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Princess of the Nile
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Wikipedia article
'Princess of the Nile' is a 1954 American adventure film directed by Harmon Jones and starring Debra Paget, Jeffrey Hunter and Michael Rennie. It was shot in technicolor and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Originally conceived as a more lavish film, it ended up produced as a second feature.
Plot
Egypt, 1249: The father of Princess Shalimar has fallen under the spell of the sinister Shaman, who drugs him and tries to keep daughter Shalimar a prisoner. She knows a secret passage, however, and slips away at night to entertain the oppressed villagers of Hanwan by disguising herself as Taura, a popular dancer in the Tambourine Tavern.
Prince Haidi, the son of the caliph of Bagdad, rides into town accompanied by Captain Hussein, his close friend. 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 the dancing girl stabs Prince Haidi with a dagger, unaware he is a potential ally. Haidi's wounds are not fatal. As he consults Princess Shalimar's father about how to conquer the invading horde, he inquires about the dancer Taura who stabbed him, unaware she and Shalimar are one and 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, while the Shaman also endures a well-deserved death.
Cast
* Debra Paget as Princess Shalimar / Taura
* Jeffrey Hunter as Prince Haidi
* Michael Rennie as Rama Khan
* Dona Drake as Mirva
* Michael Ansara as Captain Kral
* Edgar Barrier as Shaman
* Wally Cassell as Goghi
* Jack Elam as Basra
* Lisa Daniels as Handmaiden
* Merry Anders as Handmaiden
* Honey Bruce Harlow as Handmaiden (as Honey Harlow)
Production
In January 1953 Fox announced the film would be made in CinemaScope as a vehicle for Marilyn Monroe. They hoped to get Tyrone Power to play the male lead.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.
References
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