- Actors: Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida, George Sanders, Marisa Pavan, David Farrar
- Directors: King Vidor
- Writers: Anthony Veiller, Crane Wilbur, George Bruce, Paul Dudley
- Producers: Ted Richmond, Tyrone Power
- Format: Colour, Full Screen, Widescreen, HiFi Sound, PAL
- Language English
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- VHS Release Date: 11 Mar 1996
- Run Time: 139 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CRRG
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 9,248 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Another large-scale film rendition from the biblical epic genre! Typical "Hollywood style" of finding "love story" themes from biblical narratives, which always creates an impact! For this film, MGM first employed Tyrone Power for the part of Solomon but during initial filming Tyrone Power died and amazing epic actor Yul Brynner (Rameses in TEN COMMANDMENTS) replaced him. The "battle scenes" were so magnificently filmed in cinemascope that the film authorities kept Power in particular scenes where he could not be recognized in spite of the fact that Brynner took the lead role. The great epic actor Finlay Currie (who played Balthasar in Ben Hur) issues a magnificent portrayal of King David while David Farrar does a good job with playing Pharaoh, king of Egypt. The same problems of human nature where brother fights against brother is clearly seen in the character of Solomon's brother Adonijah stunningly played by British actor George Sanders. This particular UK video release of this classic is a "must see" for it captures both the original cinematic technique of the use of camera 70 and stereophonic sound. The UK PAL version is better than the NTSC.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I must say that this film was a very pleasant surprise. It was released in 1959 when biblical epics were at their zenith. Starring Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida, George Sanders, and Marisa Pavan, this film is not lacking in star power. It is a lush, compelling story.
The film details the rivalry between Solomon (Yul Brynner) and his older brother, Adonijah (George Sands), the warrior. It was a rivalry that grew out of the fact that Adonijah was passed over for succession to their father David's throne upon his death. It was Solomon who was chosen to rule Israel. This was to cause a rift in their relationship that would be irreparable.
The film also details the love affair between the beautiful Queen of Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) and Solomon, wise in all things except love. It shows how an affair that started out as a political maneuver on the part of the Queen of Sheba would turn into a selfless, passionate love of the heart. It was a love that would almost rend a nation asunder.
Yul Brenner, as the viewer has probably never seen him (with a head of hair), is excellent as the idealistic and tolerant ruler. Gina Lollobrigida turned out to be a much better actress than I had imagined. She is sensational as the beautiful, exotic, voluptuous Queen of Sheba. She also has a figure that must have been the envy of every woman at one time. It is a perfect hourglass figure that shows off her striking and seductive costumes to perfection.
George Sands is compelling as the envious Adonijah, who sought to take what was not his by any means, fair or foul. His desire for the throne would compromise the very existence of Israel and lead to a climactic finale. Moreover, his hatred for the Queen of Sheba was as great as that of his hatred for his brother. This wellspring of emotion was to have great repercussions for all.
Despite a pagan orgy scene that is so over the top as to be laughable, this is a spectacular biblical epic that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Solomon and Sheba is a film more famous for original star Tyrone Power's death two-thirds of the way through shooting than for anything it achieved once the cameras started rolling again with Yul Brynner in the role (having shot most of the big exteriors, there simply wasn't enough footage of Power in the key scenes with Gina Lollabrigida's Sheba to cut together into a feature).
From the few extracts that have emerged of Tyrone Power's footage this could have been a contender, but after his fatal heart attack filming the final swordfight with long-time co-star George Sanders, unpopular replacement Yul Brynner had the script rewritten to replace Power's doubting warrior king with a more confident and less interesting typical movie hero. There's a huge element of half-heartedness to much of the film that doesn't help matters, much of it no doubt due to reshooting so much of the film again, but it's doubtful this would ever have been more than big-budget hokum. The result is one of those films like Blood Alley (which saw Robert Mitchum controversially replaced by John Wayne days into filming), where the story of what happened behind the screen is much more interesting than the one on it.
Unlike the atrocious Taiwanese DVD, the UK PAL DVD boasts a good 2.35:1 widescreen transfer and includes the original theatrical trailer, which does offer a brief glimpse of Power swinging a sword from his chariot in a battle scene, though it would have been nice to see some more of the surviving Power footage as well.
From the few extracts that have emerged of Tyrone Power's footage this could have been a contender, but after his fatal heart attack filming the final swordfight with long-time co-star George Sanders, unpopular replacement Yul Brynner had the script rewritten to replace Power's doubting warrior king with a more confident and less interesting typical movie hero. There's a huge element of half-heartedness to much of the film that doesn't help matters, much of it no doubt due to reshooting so much of the film again, but it's doubtful this would ever have been more than big-budget hokum. The result is one of those films like Blood Alley (which saw Robert Mitchum controversially replaced by John Wayne days into filming), where the story of what happened behind the screen is much more interesting than the one on it.
Unlike the atrocious Taiwanese DVD, the UK PAL DVD boasts a good 2.35:1 widescreen transfer and includes the original theatrical trailer, which does offer a brief glimpse of Power swinging a sword from his chariot in a battle scene, though it would have been nice to see some more of the surviving Power footage as well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Massive Dose of "Cheese"
I bought this film as I was doing a University course on films portraying the Ancient World in the Golden Age of cinema, and this was on the compulsory viewing list. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Miss R. Somers
Solomon and Sheba
Solomon and Sheba is one of those films to which I have a love and hate relationship with. Let me start with the negatives first. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Andrew Whitby
enjoyable
I enjoyed watching this film again after many years. I think that the history is a bit 'iffy' but for it's age was well directed and acted.
Published 6 months ago by marnei
Yul
Yul Brynner was my idol during my teenage years & I went to see all his films. This one I particularly loved and I envied Gina Lollobrigida and her beauty. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mooestone
You need a sense of humour
Being a fan of old films and both Yule Bryner and George Sanders I thought I was in for a treat. Sadly this was not the case, George Sanders looked desperatly ill and seemed... Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by J P M
AN EPIC OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS...
Film expensive, and no Hollywood on the Tiber, but was shot in Hollywood with the outdoor scenes in Mexico. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by Massimo Santilli
GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA--A BEAUTIFUL AND SEXY QUEEN OF SHEBA.
SOLOMON AND SHEBA is a great colourful Historical Epic,with some really brilliantly filmed action/battle scenes. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2009 by Mr. W. J. Wright
Soloman & Sheba
A brilliant movie, which I bought as a gift, having bought one for myself some time ago. I could not believe how fast the service was. The speed was absolutely unbelievable. Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2009 by GinaJ
no show zero out of ten
this along with two other dvds were ordered and i was advised they were posted to me. these were presents for birthdays, which came and went. Read more
Published on 7 April 2009 by C. Elliott
Superior Biblical Epic
First off, this was not made by MGM (it's a United Artists film) and Tyrone Power cannot be scene in the battle
sequences. He is only visible in one shot of the trailer. Read more
sequences. He is only visible in one shot of the trailer. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2007 by Gary A. Smith
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