Ancient Rome had built up a huge power as the B.C. era came to an end. Egypt, under Cleopatra, fell under Octavian Caesar's power, and smaller nations trembled as well as the once great Judean nation. "God's chosen people" didn't seem so chosen under Herodian rule, and even the promise of the birth of their savior couldn't save them under imperialistic Rome.
But in spite of the fact that this is about King Herod during the time of the birth of Christ, this is not a biblical epic, just a low budget sword and sandal retelling of the life of the Judean king. The biblical story is only dealt with briefly. Like other sagas of ancient kingdoms, this deals mostly with the struggles of the king to maintain his power and destroy all those out to betray him, or those whom he thinks are out to betray him.
Edmund Purdom is the only actor worth mentioning in this cheaply made epic that is cheaply filmed, badly dubbed and often pathetically slow moving. Herod seems a just ruler as he goes to Rome and deal with the aftermath of war. His wife's manipulative mother (a former Hebrew king's daughter) prematurely announces her son in law's death so she can put her own young son on the throne. This leads Herod's wife open to another man's arms and Herod's vowing of revenge as he returns from Rome three times as ruthless as he was before. Herod's evil son from a first marriage causes all sorts of issues, leading to the decline in the king's rational.
Most of the pivotal roles are played by actors who do not at all appear to be middle eastern. While sets and costumes seem accurate, the film as a whole fails miserably. Elements of the plot seem to match the not yet opened Broadway musical "Camelot" with Herod certainly no King Arthur, his wife and the man whom Herod thinks she's cheating on with him no Guenevere and Lancelot, the mother-in-law no Morgan Le Fey and the evil son no Mordred. Nobody in this ancient Judea would sing, "Don't let it be forgot." Purdom chews up the set with delight in the strange conclusion. This is definitely the lion in winter of Herod's discontent.
But in spite of the fact that this is about King Herod during the time of the birth of Christ, this is not a biblical epic, just a low budget sword and sandal retelling of the life of the Judean king. The biblical story is only dealt with briefly. Like other sagas of ancient kingdoms, this deals mostly with the struggles of the king to maintain his power and destroy all those out to betray him, or those whom he thinks are out to betray him.
Edmund Purdom is the only actor worth mentioning in this cheaply made epic that is cheaply filmed, badly dubbed and often pathetically slow moving. Herod seems a just ruler as he goes to Rome and deal with the aftermath of war. His wife's manipulative mother (a former Hebrew king's daughter) prematurely announces her son in law's death so she can put her own young son on the throne. This leads Herod's wife open to another man's arms and Herod's vowing of revenge as he returns from Rome three times as ruthless as he was before. Herod's evil son from a first marriage causes all sorts of issues, leading to the decline in the king's rational.
Most of the pivotal roles are played by actors who do not at all appear to be middle eastern. While sets and costumes seem accurate, the film as a whole fails miserably. Elements of the plot seem to match the not yet opened Broadway musical "Camelot" with Herod certainly no King Arthur, his wife and the man whom Herod thinks she's cheating on with him no Guenevere and Lancelot, the mother-in-law no Morgan Le Fey and the evil son no Mordred. Nobody in this ancient Judea would sing, "Don't let it be forgot." Purdom chews up the set with delight in the strange conclusion. This is definitely the lion in winter of Herod's discontent.