As Good As It Gets

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Basic plot: Set in 13th Century Egypt, Princess Shalimar (Debra Paget) wishes to see the band of Bedouin conquerors, led by the ruthless Rama Kahn (Michael Rennie), ousted from her city. While disguised as dancing girl Taura, Shalimar sees an opportunity when Prince Haidi (Jeffrey Hunter), son of the Caliph of Bagdad, pays a visit. Shalimar, Haidi, and a band of thieves form an alliance to fight back against the tyranny of Rama Kahn.Princess of the Nile is 100% Grade-A Saturday matinée popcorn fun. If you're looking for a serious drama or high art, pass on by. Instead, you'll find sword fights, secret passages, dancing girls, intrigue, a young Jack Elam, a young Lee Van Cleef, and a lot of other hokum that all add up to a good time. At 71 minutes, the movie is quick-paced and never drags. And to top it all off, Princess of the Nile is in glorious Technicolor. What's not to love?One of the biggest draws for me is the cast. Rennie is so deliciously over-the-top evil as Rama Kahn. He's easy to root against. Hunter is equally good as Prince Haidi. Paired with Paget, there's not a more beautiful couple. And, then there's Debra Paget. She is the star of every scene in which she appears. Her dance numbers as Taura are . . . WOW! Just . . . WOW!Overall, Princess of the Nile is a winner with me. I've got not problems giving it a 7/10.

This is one of my favorite films for many reasons. To begin, there are standout performances from lovely Debra Paget as a princess/dancing girl, from Michael Rennie as the villain, handsome young Jeffrey Hunter investigating crime in her city/state and others. The film is an unusually colorful adventure, and we even see the princess rehearsing the dance she later performs (for once). She manages to skewer Hunter before she learns he is on her side; also the photography, the costumes by Travilla, Lionel Newman's music and the film's style are unusually fine. Add to this rousing action, intelligent characterization and fine direction by veteran Harmon Jones of a Gerald Drayson Adams' script set in 1249 AD, and you have the ingredients of an enjoyable Grecianized Near-Eastern. But there is much to praise about the unusual and well--developed storyline here, as there is much more to praise other than the film's swift pace, well-managed physical action sequences and superior technical aspects. Classically-trained actors such as Michael Ansara, Edgar Barrier, Wally Cassell, Jack Elam and Dona Drake are not commonly found in one "B" film together; nor are there fascinating sets, a variety of locales and a mystery of the quality that is supplied here. One way of assessing a film is, "If I were guaranteed to live through the experience, would I choose to undergo these events and perform these actions?" Since my answer is a resounding "yes" in this case, this film remains one of my choices as a favorite and very-underrated cinematic work. Could it be that US critics' all-too-frequent disdain for females as warriors and thinkers that as in so many other cases has caused closed minds to misprize this estimable film's obvious anti-tyranny and pro-entertainment qualities?

An absolutely amazing cast (Lee Van Cleef! Jack Elam!) enlivens this utterly preposterous yarn which passes off an Egyptian Hareem that's straight out of Minsky's (down to a few blondes and red heads).Paget is both lovely and acrobatic, handling action sequences charmingly. Hunter is a stiff. And who knew Michael Rennie fenced left handed?This film has recently been seen in criculation on AMC, and it's worth catching. The technicolor production design combines with the two-dimensional characters to create the effect of a Prince Valient comic on celuloid. But the appaling acting, ham-fisted dialog and cardboard sets only enhance the film's charm.

I first saw this movie as a SaturdayMatinee, at the Crest Theater in Portland,OR. I adored it -- it had theincomparable Debra Paget doing herpatented hip-wiggling Exotic Maiden role,evil villains, secret passages, secretidentities, 50's-style exotic scenery andcostumes -- the works. I'd love to haveit on video, but as a hootch-cootchyadventure flick it's not likely to beavailable soon, if at all. What a shame!