Sphinx (1981)

An Egyptologist (Lesley Anne Down) doing research in Cairo witnesses the murder of an art dealer (John Gielgud), who gave her an important map before he was killed. Now she finds herself pursued by several sources, both good and bad. Based on the best selling novel by Robin Cook (COMA) and directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (PLANET OF THE APES). Like Cook's COMA, the film is centered on an enterprising professional woman who finds herself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy. While it would never have made for a great film, there was no reason it couldn't have been every bit as entertaining as COMA. However, unlike COMA, SPHINX is flabby where it should be tight. Schaffner doesn't seem to have the knack for a romantic adventure/action hybrid. Down is beautiful but she doesn't have a very strong screen presence which is what is needed to carry a film like this (she's in almost every scene). The best thing about the movie is Ernest Day's wide screen lensing of the Egyptian locations which are colorful and sharp. With Frank Langella, Maurice Ronet, John Rhys Davies, Martin Benson, Saeed Jaffrey, Tutte Lemkow and Victoria Tennant.