Der Tiger Von Eschnapur (aka The Tiger Of Eschnapur) (1959)

A German architect (Paul Hubschmid, BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS) arrives in India at the request of the Maharajah (Walter Reyer) to build schools and hospitals. But a beautiful temple dancer (Debra Paget), who both men fall in love with, comes between them while the Maharajah's treacherous brother (Rene Deltgen) plots to usurp the throne. Based on the 1918 novel DAS INDISCHE GRABMAL by Thea Von Harbou and directed by Fritz Lang. Previously filmed in 1921 with a screenplay by Von Harbou and Lang (married at the time) but directed by Joe May. This was Lang's first German film after 20 years working in Hollywood. Handsomely shot in India by Richard Angst, the film is the first of two halves. TIGER ends in the middle of its story which is completed in THE INDIAN TOMB (1959). It's an affectionate homage to the cliffhanging serials of the 1920s and 1930s and an influence on RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. It's not an overly complicated story but such a superbly executed encapsulation of its genre that it's enchanting. There's also an element of eroticism in Paget's sexy dance sequence, quite daring for 1959. With Luciana Paluzzi, Sabine Bethmann and Claus Holm.