The Egyptian (1954)

Edmund Purdom plays the title role in this scalpel-and-sandal melodrama that may be loosely based on "The Tale of Sinuhe" from the 12th and 13th dynasties (c. 1900 BC) as a physician and his friend who encounter the Pharaoh (Michael Wilding) in the desert and rescue him from a lion after he has had some sort of fit. "Sinuhe" becomes a wealthy and well patronised doctor to the court and to the rich and famous and the film takes us through his, and the kingdom's, ups and downs. Victor Mature plays his ambitious friend Horemheb; Peter Ustinov is great as the rather morally challenged "Kaptah" and Bella Darvi is super as the enigmatic "Nefer". The writing is a bit long-winded and the acting stilted, but Michael Curtiz keeps it just about moving until a rather flat ending.