Salome (1953 film)

Salome 1953 is a Biblical epic film made in Technicolor by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by William Dieterle and produced by Buddy Adler 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. Hayworths costumes by Jean Louis. Hayworths dances for this film were choreographed by Valerie Bettis. This film was the last produced by Hayworths production company, the Beckworth Corporation.

Although based on the New Testament story, the film does not follow the biblical text. In Galilee, during the rule of Romes Tiberius Caesar, King Herod Charles Laughton and Queen Herodias Judith Anderson sit on the throne and are condemned by a prophet known as John the Baptist Alan Badel. Herodias resents Johns denunciation of her marriage to the king, her former husbands brother, and the Baptists claim that she is an adulteress. The king is not pleased with the Baptist condemning his rule, but fears a slow and agonizing death that his father, the elder Herod, suffered after ordering the murder of firstborn males when Jesus was born. The prophecy states that if Herod kills the Messiah, he will suffer and die. The king believes John the Baptist is the Messiah because of the mistaken belief of some peasants.After petitioning Caesar to marry Salome, Marcellus nephew of Caesar receives a message stating that he is forbidden to marry a barbarian. Salome is also sent a message that she is banished from Rome and will be escorted back to Galilee, despite having lived in Rome most of her life. When Marcellus does nothing to protest Caesars decree, she declares that she shall never love another Roman. ........

Source: Wikipedia