Valley of the Kings

 

 

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Archeologist Robert Taylor and the lovely Elanor Parker, find adventure and romance in Egypt while on a quest to find evidence of Joseph from biblical times. They fall in love an dhav elot sof adventure on their quest. A lot of great scenary of pyramids and scenes from Egypt, a very excting and scenic film. It makes one want to travel to Egypt.

A true rating of this film, for me, would be 4 and 1/2
stars...a film for one's youth...to be inspired by...
to sense the wonder and mystery and power of the Past...
its dreams, hopes, ambitions, achievements...all entombed
in dust...awaiting release...by some heroic adventurer...
some intelligent, questing, skeptical -- yet earnest,
inquiring, disciplined seeker who will not be denied...
who wills "to strive, to seek, to find...and not to yield"...
until he has penetrated into the sanctum of wisdom
and discovered the Knowledge of life and himself...
*********
The opening credits establish the "mise en scene"...
the story is based on materials from C.W. Ceram's *Gods,
Graves, and Scholars*... it concerns a married lady,
daughter of elderly archaeologist who has died...her
father had spent his entire life of seeking to find some
evidence in Egypt that verified the stay of Joseph,
the patriarch, told about in *Genesis* 37-50 in the
Old Testament...
This married daughter seeks to venerate and validate
her father's past life by carrying on the quest which had
meant so much to him...she has in her possession a golden
statuette of the Pharaoh Ra-ho-tep (whom her father had
believed was the Pharaoh who had elevated Joseph to
the position as his vizier, after Joseph had interpreted
his dreams)...the daughter seeks the help of an American
archaeologist, who also happens to be reasonably handsome
(if a bit weathered...) -- played by Robert Taylor, but
after "Quo Vadis?" and after "Ivanhoe"...the archaeologist
is skeptical, but attracted to the woman...even after he
finds out she is married, he is still intrigued enough to
continue to help her in her quest...here in Egypt...
around the year 1900...
The path is long...covers much sand...visits many
interesting, wondrous sites...there is a rope climb
down the face of the colossal temple of Ramses II
at Abu Simbel...into a hole in the temple face...
wondrous, entrancing things to a youthful mind
enchanted and inspired with archaeology...and Egypt...
mystery...and glory...and discovery...and secret
knowledge...
The path also leads to a Greek Orthodox monastery at
the base of Mount Sinai...and a basket ride up into the
monastery...discoveries in the dark interior of the
monastery...and finally there is the exciting discovery
which leads to the Valley of the Kings...and the possible
discovery of the tomb of the Pharaoh Ra-ho-tep...and

confirmation of the story of Joseph...and validation of
her father's commitment, and seeking, and belief...
The archaeologist discovers things about himself
as well...what it means to be be committed to a belief
in something more than just oneself...more than just
skeptical cynicism or libertine living...to seek answers
to questions that trouble the mind and the spirit with
restlessness and dissatisfaction because one is not
headed in the direction of psychic fulfillment which
one's intelligence, and desire for knowing, and earnest
spirit find fulfilling...
There is wisdom here...in the sands...certainly
wisdom that Thoth or Hermes could well affirm...but
it takes the seeking... Horus meets Elektra...conquers
Set...discovers Joseph...myth and meaning...and
"Remembrance of Things Past"...
* * * * * * * * *

This is a terrific movie, a bit slow in parts, but none the less well worth watching. I have lost count of the number of times I have watched it since it was first released. This is the movie that first gave me a taste of the subject and I have been enthralled by it ever since I was a boy (I am now 56)

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4.0 out of 5 stars More adventures in Egypt
In this unknown film, Taylor was an arqueologist searching the tomb of a ancient jewish leader. The movie was shooting in Egypt and that is the more remarcable thing about the... Read more

Published on July 29 2000 by Karen Küller Bosch

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