She (film)

For other versions, see She (disambiguation).

She
film poster by Tom Chantrell
Directed by	Robert Day
Produced by	Michael Carreras
Written by	Screenplay: David T. Chantler Novel: H. Rider Haggard
Starring	Ursula Andress Peter Cushing Christopher Lee John Richardson Rosenda Monteros Princess Soraya Bernard Cribbins
Music by	James Bernard
Cinematography	Harry Waxman, BSC
Editing by	James Needs and Eric Boyd-Perkins
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	1965
Running time	106 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	323,778 British Pounds

She is a 1965 film made by Hammer Film Productions, based on the novel by H. Rider Haggard. It was directed by Robert Day and stars Ursula Andress, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

Plot synopsis

Upon receiving their honorable discharges from the British Army in 1918 Palestine, an expedition is made by Professor Holly (Peter Cushing), young Leo Vincey (John Richardson) and their manservant Job (Bernard Cribbins), into a previously unexplored region of north-east Africa. This, in turn, leads them to the lost city of Kuma. This lost realm is ruled by Ayesha (Ursula Andress), who is also known as "She-who-must-be-Obeyed". Ayesha is an immortal queen and former high priestess, who sees Leo as the identical reincarnation of her former lover, the priest Kallikrates (whom she herself killed when she found him in an intimate embrace with another woman about two thousand years before). Ayesha tries to convince Leo to walk into a bonfire after it has turned blue, which happens once certain astronomical conditions have occurred, which are not fully explained in the film. It will only remain in this condition for a short period and only happens on certain rare occasions. By entering the fire, Leo himself will become immortal.

As this is occurring, Ayesha's army is attacked by her enslaved tribesmen, the Amahagger. Ayesha had oppressed the Amahagger for 2,000 years, but the uprising was triggered by the queen's executing the beautiful, Ustane (Rosenda Monteros). A humble young woman, Ustane had fallen in love with Leo. Ustane's father Haumeid (André Morell) who, like his daughter, had befriended Leo, Holly and Job, is naturally outraged; he leads the attack of the Amahagger. Ayesha's army appears overwhelmed during the fierce battle against the badly equipped, but numerous barbarians.

Leo meanwhile, battles Bilali (Christopher Lee), Ayesha's fanatical priest, who wants immortality for himself, believing it is his due after his years of selfless service. After battling Leo and giving him up for dead, Bilali attempts to enter the blue flames and become immortal when he is killed by Ayesha who spears him in the back.

Ayesha takes Leo's hand and leads him into the fire as, Leo has been reluctant to embrace Ayesha's promises of immortality and power. Upon entering the fire, Leo becomes immortal. However, the same fire destroys Ayesha's immortality, and she dies as the centuries catch up with her and she ages millenia in a few seconds. The film ends with a despondent Leo stating that he doesn't care when the fire will next burn blue (so he can enter and undo his immortality), but it will find him waiting.

Cast

• Ursula Andress as Ayesha – She Who Must Be Obeyed
• Peter Cushing as Holly
• Bernard Cribbins as Job
• John Richardson as Leo
• Rosenda Monteros as Ustane
• Christopher Lee as Billali
• André Morell as Haumeid
• Princess Soraya as Soraya
• Julie Mendez as Night Club Dancer
• Lisa Peake as Night Club Dancer
• George Pastell as Haumeid (voice)
• Bula Coleman as Handmaiden (uncredited)
• George Lane Cooper as Guard (uncredited)
• Cherry Larman as Handmaiden (uncredited)
• John Maxim as Guard Captain (uncredited)
• Oo-Bla-Da Dancers as Native Dancers (uncredited)
• Eddie Powell as Thug (uncredited)
• Nosher Powell as British Soldier (uncredited)
• Roy Stewart as Black Guard (uncredited)

See also

• She (novel)
• She (1935 film)
• She (1982 film)
• The Vengeance of She

External links

• She at the Internet Movie Database
• She at AllRovi