David and Bathsheba
Release date: 1951-08-10
Votes: 69
Genres: Drama, Romance, History
King David enters into an adulterous affair with the beautiful Bathsheba, which has tragic consequences for his family and Israel.
Reviews
talisencrw
I have to admit that I greatly enjoy the swords-and-sandals genre, whether of Christianity or of other types. This was solidly directed by King and had strong performances by Peck, Hayward and Massey, and was greatly touching at the end when David discovers the overwhelming and incredible power of forgiveness, particularly he of himself. Heartily recommended--it deserved its five Oscar nominations, even though it wasn't much of a cinematic year, to be sure.
CinemaSerf
Right from the opening bars of Alfred Newman's (overpowering) score, this has Darryl F. Zanuck all over it. Rousing music, grand structures, glittering costumes and a cast that, well, must have had spare capacity on their contracts. Taken - at times verbatim - from the biblical books of Samuel, this installs Gregory Peck as the famed King David (he of Goliath fame) who is rather unhappily wed to Michal (Jayne Meadows) with two children about whom he is, at best,"relaxed". Each day from his terrace he espies the glamorous wife of the captain of his guard, and one evening gets his loyal factotum Abishai (James Robertson Justice) to summon "Bathsheba" (Susan Hayward) to come and have dinner. Fairly promptly, we realise that the two have the hots for each other and with her husband "Uriah" (Kieron Moore) almost always away defending king and country, opportunity for the pair beckons readily. She becomes pregnant and so the king has to think on his feet. Can he bring the husband back and perhaps pass the baby off as his? If not - he must marry her and that means finding a legitimate way to dispose of poor old "Uriah". Needless to say, and as pointed out by the sagely "Nathan" (Raymond Massey), the Lord is less than pleased with this sinful behaviour and soon the rivers are running dry and the populace are on the verge of starvation and revolution. Can David appease his vengeful God? Can he save his (now) wife from a stoning? Cecil B. DeMille this isn't, and Peck - I thought - is hopelessly mis-cast. He is way too wooden and has too much of a decent American about him to carry this off. Hayward is better, she carries her role a bit more naturally but JRJ as an Hebrew butler and Massey as an harbinger of doom don't really work at all. What this did point out to me, as did the bible verses when I read them aeons ago - was just how unpleasant the "Lord" could actually be to his flock. Here are David and Bathsheaba having all the fun and yet it is the innocent people, the children, the animals who are punished. Surely he could have found a more direct way of retribution? Anyway, this film does look good but proceeds far too slowly and lethargically to really engage and at just shy of two hours, I was well and truly ready for the Heavenly chorus at the end.
Movie Recommendation
Salma's Big Wish2019-10-24In the Mexican town of Santa Clara, Salma, a 16 year-old orphan who never got to meet her biological parents, has spent most of her life searching for clues of their identities and whereabouts, that is until she discovers a special book that is filled with stories of the town's past and the history of it's people.More...
Twilight1998-03-06A retired detective accepts a simple task, unaware that it will tear open old, forgotten, but deadly wounds.More...
David and the Elves2021-12-06Christmas is drawing near, but it’s not a happy time for David. After moving to a big city, his parents have been bogged down with work and forgotten the meaning of Christmas. David decides to change that. Together with Albert the Elf, who escaped from the land of Santa to figure out what Christmas is all about, David sets off to Tatra Mountains, where his grandparents live, on a journey full of adventures.More...
Clockstoppers2002-03-29Until now, Zak Gibbs' greatest challenge has been to find a way to buy a car. But when he discovers an odd wristwatch amidst his father's various inventions and slips it on -- something very strange happens. The world around him seems to come to a stop, everything and everybody frozen in time. Zak quickly learns how to manipulate the device and he and his quick-witted and beautiful new friend, Francesca, start to have some real fun.More...
Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues2015-12-08September, 1945. Sebastian impatiently waits for the return of his friend Angelina, whom he has not seen for two years. When the plane carrying the young woman to her small village in the Alps is reported to have crashed in the mountains, Sebastian is convinced that Angelina is still alive. Along with his faithful dog Belle, Sebastian embarks on the most dangerous adventure of his life.More...
The Robe1953-09-16Drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio, wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius, but when Demetrius escapes with the robe, Marcellus experiences disturbing visions and feels guilty for his actions. Convinced that destroying the robe will cure him, Marcellus sets out to find Demetrius — and discovers his Christian faith along the way.More...
Every Day Is Like Sunday2011-07-27As we wait to see whether Rupert Murdoch will fall from power and lose control of News International, Every Day is Like Sunday tells the forgotten story of the dramatic downfall of Cecil King—the newspaper mogul who used to dominate British media in the 1960s, before Rupert Murdoch arrived.More...
Cyrano de Bergerac1990-03-28Famed swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with his cousin Roxane. He has never expressed his love for her as he his large nose undermines his self-confidence. Then he finds a way to express his love to her, indirectly.More...
The Ten Commandments: The Movie2016-01-28Follows Moses leading and conducting the Hebrew people from the slavery of Egypt to the freedom towards the Promised Land according to the Ancient Testament Bible book of the Exodus. The story told like never before is faithful to the Scriptures.More...
Cleopatra1963-06-12Determined to hold on to the throne, Cleopatra seduces the Roman emperor Julius Caesar. When Caesar is murdered, she redirects her attentions to his general, Marc Antony, who vows to take power—but Caesar’s successor has other plans.More...
Stargirl2020-03-10An unassuming high schooler finds himself inexplicably drawn to the free-spirited new girl, whose unconventional ways change how they see themselves…and their world.More...
Fatal Attraction1987-09-18A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.More...
The Old Guard2020-07-09Four undying warriors who've secretly protected humanity for centuries become targeted for their mysterious powers just as they discover a new immortal.More...
The Suicide Squad2021-07-28Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.More...
Oppenheimer2023-07-19The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.More...
Joker2019-10-01During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.More...
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse2018-12-06Struggling to find his place in the world while juggling school and family, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales is unexpectedly bitten by a radioactive spider and develops unfathomable powers just like the one and only Spider-Man. While wrestling with the implications of his new abilities, Miles discovers a super collider created by the madman Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk, causing others from across the Spider-Verse to be inadvertently transported to his dimension.More...
Titanic1997-12-18101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic's departure through to its death—on its first and last voyage—on April 15, 1912.More...
Enola Holmes2020-09-23While searching for her missing mother, intrepid teen Enola Holmes uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock and help a runaway lord.More...
Extraction2020-04-23A hardened gun-for-hire's latest mission becomes a soul-searching race to survive when he's sent into Bangladesh to rescue a drug lord's kidnapped son.More...
Similar Movies
Let Go and Let God
2019-09-03Let Go and Let God follows two people from vastly different worlds whose lives are rocked after experiencing sudden deaths in their family. They question God as a result, but find the faith they're looking for on an unexpected path.The Last Voyage
1960-02-19The S. S. Claridon is scheduled for her five last voyages after thirty-eight years of service. After an explosion in the boiler room, Captain Robert Adams is reluctant to evacuate the steamship. While the crew fights to hold a bulkhead between the flooded boiler room and the engine room and avoid the sinking of the vessel, the passenger Cliff Henderson struggles against time trying to save his beloved wife Laurie Henderson, who is trapped under a steel beam in her cabin, with the support of the crew member Hank Lawson.Anthony Adverse
1936-08-26Based on the novel by Hervey Allen, this expansive drama follows the many adventures of the eponymous hero, Anthony Adverse. Abandoned at a convent by his heartless nobleman father, Don Luis, Anthony is later mentored by his kind grandfather, John Bonnyfeather, and falls for the beautiful Angela Giuseppe. When circumstances separate Anthony and Angela and he embarks on a long journey, he must find his way back to her, no matter what the cost.The Second Coming of ...
2018-03-06The journey of a woman scientist who, at the end of times, discovers that true Faith can bring Miracles.Making Him Famous
2023-03-17Mario King (Vonii Bristow) is an inspirational speaker in the constant pursuit of fame. Though his grandfather (Cameron Arnett) always instilled the importance of living a life of integrity, Mario's affluent lifestyle leads to temptation, sending him down a path of destruction fueled by his own greed and arrogance. Disgraced and humiliated, Mario picks up a delivery job in a small town in North Carolina hoping to make ends meet. When a speeding ticket threatens his livelihood and freedom, Mario must take on community service work at Safe Harbor homeless shelter. While reluctant at first, Mario soon finds his calling in helping others with the encouragement of Olivia McBride (Morgan Graham) and Steven Young (Cornelius Muller). As Mario re-discovers the true meaning of "making Him famous," he begins to feel as if his past life is pulling him back.King of Kings
1961-10-11Who is Jesus, and why does he impact all he meets? He is respected and reviled, emulated and accused, beloved, betrayed, and finally crucified. Yet that terrible fate would not be the end of the story.The Milky Way
1969-02-28Two men, part tramp, part pilgrim, are on their way from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. On their way, they meet a vast assortment of characters—some truculent, some violent, and some bizarre; they experience many adventures—some mysterious, some erotic, some even supernatural.Sweet Sunshine
2020-03-20After his rise to fame causes a rift with his father, a young superstar suffers a tragedy that will change his life forever. Can a chance meeting with a talented young woman give him the strength he needs to believe in himself?The Agony and the Ecs...
1965-09-16During the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II contracts the influential artist Michelangelo to sculpt 40 statues for his tomb. When the pope changes his mind and asks the sculptor to paint a mural in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo doubts his painting skills and abandons the project. Divine inspiration returns Michelangelo to the mural, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope's demanding personality and threatens the success of the historic painting.The Messengers
2017-01-01Having risen from the dead, Jesus Christ has appeared to His disciples and instructed them saying, 'Remain in Jerusalem until you are filled with power from Heaven!' Waiting in prayer as Jesus has commanded them, the time comes when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them with great power and wonder! Follow the small band of early Christian believers as they boldly proclaim Christ and His message in the face of great opposition resulting in the growth of the church and the unexpected conversion of its most zealous enemy.The Secrets of Jonath...
2008-04-27The lives of twelve year old buddies Dustin, Albert, and Mark, sharing a carefree existence in the summer of 1970, suddenly changes when Dustin makes an unexpected friend after cutting the lawn of 75 year old Jonathan Sperry. As the old man shares lessons in faith with the preteen trio, a spiritual transformation occurs.Someone to Run With
2006-07-13Through the streets of Jerusalem two teenagers' stories will unite to tell the summer adventure of their lives. Tamar is an amazingly talented but very quiet and insecure girl, who leaves behind her home and all she knows, changing herself unrecognizably -from her looks to her attitude- to brace herself for a dangerous mission to help a loved-one. Asaf, a clumsy, naive, and very shy boy working a boring summer job at City Hall, is given quite a mission himself : to take an uncontrollable stray dog from the pound, put it on a leash, and let it lead him back to its owners to be fined. The more stories Asaf hears about this extraordinary girl, the more he falls for her, and as he and Dinkah continue their journey Asaf becomes aware that Tamar is in grave danger.God with Us
2011-01-01He was born in humble obscurity, yet His family had to flee to save Him from a jealous ruler. He forgave sins, healed the sick and gave hope to the downhearted and oppressed, yet He was despised and rejected by many. He spoke the truth even when it was dangerous to do so. He willingly laid down His life and then rose again, conquering the power of death! It is the dramatic retelling of the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of the last surviving apostle, John. Journey with Jesus and encounter His miracles, His astonishing teaching and His unsurpassed bravery. Discover the power and love of Jesus Christ and see why His followers risked all to carry His message to the ends of the earth.The Visual Bible: Mat...
1993-10-01The only dramatization using the actual scriptures...word for word from the New International Version (NIV). In Israel, then known as Judea of the Roman Empire, Nazarene Jesus Christ travels around the country with His disciples preaching to the people about God and salvation of their souls.Nicholas and Alexandr...
1971-11-29Tsar Nicholas II, the inept last monarch of Russia, insensitive to the needs of his people, is overthrown and exiled to Siberia with his family.Ironclad
2011-03-03In the year 1215, the rebel barons of England have forced their despised King John to put his royal seal on the Magna Carta, a seminal document that upheld the rights of free men. Yet within months of pledging himself to the great charter, the King reneged on his word and assembled a mercenary army on the south coast of England with the intention of bringing the barons and the country back under his tyrannical rule. Barring his way stood the mighty Rochester castle, a place that would become the symbol of the rebel's momentous struggle for justice and freedom.The New Media Bible: ...
1979-01-01A dramatic presentation of the Bible from (New Media Bible), and producer John Heyman. spoken word-for-word from the King James Version by the narrator, as the actors speak in original Aramaic / Hebrew, this feature brings the characters of the New Testament and their world to life. The content follows Scripture entirely with no added commentary or embellishment. As you see the people, places, and events of The Bible come to life, you will gain new understanding and appreciation for Scripture.The Traitor
2009-07-26Tomer and Shmulik are a couple. One evening, during a causal supper, one of them announces he wants to break up. Pain takes over their intimacy and the night takes an unexpected turn.Mother with Us
2022-11-25In the midst of the COVID-19 post-pandemic, an image of Mary Immaculate traveled 10,800 kilometers over six months through much of the country.Saint George the Hero...
1989-01-01The life of St. George the hero prince of martyrdoms and the Saint of all ages