Directed by:
King VidorCinematography:
Freddie YoungCast:
Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida, George Sanders, Marisa Pavan, David Farrar, Finlay Currie, Harry Andrews, Jack Gwillim, Laurence Naismith, Tyrone Power (more)Plots(1)
Yul Brynner stars as the legendary figure of the Bible in King Vidor's only contribution to this popular 1950s genre. When aged King David (Finlay Currie) has a vision from God telling him that Solomon should succeed him as ruler of the Israelites, David heeds His word. This angers his martial brother, Adonijah (George Sanders), who threatens to wrest the throne from his younger brother. Israel thrives under the reign of the wise king, and its success creates uneasiness among the powerful kingdoms of the region. The pharaoh conspires with Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida), granting her access to the Red Sea that she might besiege Solomon with her charm, thereby luring the ruler to his doom. Solomon is dazzled by the queen's beauty and quickly falls under her sway. As the king's attention is turned away from the Lord and the welfare of his people, the country begins to deteriorate. The Lord finally expresses his displeasure with the prevailing atmosphere of licentiousness by destroying the Temple of Jehovah. The chastened Solomon grasps the error of his ways, and a transformed Sheba decides to convert to Judaism. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Yul Brynner
Best movies:
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Goodbye Again (1961)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
Gina Lollobrigida
Italy
Best movies:
Fearless Little Soldier (1952)
Deceptions (1985) (TV movie)
Bread, Love and Dreams (1953)
George Sanders
Russian Empire
Best movies:
All About Eve (1950)
Love Is News (1937)
Rebecca (1940)
Marisa Pavan
Italy
Best movies:
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956)
The Rose Tattoo (1955)
Drum Beat (1954)
David Farrar
UK
Best movies:
Black Narcissus (1947)
The Sea Chase (1955)
Solomon and Sheba (1959)
Finlay Currie
UK
Best movies:
Ben-Hur (1959)
Great Expectations (1946)
Cleopatra (1963)
Harry Andrews
UK
Best movies:
The Hill (1965)
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
The Medusa Touch (1978)
Jack Gwillim
UK
Best movies:
Producers' Showcase (1954) (series)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959)
Laurence Naismith
UK
Best movies:
Lust for Life (1956)
Cleopatra (1963)
The Million Pound Note (1954)
Tyrone Power
USA
Best movies:
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Love Is News (1937)
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Alejandro Rey
Argentina
Best movies:
Fun in Acapulco (1963)
Moscow on the Hudson (1984)
Solomon and Sheba (1959)
John Crawford
USA
Best movies:
The Towering Inferno (1974)
The Longest Day (1962)
The Big Heat (1953)
Maruchi Fresno
Spain
Best movies:
Solomon and Sheba (1959)
Heaven Fell That Night (1958)
Jean Anderson
UK
Best movies:
A Town Like Alice (1956)
A Night to Remember (1958)
Waltz of the Toreadors (1962)
Virgilio Teixeira
Portugal
Best movies:
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
El Cid (1961)
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
Félix de Pomés
Spain
Best movies:
King of Kings (1961)
Solomon and Sheba (1959)
Lost Command (1966)
José Nieto
Spain
Best movies:
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
The Miracle of Marcelino (1955)
Falstaff (1965)
William Devlin
UK
Best movies:
Solomon and Sheba (1959)
Treasure Island (1950)
Jamaica Inn (1939)
Julio Peña
Spain
Best movies:
Falstaff (1965)
The Price of Power (1969)
Red Sun (1971)