The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (1980) (TV)

Director:

Philip Leacock

Writers:

Barry Wynne (book)
Herb Meadow (writer)

Release Date:

8 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Mystery | Adventure

Plot:

After an archeological expedition discovers the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamen, many of the scientists, engineers and workmen begin mysteriously dying off.

Plot Keywords:

Tomb | Expedition | Ancient Egypt | Treasure | Burial Ground

Cast

Eva Marie Saint	...	Sarah Morrissey
Robin Ellis	...	Howard Carter
Raymond Burr	...	Jonash Sabastian
Harry Andrews	...	Lord George Carnarvon
Wendy Hiller	...	Princess Vilma
Angharad Rees	...	Lady Evelyn Herbert
Tom Baker	...	Hasan
Barbara Murray	...	Giovanna Antoniella
Faith Brook	...	Lady Almina Carnarvon
Patricia Routledge	...	'Posh' Lady
John Palmer	...	Fishbait
Darien Angadi	...	Ahmed Nahas
Rupert Frazer	...	Collins
Rex Holdsworth	...	Doctor
Stefan Kalipha	...	Daoud

Runtime:

Germany:90 min | USA:98 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Egypt

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

Tom Baker has stated in interviews that a great deal of his role was cut.

How many times (and movies) does it take people to learn not to disturb mummies' tombs?

OK, I don't know how many movies there have been about some idiot archaeologist deciding that being a rich white guy makes it alright to dig up other cultures' kings, thereby incurring the spirits' wrath; as it is, this premise sounds like the forbear of the rules for surviving horror movies as laid out in "Scream". "The Curse of King Tut's Tomb" is yet another addition in the genre, specifically focusing on Howard Carter (Robin Ellis), famous for finding Tutankhamen's burial site.

I could pretty much predict the sorts of things that were going to happen. This seems like the kind of movie that they made because there was absolutely nothing else to do. Probably the strangest aspect was that they gave Eva Marie Saint and Raymond Burr these supporting roles; having starred in Alfred Hitchcock movies - hell, Eva Marie Saint has won an Oscar - they deserve better than this.

Is it a terrible movie? Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that (after dreck like "My Dream Is Yours", "Baryshnya-Krestyanka" and "Everyone Says I Love You", almost anything seems at least tolerable). The acting passes. It's just that the whole let's-see-what-happens-when-we-dig-up-the-mummy routine got old a long time ago (in the past year, I've also seen the Egypt-set horror flicks "The Awakening" and "Sphinx"). So don't make it your first choice. Also starring Tom Baker and narrated by Paul Scofield.