Le roi cruel

The biblical story of the Herod, King of Judea. Herod is captured by the Pagan Romans and held prisoner. Herod's lieutenant, Aaron, believes that he is dead. Aaron had orders from Herod to kill the Queen when he dies, but Aaron could not do it and brought her into the desert to hid her. Herod pleas to Augustus enough that Herod was able to go back to his palace. When Herod arrives, he is told by his son, Antipater, that Aaron has betrayed him and the Queen is still alive. Now Herod must find his wife and face her pursuers.

It's an alright film. One of the better movies in the Warriors 50-pack by Mill Creek. Herod was a person that really lived and there is plenty of proof of that. So in it's way, the film is a History and Biographical film as well as being a Bible Story.

I will say it again, I do not rate these types of films based on how accurate to history they are or how true they are or not. I base my ratings on how well entertained I was by the film.

4.5/10

This has all the makings of a great story - the legendary Herod the Great, a twist of Anthony and Cleopatra and some good, old fashioned, court intrigue... What we get, however, is a poorly constructed sword and sandals offering featuring some rather poor performances from Edmund Purdom in the title role and Sylvia Lopez as his Queen "Mariam". It's actually fairly accurate - historically speaking - but the execution is so haphazard and lacklustre that it soon becomes quite an effort to watch, and it's equivalent of the 'Dance of the 7 Veils" is a distinctly wooden effort. The staging and costumes are efficient, and had the cast and writing been just a little stronger then this could have been good... but it wasn't/isn't.

The story is about King Herod and his love for his Queen Mariam.

It has been a while since I read Josephus and his account of Herod, but I will assume the movie follows Josephus' storyline to some degree. In the last ten minutes, a little subplot taken from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew is added. In it Herod orders the killing of a brat born in Bethlehem. Oddly, according to the movie, King Herod only ordered the killing of the new born babies because he was so distaught that Mariam did not love him anymore.

There are some nice sets and costumes, but nothing really spectacular here. There are no real battles or sword fights, so action fans should stay away. This is a small cast with only a few dozen extras. It has more of an intimate stage play rather than an epic quality feeling.

The real reason to watch is the acting. Edmund Purdom is actually quite good as Herod. You actually do feel sorry for Herod at moments. Sylvia Lopez is extraordinary as Mariam. This and "Hercules Unchained" are basically the only known widely released movies she was in during her short three year movie career. If she had not died at 28, she might have been one of the great stars of the 60's. She kind of reminds me of Diane Cilento. She's more sexy than beautiful and she really dominates the screen. One can easily see why she drives Herod crazy.

If you're interested in 1st century B.C.E. Judean history, the movie is worth a look. Also if you want to see a beautiful young actress who died at the door to stardom in 1959, you should check it out.

This Biblic Peplum deals about all the passion and power in the pagan court of history's mad and lustful king . There Herod (Edmund Purdom) , King of Judea , married to Miriam (Sylvia Lopez) and happens dramatic happenings . It is set in Jerusalen , after battle of Actium when is defeated Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra , being victorious Octavius Augustus (Massimo Giroti) . Herodes who supported Antonius is taken prisoner by the Romans . Convinced Herod is dead , his faithful official named Aaron (Alberto Lupo) , is nevertheless unable to keep his swearing to murder the Queen if something untoward happened to the ruler . Herod's pleas to Augustus are successful and he goes back to his famous palace . His son , Antipater or Herod Antipas (Corrado Pani) , tells Herod that Aaron has double-crossed him . Then , Herod turned a madman who killed his own family and a great many lieutenants ; later on , King Herod ordered the killing of the new born babies , taking place the known massacre of innocents and appearance the holy star of Belen where was born Jesus .

This epic Italian movie packs drama , thrills , marvelous scenarios and hokey historical events . Nice production design and enjoyable gowns , but little action . Mediocre interpretations headed by Edmund Purdom , an American actor who emigrated Italy and played several historical and Sword and Sandal movies such as Sinuhe the Egyptian , The prodigal , Salambo , Nefertiti, Regina Del Nilo ; and of course Sylvia Lopez , a gorgeous actress who early died at age 26 by cancer illness . Furthermore , the Italian sex-symbol Sandra Milo along with other actors usual of Peplum as Alberto Lupo , Corrado Pani , Renato Baldini , Enzo Fiermonti and Massimo Giroti , Terence Hill 's father . Evocative as well as colorful cinematography by prestigious cameraman Massimo Dallamano , also a filmmaker . Atmospheric musical score by Carlo Savina , Pepum and Spaghetti's ordinary . The motion picture was professionally directed by Viktor Tourjansky , though with no originality . He was a Russian film director who emigrated after the communist revolution of 1917, and worked in several countries , and mostly in Italy . Tourjansky directed period epic films, such as Le Triomphe Michel Strogoff 1961 , Prisoner of the Volga (1959), The Cossacks (1960), The pharaoh's woman (1960) , The Venus of Cheronea (1957) , some of which were considered among his better works. During the 1950s and 1960s he was wintering in Italy and worked there as producer and writer under the artistic name Arnaldo Genoino.

The picture is partially based on historical deeds , these are the followings : Herod , also known as Herod the Great (born 73 or 74 BC, died 4 BC in Jericho , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis. He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (sometimes referred to as Herod's Temple) and the construction of the port at Caesarea Maritima. Important details of his biography are gleaned from the works of the 1st century AD Roman-Jewish historian Josephus Flavius. The Romans made Herod's son Herod Archelaus ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea from 4 BC to 6 AD, referred to as the Tetrarchy of Judea. Archelaus was judged incompetent by the Roman emperor Augustus who then combined Samaria, Judea proper and Idumea into Iudaea province under rule of a prefect until 41. Herod's other son Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Galilee from 4 BC–39 AD.

As with almost every Sword and Sandals movie, you get some historical thing or figure and than the movie runs with it. In this case it does not take it and runs completely away with it, which has been the case before. No it does stay in a timeline that is quite close to History.

Having said that, do not take anything that happens at face value. This is her to entertain and while the 60s proved to be filled even more with Sword and Sandals in Italy, this has the formula/bluepring down