, only Joan Collins in Land of Pharaohs fits the bill. The Prodigal is too leaden and serious to be camp (unfortunately, Lana basically has a supporting role) and Colossus of Rhodes, even with a miscast Rory Calhoun, is not really camp per se.
For Ancient History camp, nothing in this pack is as campy as Anne Baxter as Nefertiti in The Ten Commandments.
March 15, 2010
#4
This movies were fun for what they were..Cult Movies.Lana and JOan were both beautiful and interesting to watch with a so so story line.
March 15, 2010
#5
The Land of the Pharaohs, the Colossus of Rhodes, and The Prodigal.
You must like historical costume epics, in order to appreciate this set. The Land of the Pharaohs (1955) with Joan Collins, I believe that this is the best movie of the set. The movie deals with the reign of the pharaoh Khufu, and the building of the great pyramid at Giza. If you like this movie, you should also see the movie The Egyptian.
The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) This is a movie based on one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. If you liked this movie, you would also like Jason and the Argonauts, or Clash of the Titans.
The Prodigal an attempt to cash in on the biblical epic craze of the 50s. The thing that makes this film watchable is Lana Turner. The film is loosely based on the biblical story of the prodigal son.