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Rating:  - David and Bathsheba
Henry King and Cecil B DeMille's made Great classic bible movies.
My wife think's I love these movies more than her...
Rating:  - real quality, intelligent script, well realized
This is like a good stage play. The screen writer has created a small masterpiece. Each line reveals some aspect of Israelite culture as well as developing the character and advancing the plot. Not a word is wasted; and the actors, especially Peck, express the script effectively by using restraint. What others have called "stiff" performances are really spare and subtle. It never devolves into the cheap splashy schmaltz of other epics of the era. In the death scene of her child, Hayward never over-emotes, but without even seeing her face, her muffled sobs by the cradle are more moving than over-acting would have been. The score is very good, as are the costumes and sets, but again, all are used with restraint, to serve the story, and not overshadow it. The film respects the script, which in turn respects its source. The understated dialogue and Peck's wonderful face express much; his human imperfection, and his complex attitude toward Hebrew beliefs and Laws, even Israel's relations with other nations, and with Nature itself. A central theme is the dissapointment and cynicism of adulthood and nostalgia for lost innocence. It resolves with a satisfying, if typical, redemptive ending; done with good taste. Watch for the great Gwen Verdon in the dance scene.
Rating: - To know God`s forgiveness
David and Bathsheba is a good movie for people to know God will forgive them of some of the worse sins and to know that all things work together for our good when we love God, like King David found out in the Bible !
Rating:  - Dataed but watchable
This is is a semi-"spectacular" Bible story in a dated Hollywood style. It starts out as a corny love story with stilted acting and very nice sets and costumes. It gets better toward the end where they lay out the difficult matter of justice and whether God will be forgiving of David's murder of Bathsheba's husband.
All in all it is still watchable today, though I think the first half takes special patience. The second half does pick up some but nevertheless may only be of interest if you like to or are willing to ponder matters of sin and forgiveness and are willing to consider that there might actually be some historical meat here in terms of actuality or at least in terms of traditional beliefs. Otherwise consider that this film is pretty dated and the sets and costumes are its most notable features.
The special feature Once in 3000 Years cut off during Peck's meeting with the script writer each time I tried in vain to get it to work and this was annoying. I don't know if this is in the disc or a matter of incompatibility with my player.
Rating: - david and bathsheba
It was a good movie except for the music sound was a litle blurred which I guess is to be expected of old films.
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