The Indian Tomb (1959 film)

The Indian Tomb (Das indische Grabmal in its original German) is a 1959 West German-French-Italian adventure drama film. It was produced by Artur Brauner, directed by Fritz Lang, and stars Debra Paget, Paul Hubschmid, Walter Reyer, Claus Holm, Valéry Inkijinoff, and Sabine Bethma.

The Indian Tomb
German theatrical release poster
Directed byFritz Lang
Screenplay byThea von Harbou
Fritz Lang
Werner Jörg Lüddecke
Based onDas indische Grabmal by Thea von Harbou
Produced byArtur Brauner
StarringDebra Paget
Paul Hubschmid
Walter Reyer
Claus Holm
Valéry Inkijinoff
Sabine Bethmann
CinematographyRichard Angst
Edited byWalter Wischniewsky
Music byGerhard Becker
Michel Michelet
Production
companies
Central Cinema Company
Rizzoli Film
Regina Production
Critérion Film
Release date
March 5, 1959 (West Germany)
Running time
102 minutes
CountriesWest Germany
France
Italy[1][2][3]
LanguageGerman

It is the second of two feature films, comprising what has come to be known as Fritz Lang's Indian Epic; the first is The Tiger of Eschnapur (Der Tiger von Eschnapur). Both are based on the 1918 novel Das indische Grabmal, written by Lang's ex-wife, Thea von Harbou, who died in 1954. The novel had earlier been filmed twice; each time as a two-part German film; in 1921 and 1938 respectively.

In 1960 American International Pictures obtained the rights to both films in Fritz Lang's Indian Epic, combining them into one heavily edited, 90 minute long feature renamed Journey to the Lost City which earned domestic gross of $500,000.[4]

After both were dubbed into Spanish, they were shown as separate films, when in fact the second was a direct continuation of the first.

Interiors were shot at the Spandau Studios in West Berlin with sets designed by the art directors Helmut Nentwig and Willy Schatz.

Reception

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film had an approval rating of 88% based on 8 reviews.[5] Contemporaneously Die Welt wrote: "Here lies Fritz Lang, once creator of important films like Metropolis and M. The 'Indian tomb' is his own." [i.e., grave as a filmmaker][6] In contrast to those earlier opinions, contemporary American film critics are positive about the film.[5] The film is probably best remembered today for Debra Paget's sexy "snake dance scene". Hollywood Reporter headlined their review with a publicity shot of her dance, writing, "The pasted-on costume she wears for a long “snake dance” scene, which leaves her nearly naked, seems to do the trick — though Seetha's wardrobe will hardly distract 21st century viewers from perhaps the fakest-looking writhing cobra in movie history.".[7]

See also

Notes
  1. Mannikka, Eleanor. "The Indian Tomb". Allmovie. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  2. "Das indische Grabmal". BFI Film & Television Database. London: British Film Institute. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  3. "Das indische Grabmal". Filmportal.de. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  4. "How foreign product scored in US". Variety. 26 April 1961. p. 170.
  5. "The Indian Tomb (1959)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  6. Der deutsche Film der fünfziger Jahre, Heyne Filmbibliothek, 1987, page 170.
  7. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/indian-tomb-1243616/


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