Salome (1953, Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger)

Published

6 years ago

September 20, 2018

With Salome Columbia’s Harry Cohn wanted to make a Biblical epic to rival such movies as Cecil B deMille’s Samson And Delilah: and director William Dieterle delivered the spectacular results, even if he does take something of a liberty with the original text!

Salome (Rita Hayworth) spends her childhood in Rome but is banished to Galilee by emperor Caesar Tiberius (Cedric Hardwicke) because she has unwisely fallen for his nephew. Governor Pontius Pilate (Basil Sydney) and his dashing aide Claudius (Stewart Granger) escort her back to her step-father, King Herod (Charles Laughton). Claudius, commander of the legions in Galilee, is a secret disciple of John the Baptist (Alan Badel).

Herod and his queen Herodias (Judith Anderson) fear John the Baptist, who is stirring up discontent with his preaching, and bring him to the palace to try and imprison him.

Claudius is now in love with Salome who, in turn has been moved by John, but he is unable to get Pilate to help the preacher. And Salome agrees to perform her Dance of the Seven Veils in public in exchange for the sparing of John the Baptist’s life…

production details
USA | Columbia | 103 minutes | 1953

Director: William Dieterle
Writer: Harry Kleiner, from his and Jesse Lasky Jr’s story

cast
Rita Hayworth as Princess Salome
Charles Laughton as King Herod
Cedric Hardwicke as Tiberius Caesar
Basil Sydney as Pontius Pilate
Stewart Granger as Commander Claudius
Alan Badel as John the Baptist
Judith Anderson as Queen Herodias
Maurice Schwartz as Ezra the King’s Advisor
Karl ‘Killer’ Davis as Slave Master

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Alastair James

Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.