SOLOMON AND SHEBA

US, 1959, 142 minutes, Colour.
Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida, George Sanders, Marisa Pavan, David Farrar, John Crawford, Laurence Naismith, Alejandro Rey, Harry Andrews.
Directed by King Vidor.

Solomon and Sheba is no better, no worse than many biblical epics. It is a spectacular production, filmed in Technirama in Spain by director King Vidor. Vidor had just completed the Audrey Hepburn- Henry Fonda version of War and Peace.

The film began with Tyrone Power as Solomon, but he died during the making of the film. Yul Brynner (just from The Ten Commandments and The King and I) was his replacement - with hair and beard. Gina Lollobrigida was popular as an exotic Italian actress at the time and had appeared with Anthony Quinn in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. George Sanders snarls and looks supercilious as he did in such epics as Samson and Delilah, King Richard and the Crusaders, Ivanhoe. The supporting cast is generally British. Italian.

The film, from a story by Crane Wilbur (The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima), uses the thee and thou style of dialogue, giving it an atmosphere of superficial reverence. However, as with de Mille. there is plenty of violence and suggestions of sex. The most spectacular aspect of the film is an attack by the Egyptian army against the Israelites who turn their shi~lds into the sun and blind the Egyptian forces so that they all go literally over a precipice. it is quite spectacular film-making.

1. The popularity of biblical epics? The tradition? This film of the mid-'50s?

2. The tradition and Cecil B. de Mille: the text of the Old Testament, amplifying stories, developing characters? Violence and intrigue, intimations of sexuality, piety and the reverent style?

3. A big production, Technirama, length, cast, stars, extras? Scope of the film? The biblical epic-style score and choir?

4. Israel in 1000 B.C., Jerusalem (grander than it actually was), the temple in Jerusalem (also larger)? Egypt? Armies, war, action? Special effects? The spectacular sequence with the shields and the fall over the precipice?

5. The basis of the plot in Scripture, the treatment of the character, issues,
the Hewbrew rel-igion? The use of a thee and thou-style script?

6. The focus on Adonijah and Solomon: two aspects of David, comparisons and rivalry, David dying, Solomon's prayer and his revival, Adonijah's arrival, the presence of the prophet Nathan? David's decree about Solomon and its effect? Adoniiah's hostility, his having claimed to be king while David was still alive? His being disinherited? The assassination attempt on Solomon? Going to Egypt for alliance and his kingdom? His going to Jerusalem and taking over? Solomon's arrival, the battle and his death?

7. Yul Brynner solemn as Solomon? The poet, his clothes, contrast with Adonijah? The love of David? Being decreed king? His loyalty? The sequence of his prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3)? The building of the temple, the achievement of empire and success?

8. Pharaoh in Egypt, the Queen of Sheba angry and plotting with him? His reaction to Sheba's failure? The promise to Adonijah to be king? Sending the armies? The defeat?

9. Gina Lollobrigida glamorous as Sheba? Wild and her attack on Adonijah, whipping him? The constant presence of her adviser and her maid? Their influence? Her anger? Decision to plot against Israel? Motivation? Going to the Pharaoh, the plan? Going to Jerusalem with pomp, Solomon's courtesy? Change of attitude? Abishag coming to her tent? Rivalry? The meetings with Solomon, inviting him to the tent? Witnessing his judgment? Falling in love, change, their passion, the ritual and his presence, the thunder and the destruction of the temple, her change of heart and fear, prayer to God? Her decision to go into the city, her being stoned? Solomon's return, the farewell, her going back to her home?

10. Solomon and his wisdom, the devotion of Abishdg, the arrival of Sheba, his courtesy, the judgment (famous from the biblIcal text) of the child and the two women? Falling in love, the vigil before he went to Sheba? The assassination attempt? Confrontation of Adonijah? Going to the ritual, the basis of his decision, love for her? God's anger at Solomon's behaviour? Abishag's death? His repentance? The fight in the desert, his prayer, the troops' return, the precipice? Going to Jerusalem, the farewell to Sheba? The fight with Adonijah? Repentance, redemption? His choices?

11. Abishag and her presence at the court, love for Solomon, suspicions of Sheba, going to see her, the prayerful vigil, her death in the temple as atonement?

12. The sketch of David, his unifying the tribes of Israel, prophet, building the temple, the decree about his sons?

13. The court of the Queen of Sheba, her adviser, his caution about her love for Solomon? Her maid? The entourage, the religious ritual and its orgi~ astic dancing?

14. The advisers in Israel, their attitude towards God, to David, hostility towards the Queen of Sheba, subdued by Adonijah, the battles?

15. The touch of history, epic, biblical story? Impact?