Solomon and Sheba
Solomon and Sheba is a 1959 American epic historical romance film directed by King Vidor, shot in Technirama color by Technicolor, and distributed by United Artists. It stars Yul Brynner as Solomon and Gina Lollobrigida as Sheba and features George Sanders as Adonijah, Marisa Pavan as Abishag, and David Farrar as the Pharaoh. The film is a dramatization of events depicted in The Bible the tenth chapter of the First Kings and the ninth chapter of Second Chronicles. The screenplay by Anthony Veiller, Paul Dudley, and George Bruce, was based on a story by Crane Wilbur.
Under the rule of King David, Israel is united and prosperous, although surrounded by enemies, including Egypt and its allies. The ageing King favours Solomon to succeed him, but his elder brother Adonijah George Sanders, a warrior, declares himself King. When David learns of this, he publicly announces Solomon to be his successor. Adonijah and Joab, his general, withdraw in rage, but Solomon later offers his brother the command of the army, knowing that it may be used against him.Israel continues to prosper under Solomons rule. The Queen of Sheba Gina Lollobrigida conspires with the Egyptian Pharaoh to undermine Solomons rule by seducing him and introducing Sheban pagan worship into Jerusalem. Solomon is indeed bewitched by her, and the two begin living together under the pretense of forming an alliance between their two kingdoms. The kings reputation is damaged, but at the same time Sheba begins to truly fall in love with him and regret her plotting. Things come to a head when Solomon recklessly allows a Sheban love festival in fact an orgy in celebration of a pagan goddess to be held within Israel. In an act of divine retribution, lightning from heaven destroys the Sheban altar and damages the newly built Temple in Jerusalem, and the land is beset with a famine. Solomon is publicly rebuked by the people the High Priest and Nathan the Prophet disown him. ........
Source: Wikipedia
