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Serpent of the Nile The Loves of Cleopatra

Producer Sam Katzman dusts off some incidents in the life and loves of Cleopatra for mediocre results in Serpent of the Nile. Much of the difficulty is the lack of credibility in the script. Its treatment of Mark Anthony's rise to power following Caesar's assassination and subsequent fall, when subjected to the wiles of Cleopatra, is seldom convincing. This slice of Roman history is played straight.

Producer Sam Katzman dusts off some incidents in the life and loves of Cleopatra for mediocre results in Serpent of the Nile. Much of the difficulty is the lack of credibility in the script. Its treatment of Mark Anthony’s rise to power following Caesar’s assassination and subsequent fall, when subjected to the wiles of Cleopatra, is seldom convincing. This slice of Roman history is played straight.

Yarn has Raymond Burr, as Anthony, proposing an alliance between Rome and wealthy Egypt, which is ruled by Rhonda Fleming as Cleopatra. Thoroughly unscrupulous, she schemes to eliminate Burr and place herself on the throne of Rome. Her plan, however, is nipped by William Lundigan, Burr’s lieutenant, who brings the Roman legions to Alexandria.

Burr’s Anthony is a wishywashy individual whose love for drink and infatuation for Fleming makes him lose his sense of logic. She, on the other hand, fails to impress as the Egyptian beauty, primarily due to the stilted dialog. Lundigan, too, has his moments of vacillation. But, fortunately, his portrayal shows enough virility and drive to meet the combat requirements the role demands.

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Serpent of the Nile – The Loves of Cleopatra

  • Production: Columbia. Director William Castle; Producer Sam Katzman; Screenplay Robert E. Kent; Camera Henry Freulich; Editor Gene Havlick; Music Mischa Bakaleinikoff; Art Director Paul Palmentola
  • Crew: (Color) Extract of a review from 1953. Running time: 81 MIN.
  • With: Rhonda Fleming William Lundigan Raymond Burr Jean Byron Michael Ansara Julie Newmar

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