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It is a bit unfair to compare this joint US/Italian memoir production from 1960 with the other blockbusters being produced around this time like “Ben Hur”, and “Cleopatra”, however as a smaller scale anxiety in this genre there is considerable to like about “Esther and the King”. The unhurried 50′s and early 60′s were a swear time for these types of productions when alot of film work was being done in Rome rather than in Hollywood because of the lower costs and tax benefits. While this film is very loosely based on the Old-fashioned Testament book of Esther, it could never be said to adhere to historical fact or chronology and features actors who certainly dont fit the racial groups note in the areas where the epic takes station. Those things aside I aloof judge it a gracious if not spectacular pains that is sincerely played and is blessed with terrific residence photography courtesy of the legendary Mario Bava, beautiful costumes and richly drawn technicolour all wrapped up in terrific cinemascope. Richard Egan, a old-fashioned of 1950′s yarn productions and Joan Collins play the two lead characters in this fable and actually manufacture an appealing team while never for one moment looking like dilapidated Persians. Egan in particular at least visually is very miscast but he does serene manage to add some depth to his character of King Ahasuerus.
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Taking dwelling in the fifth Century BC “Esther and the King”, relates the record of the all conquering King Ahasuerus of Persia who is better known in history as Xerxes, a very notorious name in Persian history. We gaze the gigantic Persian Empire at the peak of its all conquering brilliance with as the narration in the prologue informs us, an empire that stretches from India to Ethiopia. King Ahasuerus has impartial returned from a triumphant campaign in Egypt to fetch not all well with how his kingdom and Palace has been bustle in his absense. He finds he has to contend with the devious ambition of his First Minister Haman, (Sergio Fantoni),who in his absence has been taking the law into his bear hands dispensing his ruthless develop of “justice” without trial. Queen Vashti (Daniela Rocca), has also been busy during his absence conducting a blatant affair with Haman. Only the devotion and wise counsel of his advisor Mordecai (Denis O’Dea), a secret worshiper of Jehovah, can be relied upon in these hazardous times. Long suspecting Queen Vashti of infidelty, Ahasuerus banishes her from his peer however at the welcome home banquet she appears anyway and disgraces herself in front of the king by performing a seductive dance. Haman decides now that Vashti is of no employ to his plans for seizing the throne and has her secretly murdered hoping to site his bear favourite concubine on the throne in her station. However Ahasuerus has other plans and a search is begun for grand candidates for the role of Queen. Meanwhile Mordecai’s neice Esther (Joan Collins), is preparing to marry her sweetheart Simon (Rik Battaglia) who has fair returned from the Egyptian campaign with Ahasuerus. The king’s men however snatch Esther away impartial before the wedding and Simon becomes a hunted man when he puts up resistance to the King’s orders. Esther is taken to the Palace where she is tutored by the head Eunuch in the ways of a potential queen. Haman’s plans to have his have choice chosen by the king however approach to naught as Esther impresses everyone by her humility. Haman sets out to end Esther before the king makes his choice and employes the same hired killer to do away with her like he did Queen Vashti. However a mistake is made and Haman’s candidate is murdered . King Asasuerus is immediately taken by Esther’s beauty and modest bearing and he selects her as his current Queen. Over time Esther begins to feel proper admire for the king and influences him toward better treatment of the jewish minorities within the borders of the Persian Empire. Zigzag on revenge however Haman becomes a unsafe rival for Esther and after deliberatly setting up Mordecai to appear to be a traitor to the King, Ahasuerus sends him away, sets up a policy of the jews having to abandon their faith or be killed and worse calm removes Esther from his glance. Haman at last makes his proceed to gather the throne and attempts to remove the King’s life honest outside the city. Informed by the fugitive Simon about who really tried to ambush him Ahasuerus learns from Haman’s off sider of the actual person responsible and that Esther and Mordecai are innocent of any gross doing. Arriving wait on in the city objective in time to finish Haman from hanging Mordecai for supposed treason Haman himself is captured and hung in his region. After returning from his next campaign Ahasuerus realises how he was totally mislead and when he is greeted by a mild devoted Esther he takes her support into her rightful space as his queen.
“Esther and the King”, makes first and foremost an engaging anecdote of palace intrigue and if you ignore the shaky history applied here, most notably in Ahasuerus’ plans to divulge the young Alexander of Greece a true lesson despite the fact that Alexander the Gigantic wasn’t even born in this period, you are guaranteed delightful viewing. Richard Egan does perform an uncommon choice as the King of Persia with his pleasing complexion and trim shaven face and a considerable better attempt of depicting historically apt Persians was done in another of his efforts “The 300 Spartans” in 1962. Joan Collins despite her enjoy quoted detest of this film concern is refreshingly dependable as the reliable hearted Esther and it is intriguing to examine her in a role where she has a sympathetic character for a change. Her scenes especially with Sergio Fantoni’s villianess Haman do bring the film alive and provide it with some genuine spark. Denis O’Dea as the valid Mordecai also brings a smooth dignity to the proceedings as the secret jew who has the ear and trust of the King and his speeches about tolerance of minorities and their beliefs now has a curiously unique ring to it. Also in the brief role of the disgraced old Queen Vashti Daniela Rocca, a handsome Italian actress also makes the most of her brief scenes as the unfaithful Queen who pays a high heed for her infidelities. The study of “Esther and the King”, is what you would question of venerable of these older anecdote productions. It boasts some very attractive position photography in the ruins unprejudiced outside Rome which stand in for veteran Persia and the interior sets are suitably lavish with Ahasuerus’ harem in particular being marvellously opulent and garish. The main palace sets have an piquant mix of Babylonian and Persian designs that were lifted from used historical texts by the designers and the luminous colour photography also greatly enhances the gape and feel of “Esther and the King”, making it a honorable addition to the “epic’ stable of films.
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Directed, produced and partly written by Hollywood extinct Raoul Walsh it marked one of the last film efforts by this legendary Hollywood identity before he retired. For a scramble wait on to veteran style movie making on a lavish scale “Esther and the King”, is a proper if not spacious example of the unusual collaboration between Italian and American filmmakers in the early 1960′s. The films underlying message despite its mishandling of historical fact is composed a relevant one however and the earnest performances do this film a respectable addition to any myth movie lovers collection.
Contentwise, I won’t toss darts OR roses. This is genre stuff. You either like it or you don’t. My beef is with the technical quality. It is imperfect. (1) It is NOT in widescreen (Cinemascope), which it ought to be for a biblical spectacular. There is simply no excuse for cranking out a full-screen treatment in a DVD issued in the year 2000. (2) The so-called “digital remastering” must be kitchen-table grade, because the shapes are fuzzy, colors oversaturated, visuals mushy. This DVD should be withdrawn from the market and a current widescreen version substituted. I win better quality from my VHS of this movie than the DVD I purchased. Lousy lousy lousy, as I said.
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