In Egypt in 1249, the father of Princess Shalimar has fallen under the spell of the sinister Shaman, who drugs him and tries to keep his daughter Shalimar as a prisoner. She knows a secret passage and escapes at night to entertain the oppressed villagers of Hanwan by disguising herself as Taura, a popular dancer at the Tambourine Tavern.
Prince Haidi, the son of the caliph of Bagdad, rides into town accompanied by his close friend Captain Hussein. At the same time, the menacing Rama Khan and his powerful army arrive. Rama Khan is conspiring with the Shaman to overthrow the Hanwan rulers.
Hussein is killed by Khan, and in the confusion, Taura stabs Prince Haidi with a dagger, unaware that he is a potential ally. However, Haidi's wounds are not fatal. As he consults Princess Shalimar's father about how to conquer the invading horde, he inquires about Taura, unaware that she and Shalimar are the same.
Rama Khan wants the princess for himself. He threatens to kill villagers unless she gives herself to him. A battle ensues in which Haidi, who now realizes her true identity, overcomes Khan, and Shaman is killed.
In January 1953, Fox announced that the film would be shot in CinemaScope as a vehicle for Marilyn Monroe. The studio hoped to recruit Tyrone Power to play the male lead.[3] However, the film became a cheaper production with lesser stars.[4]
Reception
In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Howard Thompson wrote: "[T]his stale, laborious mixture of muscularity, exotic trappings and undulating background cuties can't easily be excused as passable, lightweight entertainment. Certainly not when three such performers as lovely Debra Paget, the curiously neglected young Jeffrey Hunter and reliable Michael Rennie are embarrassingly wasted. The only diversion, indeed, is the sight of this trio valiantly trying to remain above the waterline, figuratively and literally."[1]
References
1 2 Thompson, Howard (1954-06-12). "The Screen in Review: Tale of Egypt Opens at Palace". The New York Times. p.13.
↑ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN978-0-8108-4244-1. p249
↑ FOX SLATES 2 FILMS WITH NEW PROCESS: ' Prince Valiant' and 'Princess of Nile' Will Be Made for 3-Dimensional Screening By THOMAS M. PRYORS New York Times 29 Jan 1953: 24.
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