She (1965 film)
A 1965 Hammer fantasy adventure based on H. Rider Haggard's novel.
She, a 1965 British fantasy adventure from Hammer Film Productions, was shot in CinemaScope and adapts H. Rider Haggard’s 1887 novel. Robert Day directed the picture, which featured Ursula Andress, Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins, John Richardson, Rosenda Monteros, and Christopher Lee. The movie performed well internationally, prompting a 1968 follow-up titled *The Vengeance of She*.
After being honorably discharged from the British Army in Israel in 1918, Professor Holly, young Leo Vincey, and their orderly Job set off for an uncharted region of central-east Africa. A mysterious map given to Leo reveals the location of the lost city of Kuma. The realm is ruled by Ayesha, known as “She-Who-Waits” and “She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.” This beautiful, immortal queen believes Leo is the reincarnation of her former lover, the priest Kallikrates, whom she killed two thousand years earlier after finding him embracing another woman. It was Ayesha who met Leo in Israel, handed him the map, and urged him to travel to Kuma. Leo feels compelled to go, seeing visions of Ayesha beckoning him.
Once Leo recovers from the journey, Ayesha persuades him to bathe in the ceremonial fire that granted her immortality two millennia ago. The flame grants immortality only when it turns blue, a rare event tied to astronomical alignments. Meanwhile, Ayesha’s army faces an attack from the Amahagger, enslaved tribesmen outside Kuma. They rebel against her cruel tyranny, incited by Haumeid, a Kuma citizen whose daughter Ustane fell in love with Leo while nursing him. In jealousy, Ayesha has Ustane cremated alive in a lava pit before her throne, and her ashes are poured out before her father, who calls for revenge. The Amahagger, though poorly equipped, overcome Ayesha’s forces.
As Leo prepares to enter the blue fire, high priest Billali demands the same privilege for his years of service. Refused, he shoves Leo aside in a scuffle, knocking him out, and steps toward the flames. Ayesha kills Billali with a javelin. To overcome Leo’s hesitation, she takes his hand and leads him into the fire. Leo becomes immortal, but Ayesha loses her immortality, ages two thousand years in moments, and crumbles to dust. Holly and Job reach Leo amid the uprising, and Holly urges him to re-enter the fire to reverse his immortality, as a second immersion would undo it. But the flame has turned yellow, blocking ent
- Release Year
- 1965
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Director
- Robert Day
- Studio
- Hammer Film Productions
- Based On
- 1887 novel by H. Rider Haggard
- Starring
- Ursula Andress, Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins, John Richardson, Rosenda Monteros, Christopher Lee
- Sequel
- The Vengeance of She (1968)
Lore & Background
The film follows Professor Holly, young Leo Vincey, and their orderly Job after receiving honourable discharges from the British Army in Israel in 1918. They embark on an expedition into central-east Africa, discovering the lost city of Kuma after Leo receives a mysterious map. The city is ruled by Ayesha, an immortal queen who believes Leo is the reincarnation of her former lover, Kallikrates, whom she killed two thousand years before. Ayesha had met Leo in Israel, giving him the map and urging him to travel to Kuma.
Reader's Guide
She was a landmark production for Hammer Film Productions, being the first Hammer film built around a female star, Ursula Andress, who was known at that time for her role in Dr. No. The film was the most expensive Hammer had made up to that time, with triple the usual budget, financed through MGM. It was a hit both in North America and in Europe. Despite featuring a character aging 2,000 years and crumbling to dust, a spear stabbed bloodily in someone's back, and a dozen screaming characters lowered into a fiery pit of lava, the film received a BBFC U certificate in the UK, which it retains to this day. Critical reception was mixed; The New York Times critic Bosley Crowther wrote that it 'lacks style, sophistication, humour, sense, and above all, a reason for being,' while the Radio Times gave it three out of five stars, noting that Andress 'acquits herself better than you might expect.'
Did You Know?
- Ursula Andress's Swiss-German accent was found offputting, so her entire part was re-dubbed by actress Nikki van der Zyl, who had also dubbed her in Dr. No.
- The film was shot in southern Israel's Negev Desert and at MGM's Elstree Studios near London.
- The film received a BBFC U certificate in the UK despite scenes of a character aging 2,000 years and crumbling to dust, a bloody spear stabbing, and people lowered into a fiery lava pit.
- The Region 2 DVD released by Optimum and StudioCanal has the wrong aspect ratio, zooming into the image and losing picture at the sides.
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