Pharaoh (film): Difference between revisions
Maestro2016 (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Corrected mis-spelling, some typos and made some minor tweaks for authenticity. Tag: Reverted |
||
Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
[[Jerzy Kawalerowicz]], who had previously directed such films as ''Cellulose'' (1953), ''Under the [[Phrygia]]n Star'' (1954), ''[[Shadow (1956 film)|The Shade]]'' (1956), ''[[The Real End of the Great War]]'' (1957), ''[[Night Train (1959 film)|Night Train]]'' (1959) and ''[[Mother Joan of the Angels]]'' (1961), turned in the 1960s to [[Bolesław Prus]]' novel ''[[Pharaoh (novel)|Pharaoh]]'' because, he said, "There are brilliant things in it.... The drama of [[political power|power]] in ''Pharaoh'' is incredibly topical and contemporary. The mechanics don't change all that much." |
[[Jerzy Kawalerowicz]], who had previously directed such films as ''Cellulose'' (1953), ''Under the [[Phrygia]]n Star'' (1954), ''[[Shadow (1956 film)|The Shade]]'' (1956), ''[[The Real End of the Great War]]'' (1957), ''[[Night Train (1959 film)|Night Train]]'' (1959) and ''[[Mother Joan of the Angels]]'' (1961), turned in the 1960s to [[Bolesław Prus]]' novel ''[[Pharaoh (novel)|Pharaoh]]'' because, he said, "There are brilliant things in it.... The drama of [[political power|power]] in ''Pharaoh'' is incredibly topical and contemporary. The mechanics don't change all that much." |
||
Kawalerowicz's co-author of the [[scenario]], [[Tadeusz Konwicki]], commented: "It's not a [[historical novel]] in the full sense of the word, it's above all a penetrating analysis of a system of [[political power|power]].... The story of Ramses XIII is a typical example of the actions of a young person who enters |
Kawalerowicz's co-author of the [[scenario]], [[Tadeusz Konwicki]], commented: "It's not a [[historical novel]] in the full sense of the word, it's above all a penetrating analysis of a system of [[political power|power]].... The story of Ramses XIII is a typical example of the actions of a young person who enters on life with a faith and need for renewal. He does not yet know anything about higher matters of state; he has no interest in the laws governing the complex apparatus of power. It seems to him that he is the person to change the existing order of things."<ref name="National">[[National Film School in Łódź|Leon Schiller State School]], "''Faraon''."</ref> |
||
==Film== |
==Film== |
||
''Pharaoh''{{'}}s production took three years, beginning in the fall of 1962 with the setting up of a studio in [[Łódź]] which did in-depth studies of the costumes and |
''Pharaoh''{{'}}s production took three years, beginning in the fall of 1962 with the setting up of a studio in [[Łódź]] which did in-depth studies of the costumes and regalia of life in [[ancient Egypt]]. Filming took place in [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]]. Most of the indoor scenes of the pharaoh's palace, the temples and the [[Labyrinth#Herodotus' Egyptian labyrinth|Labyrinth]] were shot at the [[Łódź]] studio. The Warsaw River Shipyard built an Egyptian ship according to drawings from 4,000 years ago. An artificial island was created on [[Mamry|Lake Kirsajty]], near [[Giżycko]], Poland, and planted with [[date palm|palm]]s and [[Nymphaea|lotus]] for the scene involving Ramses' passage on the [[Nile]] with Sara.<ref name="National"/> |
||
Mass scenes were filmed mainly in [[Uzbekistan]]'s part of the [[Kyzyl Kum]] Desert. The crew spent nearly five months there, working in very difficult |
Mass scenes were filmed mainly in [[Uzbekistan]]'s part of the [[Kyzyl Kum]] Desert. The crew spent nearly five months there, working in very difficult conditions — at the height of summer, the noon temperature exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit); the temperature of the sand, 80 degrees Celsius (176 Fahrenheit). Film stock had to be kept in cold storage. The ubiquitous dust was vexatious. Every day, 10,000 bottles of mineral water were delivered to the shooting location. Hazards included sand [[Viperidae|viper]]s and [[venom]]ous [[spider]]s that launched themselves at people from a couple of [[yard]]s' distance.<ref name="National"/> |
||
Some scenes were filmed at authentic Egyptian locales. For example, the scene in which Prince Ramses learns that his father Pharaoh Ramses XII has died and that he has now become Pharaoh Ramses XIII |
Some scenes were filmed at authentic Egyptian locales. For example, the scene in which Prince Ramses learns that his father Pharaoh Ramses XII has died and that he has now become Pharaoh Ramses XIII takes place against the backdrop of the [[pyramids of Gizeh]]; but the crowds of tourists and the present-day appearance of the area made it near-impossible to find good takes. One of the many consultants on the film was Professor [[Kazimierz Michałowski]], a world authority in [[Egyptology]]. Another was [[Shadi Abdel Salam]], an Egyptian film director and costume designer, who had been a consultant to the 1963 ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]''.<ref name="National"/> Abdel Salam was the costume designer for Pharaoh. |
||
In adapting [[Pharaoh (novel)|Bolesław Prus' novel]] to the screen, the film's producers made a number of notable decisions. One was to keep the film in a predominantly golden-yellowish register and to almost completely eliminate bright colors; bright foliage appears only |
In adapting [[Pharaoh (novel)|Bolesław Prus's novel]] to the screen, the film's producers made a number of notable decisions. One was to keep the film in a predominantly golden-yellowish register and to almost completely eliminate bright colors; bright foliage appears only once, in the scene with Ramses and Sara on the Nile.<ref name="National"/> During the military maneuvers that open the film, an incident has been introduced that does not appear in the novel, involving the wrangling down of a horse. Near the movie's end, High Priest Mefres is dispatched by the Keepers of the [[Labyrinth#Herodotus' Egyptian labyrinth|Labyrinth]] not with a [[chloroform]]-like substance but with a rope looped around his neck and pulled tight by its ends, several yards apart. Pharaoh is among 21 digitally restored classic Polish films chosen for ''Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema''.<ref>[http://culture.pl/en/article/martin-scorsese-presents-21-masterpieces Martin Scorsese Presents 21 Masterpieces ]</ref> |
||
==Cast== |
==Cast== |
Revision as of 07:41, 19 December 2020
Pharaoh | |
---|---|
![]() Publicity still | |
Directed by | Jerzy Kawalerowicz |
Written by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Jerzy Wójcik |
Edited by | Wiesława Otocka |
Music by | Adam Walaciński |
Release date |
|
Running time | 175 minutes |
Country | Poland |
Language | Polish |
Box office | 7 million tickets[1] |
Pharaoh (Polish: Faraon) is a 1966 Polish film directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz and adapted from the eponymous novel by the Polish writer Bolesław Prus. In 1967, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[2] It was also entered into the 1966 Cannes Film Festival.[3] It sold more than 7 million tickets in Poland, becoming one of the highest-grossing Polish films of all time.[1]
Novel
Jerzy Kawalerowicz, who had previously directed such films as Cellulose (1953), Under the Phrygian Star (1954), The Shade (1956), The Real End of the Great War (1957), Night Train (1959) and Mother Joan of the Angels (1961), turned in the 1960s to Bolesław Prus' novel Pharaoh because, he said, "There are brilliant things in it.... The drama of power in Pharaoh is incredibly topical and contemporary. The mechanics don't change all that much."
Kawalerowicz's co-author of the scenario, Tadeusz Konwicki, commented: "It's not a historical novel in the full sense of the word, it's above all a penetrating analysis of a system of power.... The story of Ramses XIII is a typical example of the actions of a young person who enters on life with a faith and need for renewal. He does not yet know anything about higher matters of state; he has no interest in the laws governing the complex apparatus of power. It seems to him that he is the person to change the existing order of things."[4]
Film
Pharaoh's production took three years, beginning in the fall of 1962 with the setting up of a studio in Łódź which did in-depth studies of the costumes and regalia of life in ancient Egypt. Filming took place in Europe, Asia and Africa. Most of the indoor scenes of the pharaoh's palace, the temples and the Labyrinth were shot at the Łódź studio. The Warsaw River Shipyard built an Egyptian ship according to drawings from 4,000 years ago. An artificial island was created on Lake Kirsajty, near Giżycko, Poland, and planted with palms and lotus for the scene involving Ramses' passage on the Nile with Sara.[4]
Mass scenes were filmed mainly in Uzbekistan's part of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. The crew spent nearly five months there, working in very difficult conditions — at the height of summer, the noon temperature exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit); the temperature of the sand, 80 degrees Celsius (176 Fahrenheit). Film stock had to be kept in cold storage. The ubiquitous dust was vexatious. Every day, 10,000 bottles of mineral water were delivered to the shooting location. Hazards included sand vipers and venomous spiders that launched themselves at people from a couple of yards' distance.[4]
Some scenes were filmed at authentic Egyptian locales. For example, the scene in which Prince Ramses learns that his father Pharaoh Ramses XII has died and that he has now become Pharaoh Ramses XIII takes place against the backdrop of the pyramids of Gizeh; but the crowds of tourists and the present-day appearance of the area made it near-impossible to find good takes. One of the many consultants on the film was Professor Kazimierz Michałowski, a world authority in Egyptology. Another was Shadi Abdel Salam, an Egyptian film director and costume designer, who had been a consultant to the 1963 Cleopatra.[4] Abdel Salam was the costume designer for Pharaoh.
In adapting Bolesław Prus's novel to the screen, the film's producers made a number of notable decisions. One was to keep the film in a predominantly golden-yellowish register and to almost completely eliminate bright colors; bright foliage appears only once, in the scene with Ramses and Sara on the Nile.[4] During the military maneuvers that open the film, an incident has been introduced that does not appear in the novel, involving the wrangling down of a horse. Near the movie's end, High Priest Mefres is dispatched by the Keepers of the Labyrinth not with a chloroform-like substance but with a rope looped around his neck and pulled tight by its ends, several yards apart. Pharaoh is among 21 digitally restored classic Polish films chosen for Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema.[5]
Cast
- Ramses XIII; and his look-alike, Lykon: Jerzy Zelnik
- Herhor (High Priest of Amon): Piotr Pawłowski
- Pentuer (priest, Herhor's assistant): Leszek Herdegen
- Thutmose (Ramses XIII's cousin): Emir Buczacki
- Ennana (Egyptian army officer): Ryszard Ronczewski
- Fellah: Jerzy Block
- Sara (Ramses XIII's mistress, mother of his son Seti): Krystyna Mikołajewska
- Ramses XII (father of Ramses XIII): Andrzej Girtler
- Nitager (Egyptian general): Wiktor Grotowicz
- Queen Nikotris (mother of Ramses XIII): Wiesława Mazurkiewicz
- Berossus (Chaldean priest): Kazimierz Opaliński
- Mefres (Egyptian high priest): Stanisław Milski
- Mentezufis (Egyptian priest): Józef Czerniawski
- Dagon (Phoenician merchant): Edward Rączkowski
- Rabsun (Phoenician merchant): Marian Nosek
- Hiram (Tyrian prince): Alfred Łodziński
- Kama (Phoenician priestess): Barbara Brylska
- Sargon (Assyrian envoy): Jarosław Skulski
- Tehenna (Libyan commander): Leonard Andrzejewski
- Priestess at mummification of Ramses XII: Lucyna Winnicka
- Keeper of the Labyrinth: Bohdan Janiszewski
- Samentu (High Priest of Set): Mieczysław Voit
- Hebron (Ramses XIII's last mistress): Ewa Krzyżewska
- Other principal actors: Bronisław Dardziński, Jerzy Fidler, Jerzy Kozłowski[6]
See also
- List of actors who have played multiple roles in the same film
- List of historical drama films
- List of Polish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of submissions to the 39th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- National Film School in Łódź
- Pharaoh (the novel)
References
- ^ a b Ford, Charles; Hammond, Robert (2015). Polish Film: A Twentieth Century History. McFarland & Company. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-4766-0803-7.
- ^ "The 39th Academy Awards (1967) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Pharaoh". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
- ^ a b c d e Leon Schiller State School, "Faraon."
- ^ Martin Scorsese Presents 21 Masterpieces
- ^ Faraon (Polish) Leon Schiller State School of Film, Television and Theater, "Faraon."