SPHINX

US, 1981, 117 minutes, Colour.
Lesley Ann Down, Frank Langella, Maurice Ronet, John Gielgud, John Rhys Davies.
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner

Sphinx has several ghastly deaths on the Nile as well as exhilarating Panavision photography of Egypt, ancient and modern. It also has the beautiful Lesley Anne Down, running, hiding, screaming, moaning, gasping, driving, beset by old curses and age-old greed. Intrepid used to be the word - and most certainly will still do here - for the put-upon but vigorous heroine. Maurice Ronet is a suave cad, Frank Langella romantically enigmatic. John Gielgud pops up briefly again and director Franklin Schaffner (Patton, Papillon) seems to be recreating with what really is a sumptuous B-thriller. Audiences fascinated by Pharaohs' tombs (Sphinx is only a tourist ring-in) are numerous and will relish this. Philip Leacock made a more staid but similar film for television with an excellent English cast, called The Curse of Tutankhamen's Tomb.

1. The appeal of film about Egypt? Archaeology? Historical background? The horror tradition of curses of the Pharaohs' tombs? The blend of the historical, the exotic, action?

2. The colour photography, the use of locations? The atmosphere of Egypt's past? The present - Cairo, shops, black market, excavations? The special effects for violence and their appropriateness? The musical score and its classical tone? The basic B-budget plot, penny-dreadful characters given the sumptuous treatment?

3. The prologue and the story of Menephta? The robberies, the curses, the deaths? The concealed devices for violence? The importance of the flashback? The irony of the curse for the family? Erika and her being involved in the curse?

4. Erika as heroine - the emphasis on feminism? A plucky heroine, her background, explanation of her studies and knowledge? Writing her paper and serious ambition? Her encounter with Abdu Hamdi and witnessing the violence of his death? His message? Her adventures in Egypt - crowds, police, the comic sequence of her hiding under the bed? Her being saved by Yvon? The encounter with Ahmed Khazzan? The attempts on her life? Her growing involvement in finding the tomb? Prison and her torture, the violence of the soldiers and her rescue? Travelling to Luxor? Her being lured into the cavern? Her bravery in pushing her way out - with the skeletons? The build-up to the finale of the crashing of the tomb? Her relationship with Yvon and trusting him? Her love for Ahmed? Her response to his death? The blend of the serious, romance, action? The hurtling pace in the presentation of the heroine?

5. Yvon and his French charm, his seeming cowardice, his assistance, his treachery and greed?

6. Ahmed and his mysterious personality, as an official, saving her from the prison, the encounter and relationship? The interview? His guiding her through Luxor? The truth and his death?

7. Houndi and John Gielgud's style? The violence of his death? His relations and the various murders in Luxor? Ahmed's uncle and the family interest in black market treasure? Greed and violence, the shootout?

8. Egypt and archaeology lending themselves to traditions of curses? Accidents, fate, reality?

9. The popularity of this kind of light entertainment done in the lavish style? In comparison with other examples of its kind?