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xsBusiness - Salome
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List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $54.49
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Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Starring: Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton, Judith Anderson, Cedric Hardwicke
Directed By: William Dieterle
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302280401
Format: Color
ISBN: 6302280400
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Release Date: 1998-06-02
Running Time: 103
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 1953-03-24
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Colourful Biblical tale
Comment: Salome is not a movie that sticks close to the Biblical account of the story .The script by Harry Kleiner ,based on a story concocted by Jesse Lasky Junior ,embroiders the Biblical tale and makes a great many changes,,in particular by absolving Salome of all blame for the fate of John the Baptist ,the guilt for which is laid squarely at the feet of her mother,Queen Herodias(played by the excellent-as ever-Judith Anderson).It also ignores the account given by the eminent Jewish historian ,Josephus who claims she went on to marry two members of her own family ,Philip the Tetrach and Aristobulus .Provided ,however that you are not a stickler for such things as historical accuracy ,this is a ripe and enjoyable melodrama.
Salome -the lustrous Rita Hayworth -is banished from Rome by Caesar (a cameo from Cedric Hardwicke)who onjects to herv dalliance with his nephew ,and she returns to Israel where her mother is Queen ,married to the voluptary Herod (a splendid ,if more than a tad hammy ,Charles Laughton who chews the scenery to some effect ).On the boat trip over she clashes with Roman centurion Claudius (Stewart Granger) a man who is a secret follower of the prophet John the Baptist (Alan Badel making an impresive screen debut).Herod lusts after Salome and Herodias manipulates the situation to seek the death of the prophet ,who has consistently denounced her in his sermons.Herod is reluctant to take action aginst the Baptist owing to a prophecy that he will lose his throne if the Baptist is killed .Meanwhile the antipathy between Salome and Claudius has given way to love
Hayworth looks stunning and the seven veils dance ,choreographed by Valerie Beitis ) is quite raunchy by the standards of the day .Granger is assured and dashing but they are eclipsed the veterans Laughton and Anderson who seem to relish the chance to ham things up in two immensely enoyable performances .Laughton especially seems to revel in the slimy lecherousnes of the character .
This is a colourful romp and a good slice of vintage melodrama and it is enjoyable for what it is -lush and lavish ,slightly camp ,and not to be taken seriously
Customer Rating:
Summary: RITA HAYWORTH WAS THE ORIGINAL SCREEN GODDESS!!!
Comment: When it comes to Bible epics there's always going to be criticism in the accuracy, so I only watch for entertainment value. In the case of Salome I could care less if it was accurate in the storytelling, I just enjoyed seeing Rita Hayworth light up the screen and She was simply magnificent as Princess Salome!!! As mentioned in other reviews the famous dance of the seven veils alone is worth seeing the film! What a Woman!!! There will never be another Rita Hayworth!!!
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Summary: Beautiful Rita Hayworth Shines In Legendary Bible Epic
Comment: "Salome", has really come in for it's fair share of criticism in the years since it's 1953 release. Criticised for it's blatant altering of the New Testament story that depicts the beheading of John the Baptist, it has been called everything from a campy mess to an insult to scholars of the Bible. However I always just appreciate the film for it's many outstanding qualities that well and truly earn it a place in my personal pantheon of great 1950's Biblical Epics. Lacking the wide scope of for example "The Ten Commandments", "Salome", takes a short incident in the Bible and turns it into a highly entertaining and at times tragic story. It certainly succeeded in provided an eye filling showcase for actress Rita Hayworth, only recently arrived back in Hollywood after an unsuccessful marriage to Prince Aly Khan. Despite the break from Hollywood she has never been more alive and sensual as in this role and her justly famous rendition of the notorious "Dance of the Seven Veils", is the dramatic and indeed sensual climax of the film. If for nothing else Rita Hayworth will always be imprinted in viewers minds as the Princess Salome seductively performing this dance before an obviously besotted King Herod just prior to John the Baptist's head being brought into the room on a platter.
We have all read about John the Baptist as children and how Princess Salome agreed to do the "Dance of the Seven Veils", in return for the Baptist's head. Hollywood being Hollywood, has altered the story and Salome is now not the total wanton of the Bible story but a basically decent girl surrounded by total corrupting influences. This artistic licence aside the story is an affectivly told one and includes some terrific actors having the time of their lives with their colourful characters. The story opens with young Princess Salome residing in the Rome of the Emperor Tiberius (Cedric Hardwicke). She has been sent there by her mother Queen Herodias (Judith Anderson), who is intent on keeping her away from the incestuous attention of her step father King Herod (Charles Laughton). Salome however runs foul of the Emperor when she falls in love with Marcellus a relative of the Emperor. Refusing to allow his family to marry "barbarians", Salome is sent back to her parents in Galilea. On the journey over she is placed in the care of Roman Commander Claudius (Stewart Granger), and the two begin a definite love /hate relationship. Upon arriving back in her homeland Salome discovers all is not well as her mother Queen Herodias, who is trapped in a loveless marriage with Herod, has consuming ambitions for the throne and rather disturbingly King Herod takes an unwelcome and decidely unheathy interest in his beautiful step daughter. The kingdom is rife with unrest and John the Baptist is constantly speaking out against the corruption and godlessness of the ruler and his court. When he speaks out at the Queen as an adulteress Salome goes to find out more about this outspoken preacher and discovers that Claudius who she now realises she loves, is actually one of his followers. Queen Herodias makes plans to have the baptist assassinated however it fails and Herod takes him into his custody to keep him out of the way. The people meanwhile begin to rise up in protest at John's imprisonment and Salome learns the true nature of her evil mother when she asks her to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils, before Herod in return for the Bapist's head. Dancing before the King is simply another word for prostitution and Salome decides to leave the Palace. A visit with Claudius to the imprisoned John makes her see the power of what he is preaching about the Lord's word and she decides to save him by appeasing her father in law and performing the dance. However Herodias has her way and John is beheaded much to Salome's horror who now sets out on her own life as a Christian with Claudius.Glitzy hokum? Perhaps, but highly entertaining nevertheless. "Salome", was for a long time a project dear to the heart of Cecil B. DeMille who would have been in his element with such an exotic story. He envisioned using Rita Hayworth as the legendary Salome however it never came to be. It was finally up to Columbia chief Harry Cohn fifteeen years later to finally put this project into reality. No expenses was spared on talent both in front of and behind the camera and it shows in the final film. Luscious costumes designed by Jean Louis, breathtaking colour photography and the typical trademarks of 1950's Epics, lavish sets and intrigue are poured on thick in "Salome". Rita Hayworth despite not resembling a Princess native to the Holy Land does well in the role and in her famous dance shows off the skills that served her well as a dancer earlier in her career. Judith Anderson as the evil Queen steals every scene she is in in another classic nasty performance and Charles Laughton performs to his hammy best as the decadent King Herod. These two veteran performers by their colourful playing really bring "Salome", alive in their scenes. "Salome", benefits from some truly superb camerawork for both the palace scenes and also for the actual locations in the Holy Land which were used for the first time with this film. These locations give a rich and realistic look to many of the outdoor scenes in "Salome", recreating the times of the New Testament perfectly. Being a huge fan of these lavish biblical epics produced in the 1950's I can still see the obvious holes in this film version of "Salome". Rather than seeing them as faults however one has to just take the film at face value, not take it too seriously and just enjoy it for the great production it is. It has romance, intrigue, gorgeous sets and costumes and enough action to satisfy most epic movie lovers. For a "refashioned", look at one of the Bible's more famous stories you are sure to love Columbia Studios lavish "Salome", starring the legendary Rita Hayworth.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Of couse it's bad BUT
Comment: It's great fun to watch! Everything about this is wrong -- te story of Salome is changed to make Salome a victim of her evil mother Herodias. Rita Hayworth looks more like 1950's Hollywood -- complete with gold hair, -- than a first century Jewish-Mediterrenean princess. But the prize for giving the most unintended laughs goes to John the Baptist in the hammiest, most overacted role ever in ANY Biblical film -- and indeed Hollywood has dozens of overacted Biblical films them. This film is enjoyable, pure kitschy entertainment - don't expect any deep theological interpretations of the Gospel account. Don't even expect an accurate interpretation.
Customer Rating:
Summary: There will never be another Rita Hayworth
Comment: If there is one benchmark film that displays the timeless, ravishing beauty of Rita Hayworth then Salome is it. Salome serves more for its artistic as opposed to historical value, but what's wrong with that? (If you want to know the facts then read the Bible.)
The Dance of Seven Veils rivals any scene in filmdom for pure sensuality without need for gratuitous sex. (A close second might be the Holden and Novak dance in "Picnic".) Please treat yourself to an evening of lovliness.
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