The Pharaoh's Curse of 1957 is a legendary story that emerged after the discovery of the tomb of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter. The curse, also known as the Curse of the Pharaohs, is believed to be a warning or retribution from the Egyptian gods to those who disturb the tombs of pharaohs. According to popular beliefs, the curse is said to cause misfortune, illness, or even death to those who disturb the resting place of a pharaoh. The idea of the curse gained significant attention in 1923 when Lord Carnarvon, who funded Carter's expedition, died unexpectedly a few months after the tomb was opened. This led to speculations that he had fallen victim to the curse. In 1957, the curse once again captured public imagination when a series of mysterious deaths occurred among the members of a team that organized the Tutankhamun exhibition in the United States.
In 1957, the curse once again captured public imagination when a series of mysterious deaths occurred among the members of a team that organized the Tutankhamun exhibition in the United States. The deaths included those of the American archaeologist Aaron Ember, archaeologist John Gustafson, and a radiologist who examined Tutankhamun's remains. These deaths, combined with other unusual incidents that followed the exhibition, fueled the belief in the curse.
Pharaohs qcurse 1957
The low-budget film outfit Bel-Air Productions churned out a trio of black & white chillers in the 1950s. All produced by schlockmeister Howard W. Koch (director of FRANKENSTEIN 1970) and released through United Artists, the three titles consisted of the legends-of-horror romp THE BLACK SLEEP, the Karloff vehicle VOODOO ISLAND and this film, PHARAOH’S CURSE (aka CURSE OF THE PHARAOHS), no doubt the weakest of the bunch. Never before available on home video, PHARAOH’S CURSE now makes its DVD debut courtesy of the MGM Limited Edition Collection.
Desperate to find her archeologist husband, Sylvia Quentin (Diane Brewster, THE INVISIBLE BOY) joins Captain Storm (Mark Dana) to trek across the Egyptian desert and eventually stop the husband’s excavation of an ancient tomb. With a couple of British soldiers along for the journey, the group suddenly makes the acquaintance of a mysterious, exotic Egyptian woman named Simiri (Ziva Shapir), who joins them in search of her brother Numar (Alvaro Guillot), who happens to be the guide on the exhibition. Before Sylvia and the others catch up with her husband, strange things occur, including the disappearance of their food, water and medical supplies, and Sylvia nearly succumbs to a scorpion’s sting.
When Silvia and the group finally reaches their destination, its Captain Storm who finds himself storming into the ancient burial place, just in time to witness expedition leader Robert Quentin (George M. Neise) and his companions open up the sarcophagus of a high priest, and proceeding to cut open the wrappings surrounding his face. At this moment, poor on-looker Numar faints, but the worst is yet to come. He starts to age rapidly (becoming quite decrepit), embodying the essence of the long-dormant high priest, now a walking zombie who will stop at nothing to protect his pharaoh’s undiscovered resting place, killing off anyone in his path while feeding on their blood.
PHAROAH’S CURSE carries a screenplay that’s pretty standard stuff, especially when you’ve already seen every Universal mummy movie before it. A group of various Americans, Britishers and Europeans desecrate an Egyptian tomb: a centuries-old curse comes to fruition and the walking dead knocks off the blasphemous ones responsible. But the difference here is that the mummy doesn’t actually awaken, but rather embodies a living person who hence rots and becomes a decrepit and mummy-like vengeance machine. Even though to some he might resemble a very old man wandering around in loose, striped pajamas, the monster is rather effective in his few scenes, and there’s the added bonus that he’s something of a bloodsucker, biting the necks of his victims like a traditional vampire. A memorable scene has the monster’s crumbling, stone-like arm detached (pulled off) as it escapes through a heavy door.
The film boasts some impressive sets, and the location shooting in California’s Death Valley National Park is a believable double for what is supposed to be Cairo. Shot as a period piece and running only 66 minutes long, the film has a reputation for its dullness, but there’s still enough enticement to placate seasoned fans of older “creature features” type flicks, especially when the mummy was such an underused monster during the decade of the 1950s (the mummy had previously met Abbott and Costello and was about to be taken on by Christopher Lee in Hammer’s gothic horror rebirth). The cast is rather uninspired, but character actor George M. Neise will be familiar to viewers from several 1960s Three Stooges features, as well as his turn as Mr. Faversham in the “On Stage” episode of The Honeymooners. Here, he’s at his best, as the obnoxious expedition leader obsessed with uncovering the pharaoh’s tomb, and totally blasé about his failing marriage. Les Baxter, still years from his tenure at AIP, provides a moody score.
In 2007, MGM/Fox issued a press release that promised PHARAOH’S CURSE as part of a “Midnite Movies” DVD paired with CURSE OF THE FACELESS MAN, but the disc’s release was cancelled. Five years later, PHARAOH’S CURSE now joins FACELESS MAN as part of MGM’s Limited Edition Collection line of manufactured-on-demand DVDs. The film has been presented full frame (its original aspect ratio is reported at 1.37:1, despite it being shot in 1956), yet there does tend to be extra headroom in a number of scenes. The transfer looks very impressive, with the black & white image having sharp detail, deep black levels and not a blemish in sight and nothing in the way of grain. The mono English audio track is clear as a bell, with no noticeable hiss or distortion. There's no trailer on the disc, but chapter stops can be navigated at ten minute intervals. (George R. Reis)
The two sergeants who accompany Storm and Sylvia, Gromley (Richard Peel) and Smolett (Terence De Marney), are meant to be the film's source of comic relief, with the two of them having a sort of Abbot and Costello rapport between them. When the group stops at an oasis early on in order to rest and fill up their water containers, Gromley complains about being forced to be there, while Smolett calls it a, "Clean, outdoor life," as he's happy to be away from his wife and mentions planning on joining the foreign legion when he gets the chance. Later that night, Gromley shows Smolett how to properly prepare an outdoor bed for Sylvia, mentioning, "I don't care how you fix your bed, but you're making this for a lady, not your wife." Once he gets it prepared, he has Smolett lay down to test it and when he does, he gets comfortable, saying, "You could dream beautiful dreams sleeping here, you could." But then, Smolett rises up and asks, "Now, why'd you have to go and mention my wife?" When Simira appears and joins them, the two sergeants, despite noting her beauty, don't seem so sure about her, with Smolett commenting, "If you ask me, that beautiful mirage is a walking nightmare." The next morning finds him apparently sleeping with his eyes open, even though he's supposed to be on guard, and when Gromley comes over to rouse him, he finds that Mabel, the mule who was carrying their food, is missing. Smolett is at a loss to explain what happened, telling Storm that he never closed his eyes all night, while Gromley is sure Simira is behind it, saying that Mabel isn't the type to wander off. The sergeants are also the ones who discover that the water is gone, the two of them arguing since Smolett insists he filled the container that morning while Gromley blames him. After Sylvia is stung by the scorpion and Storm must make a choice about whether or not to take the shorter route to get her to safety, Gromley says he still doesn't trust Simira and would rather take his chances following the map, while Smolett says he doesn't think Sylvia will make it if they take the long way. Once the they reach the expedition's camp, the sergeants' role in the story is greatly reduced, although Gromley gets a couple of chances to confront the possessed Numar, only to be killed by him and drained of his blood. Smolett stays with the group, continuing to aid them in their investigation into what's going on, and when they leave the valley after learning the truth, Smolett bids farewell to Gromley, who's been buried alongside Robert Quentin and Brecht.
However, it is important to note that skeptics argue that the curse is merely a coincidence or a result of natural causes. They point out that Carter, who discovered the tomb and was heavily involved in its excavation, lived for more than a decade after the tomb's opening and died at an old age. Nevertheless, the Pharaoh's Curse of 1957 remains a captivating tale in the realm of archaeology and ancient Egypt. It continues to spark debates and intrigue among researchers, historians, and enthusiasts. Whether it is a genuine supernatural curse or a mere coincidence, the legend of the curse adds an element of mystery and fascination to the exploration of ancient tombs and the study of Egyptology..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Ancient Pharaohs: Tales from 1957"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Pharaoh's Curse 1957". The storyline felt predictable and cliché, offering nothing new to the genre. The acting was subpar, making it hard to connect with any of the characters. Additionally, the special effects were lacking, making key scenes feel lackluster. Overall, this film failed to captivate me and fell short of my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "Pharaoh's Curse 1957" was a complete waste of time. From the start, the plot was disjointed and confusing, leaving me struggling to understand what was happening. The characters were poorly developed, making it difficult to invest in their struggles or care about their outcomes. The film also lacked any real scares or thrills, relying on tired horror film tropes. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for an engaging and well-executed horror film.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars - "Pharaoh's Curse 1957" had potential but failed to deliver. The concept of an ancient Egyptian curse sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was sluggish, making the film drag on for far too long. The dialogue was lackluster and felt forced, adding to the overall disappointment. Despite promising moments, the film failed to capitalize on its potential, leaving me underwhelmed and unsatisfied.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - I found "Pharaoh's Curse 1957" to be unoriginal and uninspiring. The storyline followed the typical tropes of cursed artifacts and ancient curses without bringing anything fresh to the table. The scares were predictable, and the film relied heavily on cheap jump scares that failed to create any real tension. The performances were average at best, making it hard to invest in the characters' fates. Overall, this film added nothing new to the horror genre and left me feeling disappointed.