Princess of the Nile (1954)

In 1249, an Egyptian princess allies herself with the son of the Caliph of Baghdad in order to rid Egypt of its Bedouin invaders.

Director:

Harmon Jones

Writer:

Gerald Drayson Adams

Stars:

Debra Paget, Jeffrey Hunter, Michael Rennie

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debra Paget	...	Princess Shalimar / Taura
Jeffrey Hunter	...	Prince Haidi
Michael Rennie	...	Rama Khan
Dona Drake	...	Mirva
Michael Ansara	...	Captain Kral
Edgar Barrier	...	Shaman
Wally Cassell	...	Goghi
Jack Elam	...	Basra
Lisa Daniels	...	Handmaiden
Phyllis Winger	...	Handmaiden
Merry Anders	...	Handmaiden
Honey Bruce Friedman	...	Handmaiden (as Honey Harlow)
Suzanne Alexander	...	Handmaiden
Genice Grayson	...	Handmaiden
Jeanne Vaughn	...	Handmaiden

Storyline

1249 A.D. Shalimar, an Egyptian princess, striving to rid her country of its Bedouin conquerors, forms an alliance with Prince Haidi, son of the Caliph of Baghdad. She practices her intrigues both at the court and, disguised as a dancing girl, in the market place.

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Plot Keywords:

prince | market | intrigue | conqueror | caliph | 

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Taglines:

Shalimar THE FLAME THAT IGNITED EGYPT! (original print ad - almost all caps)

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Princesa do Nilo

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$475,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Panoramic Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some of the sets were re-used from Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

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Quotes

Rama Khan: Stretch him on the rack till his tongue loosens.

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Connections

Referenced in Alma Corsária (1993)

User Reviews

Better than expected

For the most part, I only enjoy the kind of movie that allows one to escape the current time into the future or past. This movie is pure escapism. The dancing starts almost immediately, and Debra Paget in her "purple harem" bikini dress simply has no equal in film in my opinion. Her dancing, while sultry, is surpassed by her dance in Fritz Lang's Tiger of Eschnapur, available on DVD, where she played the temple dancer Seetha.

One problem with the movie is the closed setting. There are few outdoor scenes shot, and they as well as other scenes are a bit claustrophobic. The same locations are used over and over again, but with some interesting secret passages and waterways. Her secret double identity is totally unbelievable with beauty of that magnitude. Debra even wields a sabre and holds 2 enemy soldiers at bay on a staircase, she could do it all.

What does work is Debra Paget as a princess. With her beauty, she certainly would be the center of attention anywhere at any time in history. This movie, when hopefully it becomes available on DVD, will be a must buy. Overall, taken with a bit of humor, I loved it.