SPHINX (1981) – Scream Factory

[DR Herbert West]

someone is hunting tourists out of season in this adventure thriller directed by franklin j. Schaffner (planet of the apes, patton, papillon, the boys from brazil) and starring lesley-anne down (the great train robbery), frank langella (dracula), and john gielgud (murder on the orient express). A beautiful, dedicated egyptologist finds her life threatened many times while traveling from cairo to luxor’s valley of the kings. She is in search of a mysterious tomb of riches, which also holds great interest for black marketeers. Based on a novel by robin cook, this riveting film delivers twists, turns and a tale of intrigue you won’t soon forget!

[DukeTogo84]

Another one I haven't seen, but great cast and seems interesting enough.

[oubukibun]

Is there a secret Egyptian mythology craze trending right now that's propelling Scream Factory? This and The Awakening together, I just had to ask.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Is there a secret Egyptian mythology craze trending right now that's propelling Scream Factory?

Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk

[oubukibun]

Hahaha,

Is this film any good? Egyptian mythology is actually my favorite from all the mythological branches and I tend to seek out all adventure films set in Egypt and whatnot.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Hahaha,

Is this film any good? Egyptian mythology is actually my favorite from all the mythological branches and I tend to seek out all adventure films set in Egypt and whatnot.

This is gonna be a blind buy for me. Looks fun.

[Aclea]

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for it while being aware of its limitations: it was widely reviled when it came out, but if you're expecting glossy old-fashioned hokum it's not without its pleasures.



One of those it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time movies, 1981's Sphinx was one of those pictures that looked so much more promising on paper than it did on screen: based on a novel from the author of Coma, which had been a smash hit a few years earlier, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, who was responsible for Patton and Planet of the Apes, and dealing with the search for a lost tomb and a deadly trade in stolen Egyptian antiquities, it sounded like it should have made for a smart and glossy thriller. It certainly managed the glossy part, with glorious Scope photography of most of the major ancient Egyptian tourist attractions from the pyramids of Giza to King Tut's tomb as well as a cast headed by Lesley Anne-Down, Frank Langella, Maurice Ronet and John Gielgud. It was just the smart bit it never really managed. When she's not telling everybody she meets that she's an Englishwoman who now lives in Boston to explain away her accent, Down's crop-topped Egyptologist reacts to most situations by screaming, even when it would be infinitely safer to keep her mouth shut, and it's pretty obvious that neither of her leading men is entirely to be trusted even if they're not quite as obvious stage villains as John Rhys Davies' smuggler, who actually kicks a dog in his opening scene just to underline what a swine he is.

Yet throughout there's the suspicion that, faced with a plot that could have done service in a 1930s programmer despite a few modern retouches, Schaffner and co. have decided not to take it entirely seriously even if they are playing it with an admirably straight face. John Byrum's screenplay certainly seems tongue-in-cheek at times: aside from playing on tourist stereotypes in scenes with Saeed Jaffrey's tour guide, a scene where she hides under the bed from an intruder in her room is played for comedy of embarrassment rather than suspense, one truck chase is filled with throwaway sight gags and the location of the tomb itself, hidden in plain sight, could definitely be said to be taking the urine. Take it on that level and keep your brain switched in neutral for its 117-minute running time and it's entertainingly silly and resolutely undemanding old-fashioned hokum. Expect anything more, and disappointment is inevitable.

Love the way the poster art they're using makes Langella look like he's Dracula coming out of his coffin again...

[snipemonkey]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Hahaha,

Is this film any good? Egyptian mythology is actually my favorite from all the mythological branches and I tend to seek out all adventure films set in Egypt and whatnot.

No. It's not a very good movie. Probably the worst movie Franklin Schaffner ever made. Not sure why it's being released under the 'Scream Factory' imprimatur either as it's not remotely a horror movie -- it's more of a hokey 1970s TV-movie-ish Sidney Sheldon-type romantic thriller.

[Mose Harper]

Originally Posted by Aclea

I've always had a biyt of a sift spot for it while being aware of its limitations: it was widely reviled when it came out, but if you're expecting glossy old-fashioned hokum it's not without its pleasures.

I like this one too.

I saw it as a kind of grown up "Nancy Drew and the hidden treasures of Egypt" kind of thriller.

Nothing too special, but the typical travelogue pleasures in addition to some attractive players, with a nice, authentically flavored score by Michael Lewis.

The MOD is particularly weak, so I'll be looking forward to the upgrade.

[Aclea]

Yeah, that's definitely the best way to look at it. The heavyweight credits definitely counted against it in the unrealized high expectations department.

[skylark68]

Definitely in for this one as well, fun film and I have the movie tie in edition of the novel. I’m glad someone is releasing these ancient Egyptian themed films.

[emmet otter]

Finally!! https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ghlight=sphinx

Now I can remove this from my signature wish list

I think many of you blind buyers will appreciate this underrated film. It is damn good....well, I like it

[wonkavision]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Is there a secret Egyptian mythology craze trending right now that's propelling Scream Factory? This and The Awakening together, I just had to ask.

If it finally brings Young Sherlock Holmes to Bluray, then I support the Egyptian movement.

[oubukibun]

Oooh, that would be lovely!! Underrated as F*CK as all my "cool" students like to say when they're trying to cash in on their swear-for-the-day, hahaha.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Aclea

...faced with a plot that could have done service in a 1930s programmer...
Take it on that level and keep your brain switched in neutral for its 117-minute running time...

Those 30's programmers would have done this in less than 80 min

[vortexx]

I haven't seen this one. I did see the Awakening theatrically thinking it might be a living mummy movie (maybe not quite that). Anyway, I remember part of the ending. Another gory mummy movie I would like released is Dawn of the Mummy. I seem to like it more than some reviews I've read.

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Hahaha,

Is this film any good? Egyptian mythology is actually my favorite from all the mythological branches and I tend to seek out all adventure films set in Egypt and whatnot.

I recall when the film was initially released that one critic (can't remember who) simply said 'Sphinx Stinks'. (They weren't wrong but I can never resist a Lesley Anne Down film).

Funny this announcement coming the same day as I saw Francois Ozon's Summer of 85 in which the lead character is fascinated by death and has a film poster in his bedroom of a film from the 1980's with a mummy on the poster. I wasn't sure what it was at first but when it turned up a second time in a scene it was clearly The Awakening (1980).

[albert_m2]

This one was on a lot when I was kid. I don't remember much, would be interested in watching it more now.

[atfree]

Just received my copy from Shout! today....will give it a spin this weekend.

[DR Herbert West]

Caps