Suez

Suez

Year: 1938

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Allan Dwan

HistoryRomanceDrama

After a heartbreak, diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps is posted to the Egyptian isthmus of Suez, where he recognises the strategic potential of a sea‑level canal linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea. His vision sets in motion the monumental engineering project that will forever reshape global trade routes and the world map.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Suez (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Suez (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1850s

The action takes place in mid-19th century France, during Louis-Napoléon's rise and the prelude to the Second Empire. The period is marked by political upheaval, imperial ambition, and the push for great engineering projects like the Suez Canal. International diplomacy, elections, and palace intrigues shape the course of events.

Location

Paris, Egypt

Paris serves as the political and social stage where the Bonapartist intrigue unfolds and where de Lesseps pursues Eugenie. Egypt is the setting for the canal dream, a landscape of desert sands and imperial politics. The story shifts between the refined salons of Paris and the rough, ambitious world around the Suez region, where funding and engineering converge.

❄️ Paris 🏜️ Egypt

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:11

Main Characters – Suez (1938)

Meet the key characters of Suez (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ferdinand de Lesseps (Tyrone Power)

A determined engineer and diplomat who dreams of the Suez Canal. He blends persistence with romantic longing for Eugenie, steering through political upheaval and personal loss as he pursues his grand project.

🧭 Diplomat 🛠️ Engineer

Countess Eugenie de Montijo (Loretta Young)

A captivating aristocrat whose affection shapes the love triangle at the story’s center. She wields social influence and embodies the era’s fashionable power, later becoming Empress through her marriage to Napoleon III.

👑 Aristocrat 💖 Romance

Toni Pellerin (Annabella)

A tomboy raised by her grandfather, Sergeant Pellerin, who falls for de Lesseps. She embodies loyalty and courage, and her sacrificial act during the sandstorm marks a poignant turn in the canal’s saga.

🗺️ Independent 💖 Love Interest

Prince Said (J. Edward Bromberg)

An indolent heir navigating the intrigues of court politics in Egypt. He finances the canal’s survival through risky means, illustrating how personal vanity can influence imperial ventures.

👑 Aristocrat 🌍 Diplomat

Napoleon III / Napoleon the Emperor (Leon Ames)

The French emperor whose alliances and decisions swing between skepticism and backing for the canal. His political maneuvers shape the timeline of funding and imperial support.

👑 Emperor 🏛️ Statesman

Count Mathieu de Lesseps (Henry Stephenson)

Ferdinand’s father and the Consul-General in Egypt, a figure of diplomacy whose stroke of fate coincides with political turmoil within France. He anchors the family’s involvement in the canal project.

👨‍👦 Father 🏛️ Statesman

Benjamin Disraeli (Miles Mander)

Leader of the opposition whose enthusiasm for the canal helps secure funding after a political shift. His role demonstrates how realpolitik and electoral outcomes influence grand infrastructure.

🏛️ Politician 💬 Orator

Sergeant Pellerin (Sig Ruman)

The same grandfather figure who raises Toni, a sturdy veteran whose presence anchors the personal side of the story within the broader political drama.

🪖 Veteran 👨‍✈️ Mentor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:11

Major Themes – Suez (1938)

Explore the central themes of Suez (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏛️ Power & Ambition

The story centers on leaders who wield authority to reshape nations and destinies. Napoleon III's consolidation of power and the canal’s financing reveal how political calculation drives grand engineering projects. Personal rivalries and betrayals intertwine with state interests, highlighting the cost of ambition.

💘 Romance & Sacrifice

Romantic longing drives key choices, from de Lesseps’s pursuit of Eugenie to Toni Pellerin’s devotion and ultimate tragedy. Love becomes a catalyst for political action and personal sacrifice. The lovers navigate social barriers while the larger historical forces pull them apart.

⚙️ Progress & Engineering

The canal project represents a monumental engineering feat, demanding funding, international diplomacy, and endurance against sabotage. The film shows how infrastructure can redefine a nation’s future and alter the balance of power. Yet the path to progress is fraught with political risk and personal cost.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:11

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Suez Summary

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Suez Summary

Suez Timeline

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Suez Timeline

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