Herod the Great
Herod the Great

Movie spotlight

Herod the Great

1959
Movie
93 min
Italian

Angry at his wife and defeated in battle, the king of Judea is taken prisoner. After being spared by the Romans, King Herod comes to believe he's been a victim of court plotting.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Director: Edmund GouldingGenres: Drama, History

Plot Summary

This historical drama chronicles the life of Herod the Great, the Roman client king of Judea. The film depicts his complex reign, marked by political intrigue, ambitious building projects, and his relationships with various influential figures. It explores the challenges he faced in maintaining power amidst Roman influence and internal dissent.

Critical Reception

As a lower-budget historical epic from the late 1950s, 'Herod the Great' received a generally modest reception. While it aimed to portray a significant historical figure, critical commentary often focused on its straightforward narrative and production values. Audience reception was likely mixed, appealing to those interested in biblical and ancient history epics of the era.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film offers a competent, if somewhat uninspired, depiction of Herod's reign.

  • Production values are adequate for its time but lack the grandeur of larger epics.

  • The performances are serviceable, but the script often keeps the characters at an emotional distance.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for 'Herod the Great' (1959) is not readily available.

Fun Fact

The film was an Italian-French co-production, filmed in Yugoslavia (present-day Croatia) to take advantage of its scenic landscapes and lower production costs.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This has all the makings of a great story - the legendary Herod the Great, a twist of Anthony and Cleopatra and some good, old fashioned, court intrigue... What we get, however, is a poorly constructed sword and sandals offering featuring s...