The Big Fisherman
The Big Fisherman | |
---|---|
A.S.C. | |
Edited by | Paul Weatherwax, A.C.E. |
Music by | Albert Hay Malotte |
Production companies | Centurion Films, Inc. Rowland V. Lee Production |
Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date | August 4, 1959 (US) |
Running time | 180 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $4 million[1] |
Box office | $3 million (US/Canada rentals)[2] |
The Big Fisherman is a 1959 American historical drama film directed by
The Robe ends with "the Big Fisherman" as a nickname for Peter;[3] Jesus called him "the fisher of men" and "the Rock".
Plot
The story traces Peter's journey from self-sufficient fisherman to his dependency on a risen Christ. It also presents another story of redemption and forgiveness, as he takes in a young Arab/Jewish girl, Fara. As they both learn of Jesus, it changes their lives.
The young Fara discovers that she is the daughter of Herod Antipas who married and shortly discarded her Arab mother in favor of Herodias. Disguised as a boy, Fara goes to Galilee to assassinate Herod in revenge.
Robbed by bandits, Fara is discovered by John the Baptist who advises her to listen to the great teacher, Jesus. She comes under the protection of Peter but vows to kill Herod. She manages to be employed in Herod's household to translate a series of prophecies.
Fara and Peter hear Jesus teaching. Fara turns away when he urges nonviolence. Peter is initially cynical, but in stages is drawn to become his disciple.
Fara gains an opportunity to kill Herod, and reveals her identity to him. As Peter watches, Herod urges her not to sink to murder. Fara recalls the words of Christ, and lowers her knife. Peter declares her free of her own chains.
Peter takes Fara to Arabia where they rescue Voldi, an Arab prince who wishes to marry her. However, Fara realises that her mixed race would jeopardize his future rule, so she leaves with Peter to spread the word of peace.
Cast
- Simon-Peter
- Susan Kohner as Fara
- John Saxon as Voldi
- Martha Hyer as Herodias
- Herbert Lom as Herod Antipas
- Ray Stricklyn as Deran
- Marian Seldes as Arnon
- Alexander Scourby as David Ben-Zadok
- Beulah Bondi as Hannah
- Jay Barney as John the Baptist
- Charlotte Fletcher as Rennah
- Mark Dana as Zendi
- Andrew
- Henry Brandon as Mencius
- Brian Hutton as John
- James
- Marianne Stewart as Ione
- Jonathan Harris as Lysias
- Leonard Mudie as Ilderan
- James Griffith as The beggar
- Peter Adams as Phillip
- Jo Gilbert as Deborah
- Michael Mark as Innkeeper
- Joe Di Reda as Assassin
- Stuart Randall as Aretas
- Herbert Rudley as Tiberius
- Phillip Pine as Lucius
- Francis McDonald as Scribe spokesman
- Perry Ivins as Phariseespokesman
- Ralph Moody as Aged Pharisee
- Jony Jochim as Sadduceespokesman
- Don Turner as Roman captain
Production
The film was
Though originally rejected by
It was shot on location in the San Fernando Valley in California. Portions were shot at La Quinta, California.[4]: 168–71 [5]
After having starred in a number of
John Saxon was borrowed from Universal.[6] It was the last film that Borzage completed.
Reception
Variety called it "pious but plodding."[7]
Assigning 2 stars (out of 5), The Motion Picture Guide (1987 edition) found it to be "long, often-enraging and totally miscast" with "a nonsinging Keel as Saint Peter". Evaluating the presentation as "just so much biblical nonsense because such liberties are taken that any serious student of the life and surrounding events will take exception," the write-up declares that "Douglas wrote the novel but made the mistake of entrusting it to the wrong people." After pointing out the film's "numerous technical mistakes: microphone boom shadows, klieg lights, Martha Hyer's vaccination mark", the Guide concludes that "to make a love story the focal point of such a potentially dynamic saga of history's most memorable era was a bad decision. One of the rare bummers by Disney in those years."[8]
Running time
Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide (2012 edition) notes that the film's running time was originally 184 minutes, then cut to 164 minutes then to 149 minutes.
Awards and honors
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards:
- Lee Garmes for Best Cinematography
- Renié for Best Costume Design
- John DeCuir and Julia Heron for Best Art Direction (color)
References
- ^ Archive.org.
- ^ "Rental Potentials of 1960". Variety. January 4, 1961. p. 47. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Hayes, John. "The Epic That Disappeared: The Big Fisherman" Widescreen Movies Magazine (last revised 6 November 2009)
- )
- ^ The Big Fisherman at the American Film Institute Catalog
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (July 29, 2020). "The Top Twelve Stages of Saxon". Filmink.
- ^ Review of film at Variety
- ^ The Motion Picture Guide (Chicago, 1987), volume I, page 193
External links
- The Big Fisherman at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Big Fisherman at IMDb
- The Big Fisherman at the TCM Movie Database
- The Big Fisherman at TV Guide (a longer form of this 1987 write-up was originally published in The Motion Picture Guide)
- The Big Fisherman at AllMovie
- The Big Fisherman at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Big Fisherman (e-book) available freely at the Project Gutenberg of Australia website.