David & Bathsheba (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Going into 'David & Bathsheba' (directed by Henry King), I didn't know what to expect. It's a biblical epic from 1951 that stars Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward, received mediocre reviews (at the time), but was popular at the box office, and was well-respected by the movie industry (5 Academy Award nominations) -- that's all I knew about it. What I did not expect was how good it is. The directing, writing, acting, visuals ... all impressive; and all impressive in a very intimate, introspective, non-epic way. I did not expect that. I expected bigness, bloat, broad themes, and sword-&-sandal hokum. This film is actually far from that.
The story is that of King David of Israel (Peck), a war hero of long standing & much beloved by his loyal subjects, who commits adultery after having fallen in love with Bathsheba (Hayward), the unloved wife of Uriah (Kieron Moore), one of King David's trusted soldiers. Though he had all the power, wealth, wives, & children one could desire, David did not have the true love of a woman who loves him as a 'Man' instead of 'King' -- that would be Bathsheba. King David's downfall begins when he orders Uriah into a suicidal battle, knowing that this will pave the way for a marriage with Bathsheba (who was already pregnant with his child!). David's obsession/infatuation with Bathsheba leads him to neglect his increasingly impoverished kingdom, and this invokes the wrath of God (famine, drought, etc.). Only after his land has been ravished by God's hand, after an uprising from his people, and after the prophet Nathan (Raymond Massey) comes to have Bathsheba stoned to death for her sins does David come off of his high horse, rediscover his faith in God, & atone for his sins. But will he be forgiven?
Henry King handles this powerful Old Testament story with skill. He paints a portrait of a mighty leader nearly destroyed by passion. We see his free fall into sin. And we see his longing for restoration of faith & hope. Gregory Peck plays David as an arrogant, tormented man whose lust outweighed his integrity. But Peck also makes him very compassionate in the end. And man, is his magnificent baritone voice suited to a role like this. Susan Hayward is solid as Bathsheba, a sensitive woman who laments that each disaster befalling the kingdom could be the direct result of her sins. She & Peck were at the peak of their talents & physicality (ages 34 & 33). They have pretty great chemistry, too. And as Nathan the Prophet, Raymond Massey's powerful condemnation of David made me feel his frustration.
The best moments of the film include: God killing a young soldier who tries to touch the sacred Ark of the Covenant en route to its permanent home; David's confession of his sins to God & his acceptance of the punishment of death if the Ark takes his life as it did the young soldier; and the film's climax, in which we see an intriguing flashback of young David battling the giant Goliath. 'David & Bathsheba' also includes hallmarks of those 1950s biblical epics: a suitably exotic atmosphere, superb Technicolor cinematography, believable sets, ornate (but not ostentatious) costumes, & masterful music from Alfred Newman.
As mentioned in my 1st paragraph, 'David & Bathsheba' is surprisingly ... small. It doesn't have the monumentality of 1956's The Ten Commandments or imperial majesty of 1959's Ben Hur. It's a quieter drama about hypocrisy, adultery, redemption, & forgiveness. I like that 'D&B' doesn't beat us over the head with its religious-ness. i.e., when David touches the Ark & survives, God either spared him, OR the Ark could have been just a powerless wooden box (the earlier soldier could have from natural causes). And when the rain that falls at the end, it could be God OR just a natural storm. Interesting stuff. And so, while 'David & Bathsheba' contains some stodgy scenes here & there, it is also a highly respectable, emotionally satisfying cinematic adaptation of an integral Old Testament story.
The story is that of King David of Israel (Peck), a war hero of long standing & much beloved by his loyal subjects, who commits adultery after having fallen in love with Bathsheba (Hayward), the unloved wife of Uriah (Kieron Moore), one of King David's trusted soldiers. Though he had all the power, wealth, wives, & children one could desire, David did not have the true love of a woman who loves him as a 'Man' instead of 'King' -- that would be Bathsheba. King David's downfall begins when he orders Uriah into a suicidal battle, knowing that this will pave the way for a marriage with Bathsheba (who was already pregnant with his child!). David's obsession/infatuation with Bathsheba leads him to neglect his increasingly impoverished kingdom, and this invokes the wrath of God (famine, drought, etc.). Only after his land has been ravished by God's hand, after an uprising from his people, and after the prophet Nathan (Raymond Massey) comes to have Bathsheba stoned to death for her sins does David come off of his high horse, rediscover his faith in God, & atone for his sins. But will he be forgiven?
Henry King handles this powerful Old Testament story with skill. He paints a portrait of a mighty leader nearly destroyed by passion. We see his free fall into sin. And we see his longing for restoration of faith & hope. Gregory Peck plays David as an arrogant, tormented man whose lust outweighed his integrity. But Peck also makes him very compassionate in the end. And man, is his magnificent baritone voice suited to a role like this. Susan Hayward is solid as Bathsheba, a sensitive woman who laments that each disaster befalling the kingdom could be the direct result of her sins. She & Peck were at the peak of their talents & physicality (ages 34 & 33). They have pretty great chemistry, too. And as Nathan the Prophet, Raymond Massey's powerful condemnation of David made me feel his frustration.
The best moments of the film include: God killing a young soldier who tries to touch the sacred Ark of the Covenant en route to its permanent home; David's confession of his sins to God & his acceptance of the punishment of death if the Ark takes his life as it did the young soldier; and the film's climax, in which we see an intriguing flashback of young David battling the giant Goliath. 'David & Bathsheba' also includes hallmarks of those 1950s biblical epics: a suitably exotic atmosphere, superb Technicolor cinematography, believable sets, ornate (but not ostentatious) costumes, & masterful music from Alfred Newman.
As mentioned in my 1st paragraph, 'David & Bathsheba' is surprisingly ... small. It doesn't have the monumentality of 1956's The Ten Commandments or imperial majesty of 1959's Ben Hur. It's a quieter drama about hypocrisy, adultery, redemption, & forgiveness. I like that 'D&B' doesn't beat us over the head with its religious-ness. i.e., when David touches the Ark & survives, God either spared him, OR the Ark could have been just a powerless wooden box (the earlier soldier could have from natural causes). And when the rain that falls at the end, it could be God OR just a natural storm. Interesting stuff. And so, while 'David & Bathsheba' contains some stodgy scenes here & there, it is also a highly respectable, emotionally satisfying cinematic adaptation of an integral Old Testament story.