Solomon & Sheba [DVD]

great addition to my classic movies

This was a movie I remembered seeing at a Saturday matinee when I was perhaps eleven years old. I never forgot it, and when I saw it available, I jumped at the chance. I have to say that it was certainly worth waiting for once again. The acting is all top notch (for this sort of thing) and the costumes, story line and "spectacle" are all better than I remembered them to be.Granted Yul Brynner with hair is odd, but it does not distract from his impact as Solomon, or his appeal as a sexy leading man. He seems to have been born to play these regal parts. (Who can ever forget him as Rameses in the Ten Commandments?) George Saunders as his scheming brother Adonijah is simply delicious with his suave malevolence. But the real appeal here is Gina Lollobrigida as the tempting Queen of Sheba.Her gowns are chiffon chic, her adornment is perfect and her beauty is quite simply riveting, even with a heavy coating of Eddie Leonard #55 greasepaint to "darken" her up. Although the dialogue could have easily degenerated into silliness, Lollobridgida manages to keep the lid on throughout. Her love scenes with Brynner are spot on for the era they represent. Of especial interest is her "seduction dance" performed in her encampment during the feast of the Sheban god Dagon. Gina gets down and mixes it up in the dancing girl department with the best of any of them!!The story depicted in the film is not a fantasy. The events that transpired between the real Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, who reigned over perhaps the most sophisticated era of ancient Hebrew/Israelite dominion in the Levant, has been verified by archaeologists and is based upon what was recorded in the Old Testament about these two people. In fact, a recent touring museum exhibition showcased much of the material artifacts that verify the story of these ancient lovers and the worlds over which they each presided. As a historical footnote, it was their (illegitmate)son who was responsible for the ancient Judeo-Christian ethic that survives on the African continent in the land of Ethiopia even to this day, which some scholars believe was the heartland of Sheba in it's day.The film is titillating without being ridiculous and has all the elements that make for a wonderfully "big show" such as well re-enacted battles and scenes of destruction that always add so much to "epic" productions. Although the final scene borders on the corny preachiness of DeMille, the movie as a whole is far above the caliber of these sorts of stories. If you have never seen this movie, and if you like ancient spectacle I highly recommend it. It IS one of the best of it's kind.

It was fun seeing Yule Brenner playing the hero.

A Great Movie !!

Yul Brynner with hair! This seems to fascinate many but there are more films out there with him sporting a quaff than you might expect! As a Biblical story this is worthy of your collection, although not spot on accurate not many are. As a Sword & Sandal film or Action movie this will satisfy! I hear many reviews stating this movie is more important for the loss of Tyrone Powers but I think this is a highly unfair assessment! I had no idea Mr. Powers passed away while filming this movie so I enjoyed it for what it is & I think everyone involved did a great job!!! Whether your into the Biblical aspects or not this is a good action movie! As a period piece it has some good battle tactics & doesn't lack for action. I think lovers of Sword & Sandal, Historical, Biblical, & Action Adventures would be happy to add this one to their collections! I do have a love for the older epics because they didn't depend on billion dollar special effects to carry the film but relied on acting and story lines & good plots! This movie has all of that & can be enjoyed by the whole family as the violence isn't excessive & the language is articulate not relying on the F-bomb to make up for intelligent dialogue! Now I don't consider myself a prude but I am getting a little tired of the lack of morality these days. I see animated cartoons on T.V. that are so crude & promoting ignorance that I would hope there are still family's out there that would want to add a movie like this to their collections!

A great dvd

The Bible merely reports that the Queen of Sheba, hearing of King Solomon's wisdom, visited him for an education. Of course many traditions say more. In this film Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) asks Solomon (Yul Brynner) for private lessons, with predictable results. The only direct contradiction to Biblical accounts is Solomon letting his no-good brother Adonijah live long after their father David's death -- forgivable fudging, since George Sanders as Adonijah is too entertaining to kill early on. Less forgivable is the scripting of Abishag (Marisa Pavan) as a total innocent when the Bible is pretty clear about her job: trying to help the aging David regain his sexual potency. Also, while some of the big-screen scenes are technically on par with contemporary Hollywood sword-and-sandal epics, others are definitely not, and the anachronous Star of David decor is annoying.

Exactly as described.

und da er mir wegen sprach schwierigkeiten noch in English geboten wird , liebe ich it noch mehr , ich kann den movie nur empfehlen

I choose this rating because I love the actress and actor and I remember this movie sence I was little. And the movie I buy is being borrowed by my commiunty members all over town.

The dvd was in a very good condition

Great movie and great DVD.

wenn man diese liebt und die Technik zu dieser Zeit berücksichtigt ist es ein guter biblischer Film, mit noch echten und guten Schauspielern.