SLAVES OF BABYLON

US, 1953, 82 minutes, Colour.
Richard Conte, Linda Christian, Terrance Kilburn, Michael Schwartz, Michael Ansara.
Directed by William Castle.

Sleeves of Babylon was one of those matinee, short running-time, action adventures that served as supporting features in the early 1950s. It was an early film from William Castle as director, before he moved into the idiosyncratic horror films of the late 1950s, early 1960s, films such as The House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler… each with its own special gimmick to promote the film or to create fear in the prospective audience.

The basic plot for this film comes from the book of Daniel, chapter 6. It also relies very much on the exodus story of Moses, the Genesis story of Joseph and his ruling in Egypt. It shows the Jews in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar is a character here, a friend of the prophet Daniel (Maurice Schwartz), seen as an elderly man. His son, Balthazar, is also a character, itching to take over from his father as ruler of Babylon. When he does so, he is a tyrant.

Richard Conte portrays an Israelite who sacrifices his life and his marriage to go in search of a potential saviour for the people of Israel, to free them from Babylon, to allow them back to their own land. Much of the film shows his journey and his seeking out of Cyrus, the promised one. While Cyrus is a significant figure in the Jewish and Biblical literature, the man who conquered Babylon and allowed the Israelites to go home, much is made of his being a shepherd, echoes of King David, and the mystery of his birth. His adoptive parents saved him from death, the mother having her tongue removed. She proves on her coming to the city, to the King’s daughter, that this is the princess’s child whom she thought was dead.

Child actor, Terry Kilburn (Goodbye Mr chips), is Cyrus. Linda Christian is the femme fatale, who wants to be Queen, tries to make a liaison with Cyrus, falls in love with Richard Conte’s character but is finally made to make a moral choice.

Towards the end of the film, the famous scene from the book of Daniel, the mysterious hand writing on the wall with the warnings to Balthazar, brings a touch of drama.

And, of course, the film ends with Cyrus firmly enthroned in Babylon and the people of Israel making their way back to Jerusalem.