Salome (1953 film)
| Salome | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
|
| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Produced by | Buddy Adler |
| Written by | Jesse Lasky Jr. (story) Harry Kleiner (story) |
| Starring | Rita Hayworth Stewart Granger Charles Laughton |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof George Duning |
| Cinematography | Charles Lang |
| Editing by | Viola Lawrence |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures Corporation |
| Release date(s) | 24 March 1953 |
| Running time | 103 min. |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
- This article is about the 1953 film. For other uses see Salome (disambiguation)
Salome (1953) is a Biblical epic film made in Technicolor by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by William Dieterle and produced by Buddy Adler from a screenplay by Harry Kleiner and Jesse Lasky Jr. The music score was by George Duning, the dance music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and the cinematography by Charles Lang. Hayworth's costumes by Jean Louis. Hayworth's dances for this film were choreographed by Valerie Bettis. This film was the last produced by Hayworth's production company, the Beckworth Corporation.
The film starred Rita Hayworth as Salome, as well as Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton and Judith Anderson, with Cedric Hardwicke, Alan Badel and Basil Sydney.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Although based on the New Testament story, the film does not follow the biblical text. In Galilee, during the rule of Rome's Tiberius Caesar, King Herod (Charles Laughton) and Queen Herodias (Judith Anderson) sit on the throne and are condemned by a prophet known as John the Baptist (Alan Badel). Herodias resents John's denunciation of her marriage to the king, her former husband's brother, and the Baptist's claim that she is an adulteress.
Salome falls in love with a heroic Roman soldier (Granger) who converts to Christianity. In a direct reversal of the Biblical text, she dances for Herod to save John the Baptist from being beheaded, but is unsuccessful. Horrified, she renounces her mother Herodias, who planned and ordered the execution, and also becomes a Christian convert. The last scene shows Hayworth and Granger listening to Christ (whose face is not shown) delivering the Sermon on the Mount.
[edit] Dance of the seven veils
According to her biographers Hayworth's erotic dance routine was "the most demanding of her entire career", necessitating "endless takes and retakes".[1]
[edit] Cast
- Rita Hayworth as Princess Salome
- Stewart Granger as Commander Claudius
- Charles Laughton as King Herod
- Judith Anderson as Queen Herodias
- Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Tiberius Caesar
- Alan Badel as John the Baptist
- Basil Sydney as Pontius Pilate
- Maurice Schwartz as Ezra the King's Advisor
- Arnold Moss as Micha the Queen's Advisor
- Asoka as Asian Dancer
- Sujata as Asian Dancer
[edit] References
- ^ Edward Z. Epstein and Joseph Morella (1984) Rita: The Life of Rita Hayworth. London, Comet: 200
[edit] External links
- Salome at the Internet Movie Database
- Salome (1953 film) at the TCM Movie Database
- Salome (1953 film) at AllRovi
