Legend of the Lost

Twice Joe January refers to Solomon and Bathsheba.

It should have been Solomon and Sheba.

Bathsheba was David's interest.

While in the ruins Loren's dress is clearly torn near her right shoulder, both front and back.

Then, while she and Wayne are walking through the desert, the dress is no longer torn.

Then it is clearly torn again near the end of the film.

I have little to say about this film. The dialogue is pitiful.

Considering that for most of this film there are only three characters on screen and two of them are very badly played by John Wayne and Rossano Brazzi, (the third is a sultry looking Sophia Loren and she's very good in an underwritten role), Henry Hathaway's "Legend of the Lost" is a surprisingly entertaining piece of nonsense, complete with lost treasure and some gorgeously photographed desert locations courtesy of Jack Cardiff. There isn't much else yet Hathaway manages to keep us watching, maybe with a promise that something is going to happen even if in the end, it hardly ever does.

Henry Hathaway had something in his hands few director's would ever dream of having. A winning combination, to include the screen strength of John Wayne (Joe January) the sexual allure of beautiful Italian goddess, Sophia Loren (Dita) and dashing leading man, Rossano Brazzi (Paul Bonnard,) all in the same film.

When America's manliest man hooks up with Europe's hottest lady, the result should give you something to see. Instead, "Legend Of The Lost" fizzles away its powerhouse casting on a grim desert adventure flick that's more disappointing than bad.

I can;t believe any man that says his face is prettier than any woman, quote from brazzi.... and here he is with sophia loren, one of the world's beauties ...

" . .

Yet Wayne, Loren, Brazzi all together and at the top of their form and status as stars!And not just Wayne, Loren and Brazzi but a script by Hecht and Presnell and cinematography by Cardiff.

Movies of yesteryear have an inherent charm of keeping one's attention riveted. The combination of cast and good script and a plot are the key ingredients which are found in excellent abundance in this movie.

A perfect role for Robert Mitchum and instead we get the wooden acting of John Wayne. Sophia Loren is at her Sensual best but there is no chemistry between her and Wayne.