Sloppy comic book adventure from Robin Cook's bestseller. Female Egyptologist in Cairo, a nervous ninny prone to screaming, is under investigation by a member of the United Nations after witnessing the murder and robbery of an art dealer; he follows her to Luxor, where she believes a tomb at the Valley of the Kings holds a legendary treasure. Despite a great deal of production expense and travel (not to mention Michael J. Lewis' booming, over-dramatic score), the spiritless film fails to function as a sand-swept travelogue, and it's too silly and annoying to work as a thriller. In the leads, Lesley-Anne Down and Frank Langella are an enervating pair. Sir John Gielgud has a little fun in a cameo role, and he exits far too soon. *1/2 from ****
Review of Sphinx
