Esther and the King ** (1960, Joan Collins, Richard Egan, Denis O’Dea) – Classic Movie Review 12,512

Joan Collins in 1952.

Raoul Walsh’s American-Italian 1960 biblical epic film Esther and the King stars Joan Collins, no less, as the Jewish heroine Esther, who marries the recently widowed Persian King Ahasuerus (Richard Egan) to help her people under Persia’s anti-Semitic rule in the fifth century BC.

Ahasuerus pairs up with Esther to defeat the campaign of hatred against the Jews by the king’s evil minister Haman (Sergio Fantoni).

This international co-production, made in Italy by the Italian film production company Galatea Film and America’s 20th Century Fox, for release by 20th Century Fox company, is strong on spectacle thanks to Walsh’s robust directorial style and cinematographer Mario Bava’s exciting images in CinemaScope and Technicolor.

However, the wan, unconvincing performances (Denis O’Dea as Mordecai!) and turgid script cut no ice whatever, though, through what should be a rousing story. Check the Bible for authenticity!

Also in the cast are Sergio Fantoni, Rik Battaglia, Renato Baldini, Gabriele Tinti, Rosalba Neri, Walter Williams [Robert Buchanan], Daniela Rocca, and Folco Lulli.

The screenplay by Raoul Walsh and Michael Elkins is based on the Book of Esther of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, recounting the origin of the Jewish celebration of Purim.

Mario Bava, credited as a co-director on Italian prints, went on to be one of Italy’s foremost horror directors.

Esther and the King premiered in New York City at the RKO Palace Theatre on 18 November 1960 and was released in the US on 14 December  1960. It was considered a hit film of the year.

Joan Collins went on to gain fame and some fortune as Alexis Carrington on Dynasty (1981) and enjoy a long and happy life.

Collins went under contract to 20th Century Fox in 1955 when she starred in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, The Virgin Queen and Land of the Pharaohs, followed by The Opposite Sex (1956), Sea Wife (1957) and The Wayward Bus (1957). She was released on request from her contract with 20th Century Fox after starring Esther and the King.

Joan Collins turned 90 on 23 May 2023.

Dame Joan Henrietta Collins DBE (born 23 May 1933).

The cast are Joan Collins as Esther, Richard Egan as Ahasuerus, King of Persia, Denis O’Dea as Mordecai, Sergio Fantoni as Haman, Rik Battaglia as Simon, Renato Baldini as Klydrathes, Gabriele Tinti as Samuel, Rosalba Neri as Zeresh, Walter Williams [Robert Buchanan] as Hegai, Daniela Rocca as Vashti, and Folco Lulli as Tobiah.

The Book of Esther is a book in the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and later became part of the Old Testament. The book relates the story of a Jewish woman in Persia, born as Hadassah but known as Esther, who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a genocide of her people. The Book of Esther is set in the Persian capital of Susa in the third year of the reign of the Persian king Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus is usually identified as Xerxes I, who ruled between 486 and 465 BCE, If so, the events described in Esther took place from around 483–482 BCE to March 473 BCE.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,512

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