Customer Reviews:
Only the names are the same.......2006-02-15
A bible story like it was never told. All Israel looks like 1960’s Italians. And when Goliath (Kronos) first appears they use 60’s sci-fi music. I’m not sure but I think King Saul (Orson Welles) mumbles in Italian. The story has slightly changed and So David (Ivica Pajer) gets the girl and congratulations from Old King Saul. His rival (no not Goliath) Abner (Massimo Serato) gets the shaft.
The only real sad part was the scene where poor innocent cutie shepherd girl gets electrocuted.
I can not avoid saying “Read the Book”
a bizarre melange of styles and acting.......2004-12-09
"Freely adapted" from the Bible, this film takes huge liberties with the stories of Saul, David, and their battle with the Philistines, but is very watchable nonetheless, and for many reasons, one of them just the fascination of its incongruities. The script is in "Olde English", with the "thees and thous" often coming from mouths that are speaking another language (the dubbing is hopeless), with two exceptions: The magnificent speaking of both Orson Welles, who makes a superb tormented Saul, and Edward Hilton as Samuel; it is a pleasure to listen and watch both these actors.
The rest of the cast is somewhat uneven, but the dubbing is partly at fault. Among the best are Ivo Payer, a handsome Croatian actor as David, Massimo as a scheming Abner, and Eleonore Rossi Drago and Giulia Robini as Saul's daughters Merab and Michael. Italian circus muscle man giant Kronos plays Goliath, enjoying every minute of his screen time as he is seduced into action by a bevy of dancing girls.
The score uses Ernest Bloch's glorious "Shelomo" theme for the titles, and Carlo Innocenzi incorporates the melody into parts of the rest of the soundtrack (especially when David is romancing Michael), the scenic design uses Nineveh as its inspiration for Jerusalem, and the location shots were filmed in Israel, and Yugoslavia, where the desert turns into lush green fields as far as the eyes can see for the final battle sequence.
I'm a big sword and sandal epic fan, and this 1960 film gets the award for being the most peculiar of the genre. A great curiosity piece for Welles aficionados, who will love his performance; his bloodshot eyes peer from behind the palace columns, a pasty faced mountain of paranoia, a character that is a joy to watch repeatedly. Total running time is 92 minutes.
Customer Reviews:
Only the names are the same.......2006-02-15
A bible story like it was never told. All Israel looks like 1960’s Italians. And when Goliath (Kronos) first appears they use 60’s sci-fi music. I’m not sure but I think King Saul (Orson Welles) mumbles in Italian. The story has slightly changed and So David (Ivica Pajer) gets the girl and congratulations from Old King Saul. His rival (no not Goliath) Abner (Massimo Serato) gets the shaft.
The only real sad part was the scene where poor innocent cutie shepherd girl gets electrocuted.
I can not avoid saying “Read the Book”
a bizarre melange of styles and acting.......2004-12-09
"Freely adapted" from the Bible, this film takes huge liberties with the stories of Saul, David, and their battle with the Philistines, but is very watchable nonetheless, and for many reasons, one of them just the fascination of its incongruities. The script is in "Olde English", with the "thees and thous" often coming from mouths that are speaking another language (the dubbing is hopeless), with two exceptions: The magnificent speaking of both Orson Welles, who makes a superb tormented Saul, and Edward Hilton as Samuel; it is a pleasure to listen and watch both these actors.
The rest of the cast is somewhat uneven, but the dubbing is partly at fault. Among the best are Ivo Payer, a handsome Croatian actor as David, Massimo as a scheming Abner, and Eleonore Rossi Drago and Giulia Robini as Saul's daughters Merab and Michael. Italian circus muscle man giant Kronos plays Goliath, enjoying every minute of his screen time as he is seduced into action by a bevy of dancing girls.
The score uses Ernest Bloch's glorious "Shelomo" theme for the titles, and Carlo Innocenzi incorporates the melody into parts of the rest of the soundtrack (especially when David is romancing Michael), the scenic design uses Nineveh as its inspiration for Jerusalem, and the location shots were filmed in Israel, and Yugoslavia, where the desert turns into lush green fields as far as the eyes can see for the final battle sequence.
I'm a big sword and sandal epic fan, and this 1960 film gets the award for being the most peculiar of the genre. A great curiosity piece for Welles aficionados, who will love his performance; his bloodshot eyes peer from behind the palace columns, a pasty faced mountain of paranoia, a character that is a joy to watch repeatedly. Total running time is 92 minutes.
DVD:
- Black Knight [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Brainy Baby Laugh & Learn - DVD
- Bratz Babyz - The Movie
- Bronco Bullfrog [1969]
- California [1963]
- Captain Blood [1935] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Care Bears: The Care Bears Movie [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth [1952] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Chocolat [2001] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Chushingura [1962] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
DVD List
DVD
![Bible Time Classics: David and Goliath/Joseph and His Brethren/Martin Luther/Esther and the King [1961]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/216F5D1A8DL.jpg)
All Classics
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Classics
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Categories
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DVD
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Video
![Jacob, the Man Who Fought With God [1963]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0009RQSLE.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Jacob, the Man Who Fought With God [1963]
Bible Time Classics, Vol. 2
![Bible Time Favorites [1961]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0006HBLGY.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Bible Time Favorites [1961]
![St. Peter [2005] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000M9BPG2.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
St. Peter [2005] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
![Epics of the Old Testament Collection [1962]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0009RQSHS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Epics of the Old Testament Collection [1962]
![Bible Time Classics: David and Goliath/Joseph and His Brethren/Martin Luther/Esther and the King [1961]](http://www.bill88.com/buy.gif)
![David and Goliath [1961] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31PHBN4N5ZL.jpg)
![Hero of Rome/Invincible Gladiator [1964] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000A59Q3M.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Hercules/Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules [1959]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000EOTWDS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Giant of Marathon [1959] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000A0DWP.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Hercules and the Princess of Troy/Atlas in the Land of the Cyclops [1963]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000E1OI62.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Great Men and Women Who Changed the World: 10 Animated Features (including Thomas Edison, Pocahontas, David & Goliath, Alexander Graham Bell, Florence Nightingale, & five more) [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21J3sFVQ5mL.jpg)
![Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Story of Moses [1998] (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00008DDGF.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Boy Called Twist [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
![Esther and the King/David and Goliath [1961]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31RTQQMJYCL.jpg)
![David And Bathsheba [1951]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000MQCBUY.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Children's Bible Stories: David and Goliath [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21AJ%2BO26b%2BL.jpg)
![Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Apostles [1998] (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00008DDGI.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
