Yikes, this was a bad movie! The color cinematography was hideous, the dialog laughable, music was overbearing, sets were cheesy. Oh, and every "B" list actor was in it, except for Howard Keel who only made musicals at the time.I was certain that this was one of those movies shot in Italy cheaply, then re-dubbed in English. To my shock, it was not only made here in the U.S., but by the Walt Disney Company....with a larger budget than the far superior "Nun's Story." Did Disney really make this to actually compete with "Ben Hur?" Unbelievable.The fact that it made it to the nomination stage is actually because no other good movies were set to compete against "Ben Hur" and "Nun's Story." They knew they would lose hands down.When did Walt Disney pass away? Anyway, we usually have Turkey for Christmas day. Turner Classic Movies served this up to our family on Christmas Eve. We had a good laugh.

With this epic,this is FRank Borzage ,one of the most important director America has ever had ,saying goodbye to directing;he was to live only three more years and had little time to enjoy his retirement.But ,what a filmography! Circa 1959,it was epic time ("the ten commandments" ,"Ben Hur","Cleopatra" "kings of kings" ) and it was only natural for Borzage ,whose best works are in essence Christian :his heroes and heroines are prepared to sacrifice everything for the others (often the one they love: "the river" " lucky star" )or what they think is their duty : " no greater glory" or simply humanity (the scientists in "green light" and" doctor's wives" ,the social worker in "stranded").Actually ,"The Big fisherman" is closer to the spirit of Finnish writer Mika Waltari (Curtiz's "the Egyptian" 1954)and even "Ben Hur" : fictitious characters bump into historical or biblical figures such as Herod Antipas,Herodias or Simon Peter (check the title:Christ's famous sentence "you'll be fisher of men" is included)and John The Baptist.Christ also briefly appears ,but like in "Ben Hur" ,we can't see his face.The central character is Fara (played by Susan Kohner who is best remembered for Sarah Jane ,the girl who refused to be black in "imitation of life" ,the same year) whose mother was repudiated by Herod Antipas and who decides to kill him (her father).Borzage generally avoids the usual Hollywood traps :for instance,the dance of the seven veils and the death of the Baptist are filmed shadow show style ;and by the way ,where is Salome? SPOILER: The ending of the movie (and of Borzage's career) is faithful to the director's spirit;the young princess sacrifices (or seems to sacrifice ) her love for Voldi (John Saxon) because she has found a greater love which involves the whole humanity ;perhaps she will become one of the holy women who followed Jesus...

OK, I admit it. I am a long time friend of the heir to the estate of the composer, Albert Hay Malotte, who wrote the score for this movie.Even if that were not true, I would still like to see this movie brought back and distributed on DVD.We may start by hounding the Disney Music Company. Maybe they can give us more information on the movie rights.WALT Disney MUSIC COMPANYC/O Disney MUSIC PUBLISHINGATTN: JULIE ENZER500 SO BUENA VISTA, MC 6173BURBANK , CA, 91521Tel. (818) 569-3241

I saw The Big Fisherman at 9 years of age when it first came out. I was very impressed with this, the only other film in history to use the Camera 65 process used for Ben-Hur the year before. I remember the general feeling being that despite its grandeur this film was a minor achievement compared to other biblical blockbusters of the era (Spartacus, King of Kings, The Robe, Ben Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The fall of the Roman Empire, etc.). Just the same, the majesty of the proceedings, the music, the colour cinematography, the dazzling sets of Old Jerusalem but, most of all, the wickedness and darkness of the subplot involving the evil Herod family and culminating in Salome's dance left an indelible impression which I can't wait to renew if and when this film (unavailable in any medium)comes out on DVD.