Cleopatra's Daughter (1960)

Cleopatra, after the civil war that followed the assassination of Caesar, met with Marc Antony in Assyria where they planned the defense of Egypt against the Romans. Before leaving, ... See full summary »

Director:

Fernando Cerchio

Writers:

Damiano Damiani (story and screenplay), Fernando Cerchio (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Debra Paget, Ettore Manni, Erno Crisa

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debra Paget	...	Shila - Cleopatra's Daughter
Ettore Manni	...	Resi - Pharaoh's Physician
Erno Crisa	...	Kefren - Tegi's Councellor
Corrado Pani	...	Pharaoh Nemorat / Keops
Yvette Lebon	...	Queen-Mother Tegi
Andreina Rossi	...	Kefren's Mistress
Ivano Staccioli
Angelo Dessy
Renato Mambor
Nando Tamberlani	...	(as Fernando Tamberlani)
Stefania Ré
Rosalba Neri
Betsy Bell
Amerigo Santarelli
Pietro Ceccarelli	...	Sutek

Storyline

Cleopatra, after the civil war that followed the assassination of Caesar, met with Marc Antony in Assyria where they planned the defense of Egypt against the Romans. Before leaving, Cleopatra entrusted her young daughter, Shila, to the rulers of Assyria to be brought up as their own. After Marc Antony's defeat and Cleopatra's death, Egypt, for the next twenty years, was torn apart and ruled by a youthful Pharaoh, Nemorat, with his despot Queen Mother, Tegi, who desired to unite both kingdoms and strengthen her son's rule by conquering Assyria and making Shila, now a beautiful woman, his queen.

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Plot Keywords:

egypt | death | murder | murder of family | ancient egypt | 

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Taglines:

More beautiful and desirable than Cleopatra herself!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

February 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cleopatra's Daughter

Company Credits

Production Co:

Explorer Film '58, Comptoir Français de Productions Cinématographiques (CFPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (US version) Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie has absolutely nothing to do with Cleopatra's daughter. The English version of this movie was translated completely differently from the original Italian script, setting it in the 1st. century BC, rather than the Bronze age when the Pharaoh Khufu reigned between the years of 2589 - 2566 BC. Cleopatra's actual daughter, Selene, lived between the years 40 - 6 BC. After the death of her mother Cleopatra and Mark Antony she was taken to Rome as a child by Octavian Augustus who adopted her. Augustus later in her life arranged her marriage to King Juba II of Numidia. They were given the kingdom of Mauretania, (modern Algeria and Morocco) to rule as vassal king and queen. They named their capital Caesaria in honour of the Emperor. Actually as well, the real Pharoah Khufu is generally considered to have commissioned the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which still stands in Egypt today. .

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Quotes

Resi - Pharaoh's Physician: [Resi bows as he approaches the pharaoh] Is my sovereign in good health and suffering no ills?
Pharaoh Nemorat: I want you to answer my question. As a physician to the pharaoh, do you touch and give treatment to beggars?
Resi - Pharaoh's Physician: For a physician, the various elements of anatomy are the same in all men. Studying them helps me to cure you.
Pharaoh Nemorat: Once you suggested removing the top of my skull. But if any skull is to be removed it is your own. Be thankful you're a good physician and I'm in need of you.

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Connections

Featured in Kolossal - i magnifici Macisti (1977)

User Reviews

The Romance of Resi and Shila

After Julius Caesar's death, Marc Antony and Cleopatra met in Assyria for political purposes. While there, Cleopatra left her daughter Shila with the Assyrians rulers. Shila was raised by and as one of the Assyrian royals. In the years following the death of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, Egypt is in turmoil from their evil and mentally ill Pharaoh Nemorat. Nemorat's Queen Mother, Tegi, wanted her son Pharaoh Nemorat and the Princess Shila to marry in order to unite Egypt and Assyria. Shila rejected Nemorat and he took some poison then died. Now the Queen Mother Tegi has Shila imprisoned for the death of her son. The royal physician, Resi, is in love with Shila and wants to help her. Tegi's younger son, Kefren, is now next in line for the throne. Now Resi and Shila must risk all for their love of one another. Resi has a plan to get the Princess Shila out of prison before she is put to death by order of the Egyptian Queen Mother Tegi.

This is a fairly good "B" historical drama. It's not great but it did hold my interest fairly well, I was surprised by how pleasant it was. The first half of the film I did find boring but it picked up about 1/2 through it.

4.5/10