Solomon and Sheba [Blu-ray]

Director: King Vidor King Vidor

Overview

Romance, treachery, intrigue and spiritual awakenings abound in the Biblical film adaptation of Solomon and Sheba. Trouble begins between two brothers when poet Solomon (Yul Brynner) is chosen to be next in line to the throne by King David of Israel. His warrior brother Adonijah (George Sanders) is livid when Solomon becomes king. While Israel prospers under Solomon, Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) conspires with the Egyptians to topple Israel. She is ambitious and seductive and finally gets Solomon to fall in love with her. When a pagan dance ritual turns into an orgy, the people turn against Solomon when the Temple of Jehovah is struck by lightning. After the righteous Solomon has fallen from the grace of God, Sheba renounces her pagan Gods and converts to Judaism. A cast of thousands depict the raging battle between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Directed by King Vidor at the cost of five million dollars, production was delayed when the original choice for the role of Solomon (Tyrone Power) died during the making of the film. Many scenes had to be redone with his replacement, Yul Brynner.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/09/2022
UPC:	0850035985861
Original Release:	1959
Rating:	NR
Source:	Sandpiper Pictures
Language:	English
Time:	2:22:00
Sales rank:	13,471

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Yul Brynner	Solomon
Gina Lollobrigida	Sheba
George Sanders	Adonijah
Marisa Pavan	Abishag
David Farrar	Pharaoh
John Crawford	Joab
Laurence Naismith	Herzrai
Jose Nieto	Ahab
Alejandro Rey	Sittar
Harry Andrews	Baltor
Julio Pena	Zadok
Maruchi Fresno	Bathsheba
William Devlin	Nathan
Felix de Pomes	Egyptian General
Jean Anderson	Takyan
Jack Gwillim	Josiah
Finlay Currie	King David
Claude Dantes	Mother of Disputed Child
Anne Scott	Girl
Virgilio Teixeira	Actor
Mario Nascimbene	Composer

Technical Credits

Anthony Veiller

Paul Dudley

George Bruce

King Vidor	Director
Anthony Veiller	Screenwriter
Paul Dudley	Screenwriter
George Bruce	Screenwriter
Ted Richmond	Producer
Alex Weldon	Special Effects
Tyrone Power	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Biblical epic completists will enjoy Solomon and Sheba, but those with a low tolerance for the genre are advised to stay well away. There are far worse films than Solomon, and far worse ones just among the Bible-based epics, but Solomon still is somewhat difficult to sit through. It's too long, although shorter than many other epics, but its length isn't so much a problem as its pace; it simply FEELS longer than it actually is, due in large part to director King Vidor's deliberateness. Vidor's heart simply doesn't seem to be in Solomon, and so even the action and adventure scenes don't have the sparkle and drive that they require. Vidor stated that part of the problem lay with the fact that he had to replace original leading man Tyrone Power, who he claimed understood the complexities of the character, with Yul Brynner, who sees the character as faultless and decisive, incapable of worrying about the rightness or wrongness of his actions. Brynner, sporting a toupee, does not give a very interesting performance, and even reliable George Sanders comes across as a bit tired (and a bit long in the tooth for his role as well). Gina Lollobrigida looks fantastic, but her performance is also nothing to write home about. Still, the physical production is impressive, and those who enjoy throngs of soldiers going at each other and Divinely-inspired battle plans should find plenty here to satisfy them.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler