Legend of the Lost (1957)

American ne'er-do-well Joe January is hired to take Paul Bonnard on an expedition into the desert in search of treasure.

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Robert Presnell Jr. (screenplay) (as Robert Presnell Jnr.), Ben Hecht (screenplay)

Stars:

John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Joe January
Sophia Loren	...	Dita
Rossano Brazzi	...	Paul Bonnard
Kurt Kasznar	...	Prefect Dukas
Sonia Moser	...	Girl
Angela Portaluri	...	Girl
Ibrahim El Hadish	...	Galli Galli

Storyline

Paul Bonnard arrives in Timbuktu in search of a guide to escort him into the Sahara desert. American Joe January takes the job despite misgivings about Bonnard's plans. Dita, a prostitute who has been deeply moved by what appears to be Bonnard's spiritual nature, follows the two men into the desert. Eventually the trio arrives in the ruins of a lost city, where Bonnard hopes to find the treasure his father sought years earlier before disappearing. But what Bonnard finds alters him in unexpected ways, with tragic results.

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Plot Keywords:

camel chips | sahara desert | prostitute | lost city | treasure hunt | 

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Taglines:

A Hundred Times He Challenged the Blazing Desert Only to Find That Man's Greatest Adventure Was Still Woman!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Legend of Timbuktu

Filming Locations:

Leptis Magna, Libya

Box Office

Budget:

$1,750,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,200,000, 31 December 1957

Company Credits

Production Co:

Batjac Productions, Dear Film Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shortly before filming began, John Wayne was devastated when the U.S. sided with the Soviet Union in the Suez Crisis. He called for military action in response to the Soviet invasion of Hungary. Wayne had always had a very low opinion of then U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and this increased after Suez. However, he continued to publicly support Eisenhower, as he felt Adlai Stevenson, a progressive Democrat, as President, would be far worse for the U.S. and its allies.

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Goofs

Sophia Loren's dress appears to variously rip, repair and re-rip itself in various scenes.

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Quotes

Joe January: [referring to the lost city] I've been walkin' around thinkin'. It's a great town for thinkin' - no distractions.

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Connections

Featured in Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010)

User Reviews

Timgad not Lepcis Magna

A previous reviewer may be correct in identifying Lepcis Magna in promotional shots of Sophia Loren, but that Roman city was not used as a location in this movie. The ancient city is clearly Timgad and is referred to as such by John Wayne's character.

The use of Timgad as a location is perhaps the most interesting aspect of this movie, notwithstanding the allure of Miss Loren. I thought so, anyway, when I first saw it on TV as a kid.

I did not occur to me then, but, for a 'lost city' Timgad appears remarkably well maintained in this movie. The adventurers come across an archaeological site which clearly has had its streets swept regularly and various monuments reconstructed. Only the gift shop is missing.

That the characters strike out from Timbuktu and arrive in northern Libya means they have traversed almost the entire breadth of the Sahara -surely an impossible feat, even for the indomitable Mr Wayne. His character is rueful when he name-checks the place, as well he might be, since a bus ride from Algiers would probably have sufficed!

That he knows the name of the ancient Roman city was perhaps a favour to the Libyan tourist board.