Salome (1953 film)

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Salome
Original film poster
Directed by	William Dieterle
Produced by	Buddy Adler, Rita Hayworth,
Written by	Jesse Lasky Jr. (story) Harry Kleiner (story)
Starring	Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton
Music by	Daniele Amfitheatrof, George Duning
Cinematography	Charles Lang
Editing by	Viola Lawrence
Release date(s)	1953
Running time	103 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

This article is about the 1953 film. For other uses see Salome (disambiguation)

Salome is a 1953 Biblical epic film made by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by William Dieterle and produced by Buddy Adler and Rita Hayworth from a screenplay by Harry Kleiner and Jesse Lasky Jr. The music score was by George Duning, the dance music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and the cinematography by Charles Lang.

The film starred Rita Hayworth as Salome, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton and Judith Anderson with Cedric Hardwicke, Alan Badel and Basil Sydney.

[edit] Plot

Although based on the New Testament story, the film does not follow the biblical story.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The prophet, John the Baptist (Alan Badel), speaks openly of the depraved lives led by King Herod (Charles Laughton) and Queen Herodias (Judith Anderson) of Galilee. The queen wants him killed for his outspokenness, but the superstitious king keeps him alive because he believes John the Baptist is the Messiah, and fears a prophecy stating that if a king of the house of Herod does harm to the Messiah, he will die an agonizing death. Elsewhere, in Rome, Herodias' daughter, Princess Salome (Rita Hayworth), has fallen in love with Marcellus Fabius (Rex Reason). His uncle is the emperor Tiberius Caesar (Sir Cedric Hardwicke). To prevent his nephew from marrying Salome, a "barbarian" from Galilee, she is banished from Rome, where she had lived since childhood and sent back to Galilee. She develops a hatred for all Romans. On board the ship bound for Galilee is Commander Claudius (Stewart Granger). Because of her aversion to Romans, she rejects his advances, keeping him at a distance. Once she has arrived at the palace, Herod openly shows interest in his beautiful daughter-in-law. Having witnessed this, Herodias plots to use Salome to entice the king into ordering the death of John the Baptist. Sensing her mother's fear of the prophet, she goes into town to hear what he says of her. Under pressure to keep John the Baptist from speaking against the house of Herod, the king has him arrested. Claudius does all he can to have him released but nothing can be done.

Meanwhile, Salome realizes that John the Baptist speaks the truth about her mother when Herodias asks her to dance for the king to persuade him to kill the prophet, even though dancing for him will make Salome become his possession. Salome now wants to leave Galilee with Claudius, whom she has come to love. But first, she must persuade Herod to release John the Baptist. She realizes there is only one way - she must dance for him, and in return request John the Baptist's release. Salome does her infamous "Dance of the Seven Veils", and Herod is prepared to give her anything she desires. During the dance, Herodias tells Herod that Salome's request is for the head of John the Baptist. The task is carried out, and the head presented to the horrified Salome on a silver platter. The king and queen are left to face the doom that was prophesied for them, while Salome and Claudius flee Galilee to follow Jesus Christ.