David and Bathsheba
David and Bathsheba
PG | 10 August 1951 (USA)
David and Bathsheba Trailers

King David enters into an adulterous affair with the beautiful Bathsheba, which has tragic consequences for his family and Israel.

Reviews
LastingAware The greatest movie ever!
Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
parusia1936 There are some errors in the telling of the story of David and Bethsheba. The first is that David, here played by Gregory Peck, appears in this movie brown or black hair; however in 1 Samuel 16:12 we read: (Reina Valera Gómez) He sent them for him, and did enter; he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and beautiful appearance. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him; he is. Bethsheba normally take bath on a pool. It was not Urias asking King David to be sent ahead of troops, but it was King David who by a command message to put Uriah in the front of the troops in making Raba. There is no mention in the Bible where it is said that the people of Israel asked that Bethsheba was to be stoned to death. Natan the prophet admonishes personally the prophet Nathan to King David for his sin of adultery, saying that his kingdom would be divided and that he would raise opposition to his rule. the movie is sometimes tedious especially in the love scenes, where the lack of chemistry between Gregory Peck Susan Hayward is appreciated. King Vidor is excellent running. photography and costumes are gorgeous. special effects well done. the interpretation of Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward just decent. my punctuation is 6.
Alex Isakov For me, this film is one of the best illustrations of the struggle between good and evil in the human soul. And the main thing in this - the skills of the actors. And so I can not describe this movie without spoilers. The skills of actors is important when you look at how David recalls his youth; how Bathsheba look at woman, who must be killed for adultery; how people see the ark of the covenant; how David choice between law and love; how David and Bathsheba had met for the first time; how David tries to create intrigues against Uriah; how people react to the words of David and high priest. In this film there is not a single superfluous scene or actor. This film is perfect. I did not see another movie, which would be a such powerful reason to reflect on the causes and motivations of my actions.
rooprect Unlike the classic biblical masterpieces of Technicolor days, "The Ten Commandments", "Samson and Delilah", "Sodom and Gomorrah", etc, this biblical film is not about the power and wrath of God. Instead, it's a very intimate story of a man's fall from grace and how he tries to find it again.While it can be approached literally as the story of King David's sins which brought drought, death and pestilence upon Israel, it is truly a secular story of a man who has lost his boyhood innocence. The power of the film rests in Gregory Peck's hypnotizing performance toward the end when, having hit rock bottom, he must answer for his life.Whatever religion you subscribe to, or none at all, this is such a powerful human theme because inevitably we all lose our way. Peck plays King David as a sort of religious skeptic, always investigating the scientific explanation behind supposedly supernatural events. And that diffuses the "biblical" aspect of the film so that we may enjoy it on any level.ABOUT THE PLOT... If you've studied the Bible, then you probably know the story and how it turns out. But if you're totally ignorant of the tale like I was, then I guarantee you'll have a great time. The suspense of not knowing how this volatile situation will play out is breathtaking. With that in mind, I won't say a thing about the plot, and I suggest you avoid any discussion of it. All you need to know is it's about 2 people named David and Bathsheba.About acting, technique and music. Very nice with only 1 minor complaint. In keeping with the times (1951) this can be a melodramatic film, and by that I point the finger at the music. Certain powerful, dramatic scenes are made a little syrupy with the characteristic lush Hollywood symphonic music of the Technicolor age. However, there are a few amazing scenes where Gregory Peck delivers his monologues in absolute silence, with a tight, stationary camera on his face, and those are the aforementioned scenes that are so strong they'll bring a tear to your eye.Directed by Henry King who, despite his masterpieces, never won an academy award in his 50 year career, "David and Bathsheba" is so impressive it makes me want to immediately run to the video store and check out his other films, particularly those he made with his favorite leading man Gregory Peck ("Twelve O'Clock High", "Snows of Kilimanjaro", etc). Susan Hayward did a great job, too. But this is really Peck's film, and King wasn't shy about using Peck to the fullest. Don't hesitate to see this film if you ever get the chance.
Al This film has all the size and grandeur of many of the great biblical epics of the 1950's and '60's. But it is also perhaps the first that really humanizes the biblical characters themselves. This is a unique and compelling balance that helps us to realize that even great figures like King David are flawed people who can find their faith and greatness in facing these very flaws.The actors are all first rate in the film from Gilbert Barnett as David's second son Absolom through to the wonderful Susan Hayward as Bathsheba. Hayward is at her best in this film. Her own larger than life but very truthful style of acting is quite at home on the TV screen as it was when first seen on the wide cinimascope screens of the 1950's. She is the seductress of the piece, but she plays the role in such a way that you sympathize with her.Raymond Massey does a great job as Nathan the prophet. As a child when I first saw the film, Massey seemed like he truly had just conversed with the Lord himself and was an awesome sight. No doubt helped also by the great music composed by the always amazing Alfred Newman who also had great successes in other biblical epics like "The Robe" and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" along with perhaps 100 other films too! The cinema photography by Leon Shamroy is well done and adds to the size but also the intimacy of the film. Henry King, a truly underrated film director who like William Wyler never really pigeon-holed himself into any one genre, pulls together a larger than life production that never loses sight of the love story between David and Bathsheba and David's own deep struggle with his faith in God. The path tread in this film could have been very hokey, but King keeps it real and interesting all the way. Plus we never lose the sense of mystery about trying to understand the will of God, just as David himself is struggling with the same. From the first scene where a soldier dies trying to save the ark from destruction. David is not satisfied with Nathan's answer, (to paraphrase)that no one can understand the will of God. This is the journey we embark on right through to the powerful ending where David is finally confronted with himself.Finally this film belongs to Gregory Peck who is wonderful as King David. His David is a man you can believe could rule a country as King and Warrior but who was also at one time a gentle and faithful singer of psalms. This is one of his best performances.I don't see this movie on television much anymore, but when I do I never fail to watch it. I think it still holds up very well today.