Legend of the Lost, John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Libya, 1957
The 1957 film "Legend of the Lost" is an adventure tale set in the Sahara Desert.
It starred John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi, and Kurt Kasznar.
It has been available on DVD for some time.
Member "San Holo" posted about this film in 2005.
http://raven.theraider.net/showthread.php?t=7564
I managed to make some screen captures of this somewhat "Indy" film.
The film was partly filmed on location in the ancient Roman city of Leptis Magna,
located in modern Libya, east of Tripoli.
The story is about three adventurers looking for buried treasure.
Paul Bonnard arrives in Timbuktu in search of a guide to escort him into the Sahara desert.
His father spent years looking for a "lost city" and Paul has his father's diary.
The policeman Prefect Dukas introduces him to Joe January, an American who knows the area.
Paul hires Joe as a guide.
Paul also meets Dita, a woman who introduces herself by stealing his watch.
He then gives her the watch and makes a friend.
Paul and Joe head into the desert on mules, and later Dita appears at their campground.
After some time, they find water and the "lost city", where they find the skeletons
of Paul's father and two others. They also find some treasure.
Paul and Joe get into a fight over Dita, and Paul rides off with their horses.
Joe and Dita have to hike out, and nearly out of water, find Paul collapsed in the desert.
Paul tries to kill Joe, but Dita shoots him.
About to die, Joe and Dita are rescued by the Libyan cavalry.
There are a number of "Indiana Jones" elements in this film.
There is an archaelogist and a quest for ancient treasure.
A man's father was obsessed with the "lost city" and he has a diary that his father kept.
A girl has an encounter with the local wildlife (8-legged variety).
And some pretty neat skeletons.
Hat
A somewhat familiar looking hat.
Joe
Introducing Joe January
Riders
Riders in the sand
Navigator
Joe uses navigational equipment to find their way in the desert.
Dita has her "Indiana Jones" moment
Dita finds something on her
Joe and Dita
Argument
The two see something in the distance
Ancient Roman city
Ancient Roman city
"We are walking through history..."
Trajan's arch inscription
I have seen similar inscriptions on Roman coins of the Emperor Trajan.
The arch dates to AD 109-110.
Skeletons in an embrace
Iron Door
Reading from the diary
Trek back to civilization