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Palesteena 1918: As he seems to be the reincarnation of her long lost
lover, 2000 year old - but looking much younger - queen Ayesha (Ursula
Andress) lures Leo Vincey (John Richardson), along with his former major
Holly (Peter Cushing) & that man's manservant Job (Bernard Cribbins)
thgough the desert with its many perils to her fantastic city of Kuma.
But while he has long fallen for Ayesha ("She, who must be
obeyed"), there are many who oppose their relationship: Ustane
(Rosenda Monteros), one of Ayesha's servants, who has fallen in love
with Vincey herself, her father Haumeid (Andre Morell) who was once
degraded by Ayesha to be the kkeper of slaves - the lowest rank in
Ayesha's kingdom -, Haumeid's slöaves, who see in Vincey a symbol for
their oppression & initially try to sacrifice him, Bilali
(Christopher Lee), Ayesha's highpriest, who wants to rule on Ayesha's
side himself, & of course major Holly & Job, who see the danger
that Vincey is apparently unaware of. But even when Ayesha has Ustane
brutally burnt before Vincey's very eyes, that doesn't stop him loving
her, & she soon promises him access to the flame of Eternal Youth,
so he can forever be on her side. But while Ayesha & Vincey prepare
to enter the flame, a slave revolt, led by Haumeid, infuriated by the
murder of his daughter, breaks loose and Bilali enters the chamber that
holds the Flame to challenge Vincey to a duel for the place on Ayesha's
side. He even beats (but doesn't kill) Vincey & is only prevented
from entering the flame when stabbed down by Ayesha. Together, the 2
lovers now enter the flame, but the flame has apparently a
reverse-effect on everyone who enters it twice, & Ayesha
disintegrates before (now immortal) Vincey's very eyes. Major Holly
& Job, who enter just then, can do nothing more than to comfort
their comrade. God only knows wht became of the slaves' revolt. In
the mid 60's, Hammer studios was still turning out some of the best
Gothics of the business. Their attempts to turn out other stuff as well,
didn't prove to be equally successful, though, as this fantasy adventure
ably proves: The script is way to talkative, slow-moving, with subplots
dropped along the way, & the action-scenes are few & far between
- the finale even starts with a slaves' revolt only to drop same idea
inexplicably just a minute later. The movie also isn't helped by pretty
but completely wooden Ursula Andress as the central character.
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