He is perhaps best known for his starring role in 1954s historical epic the egyptian. Soon the jackals and the vultures will make a poor meal of what is left of me. The darkly handsome british actor edmund purdom became a hollywood star in the midfifties, and will be remembered particularly for playing. Purdom is in every scene yet receives sixth billing behind zanucks latest. It was first published in finnish in 1945, and in an abridged english translation by naomi walford in 1949, from swedish rather than finnish. Qualifizierte bestellungen werden kostenlos geliefert. The egyptian original film soundtrack licensed to youtube by the orchard music on behalf of stage door. Purdom, a british actor, starred in the hollywood costume pageants the egyptian and the prodigal in the mid1950s. The egyptian 54 edmund purdom jean simmons very rare. Mika waltari, 70, wrote egyptian the new york times.
Edmund anthony cutlar purdom was an english actor, voice artist, and. Edmund purdom, bella darvi, jean simmons, victor mature, gene tierney, peter ustinov and michael wilding. Out of the massive material of mika waltaris novel, the egyptian, which is mainly about sex and religion in the time of the pharaohs, a toplevel team of filmmakers at twentieth centuryfox. Jean simmons and edmund purdom in the egyptian michael wilding, peter. Jean simmons, peter ustinov, edmund purdom, victor. Henry daniell, john carradine, michael curtiz, the egyptian. Based on mika waltaris book, it takes the story of sinuhe, a middle kingdom. Jean simmons, peter ustinov, edmund purdom, victor mature, gene tierney, michael wilding, bella darvi, judith evelyn, henry daniell, john carradine. Edmund purdom sinue is a good looking man but gives flat performance as the lead which lets down the film. The supplier, jon hunt, even supplied some notes to ensure. The darkly handsome british actor edmund purdom became a hollywood star in the midfifties, and will be remembered particularly for playing the leading role in the student prince 1954, in which. Specializing in rare books, outofprint books, used books, magazines, and. Edmund purdom was born on december 19, 1924 in welwyn garden city, hertfordshire, england as edmund anthony cutlar purdom.
The egyptian is a 1954 american epic drama film made by 20th century fox. Edmund purdom apothecary chest from the egyptian jun 18. It was the sad fate of the actor edmund purdom, who has died aged 84, that the best known of his films, the student prince 1954, is remembered more for the star who wasnt in it. The film, directed by michael curtiz, spared no expense in cast, costumes, or photography. Despite his two big mid1950s hits, the superhandsome, englishborn purdom never quite made it to the top. Edmund anthony cutlar purdom 19 december 1924 1 january 2009 was an english actor, voice artist, and director. She is the author of the book hollywood garage that relates the tumultuous career of her father.
The book was a success that nearly cost the author dearly. Regarded as one of the greatest books in finnish literary history, it is, so far, the only finnish novel to be adapted into a hollywood film, which happened. The 1954 film the egyptian is the type of film made to be seen on a huge movie screen. The egyptian 1954 victuremature, jean simmons, edmond purdom. The picture has impressive stars but its leading man is the relatively unheralded edmund purdom, an mgm contractee on loanout.
The student prince is a 1954 american musical film directed by richard thorpe and starring ann blyth and edmund purdom, with john ericson, louis calhern, edmund gwenn, s. British character actor famed for his roles in the student prince and the egyptian. The egyptian 8x10 promo still victor mature edmund. Sinuhe edmund purdom, a struggling physician in 18th dynasty egypt 14th century bc, is thrown by chance into contact with the pharaoh akhenaton michael wilding. Edmund purdom is not really star material as the rather drippy physician, and is eclipsed by victor mature as the ambitious, nononsense soldier. Edmund purdom, 84, movie actor in 1950s costume dramas the. Babylonian nefer bella darvi has mesmerized the heretofore virtuous young egyptian physician sinuhe edmund purdom, title character, to the consternation of his slave kaptah peter ustinov and devoted barmaid merit jean simmons, in 20th centuryfox s the egyptian, 1954. She is the author of the book hollywood garage that relates the tumultuous.
Edmund purdom, best known for his roles in two 1954 productions, the musical the student prince and the period epic the egyptian, died in rome on jan. It was composed around 1875 bc, although the earliest extant manuscript is from the reign of amenemhat iii, c. Jean simmons is beautiful in the thankless role of merit, the woman who has undying love for purdom despite his weakness and. The egyptian 1954 history drama edmund purdom, victor. We accept returns within 14 days except for any professionally graded comic book. Actor who replaced brando in the egyptian then forged a new career in italy. Directed by michael curtiz and produced by darryl f. Edmund purdom szinuhe jean simmons merit victor mature horemheb gene tierney baketamon bella darvi nefer prelude the red sea childhood. The story of sinuhe also known as sanehat is considered one of the finest works of ancient egyptian literature. The egyptian 1954 victuremature, jean simmons, edmond. Buy sinuhe egyptiern the egyptian swedish import from amazons movies store. Edmund purdom is young physician sinuhe title character and victor mature, his frustrated warrior pal, hunting lions for sport in ancient egypt, when they meet the possibly nutty akhnaton michael wilding, with no idea he s the next pharoah, in the early cinemascope the egyptian, 1954.
Victor mature is, as always, victor mature lively loud and big. He worked first on stage in britain, performing various works by shakespeare, then later in america on broadway, until making his way to hollywood, and eventually spent the remainder of his life appearing in italian cinema. For anyone interested in megabudget hollywood spectaculars of the era check out the bluray of the egyptian, a project that was to cast brando in the titular lead, but when he declined they had to make do with edmund purdom, who had male model looks, if not the magnetism. The egyptian 54 edmund purdom jean simmons victor mature. He is known for his work on herod the great 1959, pieces 1982 and the egyptian 1954. Edmund purdom stars as sinuhe, a poor orphan in 18th century egypt, who becomes a physician and is given a palace appointment by the pharoh michael wilding. This vintage original still shows a very rare photo of from left to right foreground jean simmons, edmund purdom and victor mature. Rome agence francepresse edmund purdom, the british actor who starred in the hollywood costume pageants the egyptian and the prodigal in the. The all star cast includes the beautiful jean simmons, the exotic gene tierney, the great peter ustinov who steals every scene hes in, rugged victor mature, and handsome edmund purdom as. The egyptian sinuhe egyptilainen, sinuhe the egyptian is a historical novel by mika waltari.
Jean simmons, peter ustinov, edmund purdom, victor mature, gene tierney, michael curtiz. Filmed in cinemascope with color by deluxe, it was directed by michael curtiz and produced by darryl f. The darkly handsome british actor edmund purdom became a hollywood star in the midfifties, and will be remembered particularly for playing the leading role in the student prince 1954, in which he mimed the songs to the voice of mario lanza. This vintage original still shows a very rare photo of from left to right jean simmons and edmund purdom in a scene from the classic epic. The all star cast includes the beautiful jean simmons, the exotic gene tierney, the great peter ustinov who steals every scene hes in, rugged victor mature, and handsome. Making up for whatever shortcomings exist in the cast comes gene tierney, a wonderful performer at her best here. Brando was penciled in to play the lead but bowed out and fox contract player edmund purdom moved into the role. Tcf, 1954 beautifully constructed slidingcompartment physicians chest with egyptian hieroglyphic decoration which retains all 16 of its turquoise glazed porcelain jars and lids a few lids show small breaks and a handful of other implements inside top compartments. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Michael curtiz, jean simmons, victor mature, gene tierney, michael wilding, peter ustinov, edmund purdom, john carradine. Long and tedious, this lavishly mounted spectacle lost a great deal of money. Jean simmons, peter ustinov, edmund purdom, victor mature, gene tierney, michael wilding.
The story of sinuhe edmund purdom, a physician in ancient egypt who finds himself swept up in politics, love and opportunity. This includes cgc, pgx and cbcs graded comic books. Edmund anthony cutlar purdom 19 december 1924 1 january 2009 was an english actor. It is a narrative set in the aftermath of the death of pharaoh amenemhat i, founder of the 12th dynasty of egypt, in the early 20th century bc. Leading roles were played by edmund purdom, bella darvi, jean simmons, victor mature. Medici is always plotting something to the disadvantage of the people of florence, but is always outwitted by the dashing marco. Edmund purdom sinuhe physicians apothecary chest from the egyptian. In eighteenth dynasty egypt, sinuhe edmund purdom, a poor orphan, becomes a brilliant. If wildings gloominess is almost matched by edmund purdom in the title role, it must be pointed out that the character in the novel was just as mopey. The egyptian 1954 dvd region 1 playable in north america the us, canada, mexico, etc. But to truly enjoy this film,first see the movie,then read the book. The egyptian was a best seller in the early 1950s, and darryl zanuck decided to take a chance making it.
Young egyptian healer sinuhe edmund purdom ere accompanied by his servant, kaptah, played by peter ustinov draws the affection of barmaid merit jean simmons who seeks his hand in marriage. The story is talky and rather preachy, but i knew that, and its still an enjoyable romp through ancient egypt. The egyptians narrative is more important than its players. Sinuhe edmund purdom, a struggling physician in 18th dynasty egypt 14th century bc, is thrown by chance into contact with the pharaoh akhnaton michael wilding. Details about the egyptian 8x10 promo still victor mature edmund purdom fn.
In ancient egypt, a poor orphan becomes a genial physician and is eventually appointed at the. Edmund purdom is sinuhe the egyptian, and is a physician who throws his life away over a wicked seductress, played to the max by bella darvi. The print is clear and colours vibrant, in cinemascope format, with good sound. The egyptian 1954 dvd edmund purdom jean simmons victor. Edmund purdom, 84, movie actor in 1950s costume dramas. The all star cast includes the beautiful jean simmons, the exotic gene tierney, the great peter ustinov who steals every scene hes in, rugged victor mature, and. The picture narrates upon sinuhe the egyptian edmund purdom who works as a medic for. He rises to and falls from great prosperity, wanders the world, and becomes increasingly drawn towards a new religion spreading throughout egypt. It is based on mika waltaris 1945 novel of the same name and the screenplay was adapted by philip dunne and casey robinson. After the temperamental tenor mario lanza was fired from the film, the nonsinging unknown purdom replaced him. The film is an adaptation of the 1924 operetta of the same name composed by sigmund romberg with lyrics by dorothy donnelly, with the screenplay by sonya levien and william ludwig.