How a Nobel laureate helped build a cinematic pyramid for the silver screen
In short: In 1955, director Howard Hawks attempted to capture the sheer scale of ancient Egypt in Land of the Pharaohs. This epic drama, featuring thousands of extras and a script co-written by Nobel Prize-winning novelist William Faulkner, remains a testament to the golden age of Hollywood’s massive, ambitious historical productions.
Released in 1955, Land of the Pharaohs stands as a quintessential example of the mid-century Hollywood epic. Produced and directed by Howard Hawks, the film sought to dramatize the construction of the Great Pyramid through a fictionalized lens. To achieve the necessary grandeur, the production utilized CinemaScope and WarnerColor, technologies designed to immerse audiences in the vast, sweeping landscapes of the ancient world. The film’s narrative centers on Pharaoh Khufu, portrayed by Jack Hawkins, and his complex relationship with his wife, Nellifer, played by Joan Collins.
The production was defined by its staggering scale, aiming to rival other massive spectacles of the era such as The Robe, The Ten Commandments, and Ben-Hur. The studio’s commitment to sheer size was evident in its reliance on massive crowds; the Warner Bros. press office famously claimed that a single scene featured 9,787 extras. This logistical feat was intended to convey the immense human effort required to construct the pyramids, grounding the fictional story in a visual experience of overwhelming magnitude.
Perhaps the most unexpected element of the film’s creation was the involvement of William Faulkner. As one of the three credited screenwriters, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist brought a unique literary pedigree to the project. While the film is a fictional account, the collaboration between a legendary director like Hawks and a literary giant like Faulkner highlights the era’s tendency to treat historical epics as high-stakes artistic endeavors. Despite the massive resources and creative talent involved, the film remains a fascinating artifact of how Hollywood interpreted history through the lens of mid-century spectacle.
Ultimately, the film serves as a window into the ambition of 1950s cinema, where the goal was often to push the technical and physical limits of filmmaking. By combining the technical advancements of the time with a massive cast and a high-profile writing team, Land of the Pharaohs sought to transport viewers to a distant past, creating a cinematic monument that mirrored the very structures it depicted on screen.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Land of the Pharaohs
- Also: Land of the Pharaohs
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