David and Bathsheba (1951)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Henry King

Writer:

Philip Dunne (writer)

Release Date:

10 August 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

Mighty as Goliath! Fiery as their Love!

Plot:

After King David sees the beautiful Bathsheba bathing from the palace roof, he enters into an adulterous affair which has tragic consequences for his family and Israel.

Plot Keywords:

David | King | God | Israel | Wife

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	King David
Susan Hayward	...	Bathsheba
Raymond Massey	...	Nathan
Kieron Moore	...	Uriah
James Robertson Justice	...	Abishai
Jayne Meadows	...	Michal
John Sutton	...	Ira
Dennis Hoey	...	Joab
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gilbert Barnett	...	Absolom, David's Second Son (uncredited)
Helena Benda	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Mildred Brown	...	Wife (uncredited)
John Burton	...	Priest (uncredited)
Francis X. Bushman	...	King Saul (uncredited)
Ann Cameron	...	Wife (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti	...	(uncredited)
John Dodsworth	...	Ahithophel (uncredited)
Lumsden Hare	...	Old Shepherd (uncredited)
Holmes Herbert	...	Jesse (uncredited)
Teddy Infuhr	...	Jonathan as a Boy (uncredited)
Shirley Karnes	...	Wife (uncredited)
Carmen López	...	Wife (uncredited)
John Marshall	...	Court Announcer (uncredited)
Sean McClory	...	Aide to King David (First Scene) (uncredited)
Shepard Menken	...	Police Guard (uncredited)
Paula Morgan	...	Adultress (uncredited)
David Newell	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Samuel (uncredited)
Leo B. Pessin	...	David as a boy (uncredited)
Loulette Sablon	...	Attendant (uncredited)
William Severn	...	Shepherd Boy (uncredited)
Gary Stewart	...	Shepherd Boy (uncredited)
Allan Stone	...	Amnon (uncredited)
Walter Talun	...	Goliath (uncredited)
Gwen Verdon	...	Specialty dancer (uncredited)
Dan White	...	Soldier who touches the Ark of the Covenant (uncredited)
George Zucco	...	Egyptian Ambassador (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry King

Writing credits
Philip Dunne		(writer)

Produced by
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Barbara McLean

Art Direction by
George W. Davis		(as George Davis)
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Thomas Little

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Connors Jr.	....	assistant director (uncredited)
F.E. 'Johnny' Johnston	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Joseph E. Rickards	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Robert D. Webb	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Anthony Ugrin	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director (as Charles LeMaire)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (as Edward Powell)

Other crew
Jack Cole	....	choreographer
Leonard Doss	....	technicolor color consultant
Dr. C.C. McCown	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1952) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1963) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (VHS)
• Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Abril Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | USA:Approved (certificate #15029) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Nogales, Arizona, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Gregory Peck was chosen by producer Darryl F. Zanuck for this epic film because Zanuck thought Peck had a "biblical face".

Quotes:

King David: Michal, I cannot find it in my heart to blame you for what you do... but you, Absalom, my son, have I given you cause to hate me so?

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Conversation with Gregory Peck (1999)

The fall of a great man.

To me movies and acting is all about telling a story. The story of David and Bethsheba is a tragedy that is deep and can be felt by anyone who reads and understands the biblical account. In this movie I thought the storytelling by Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward were at their best. To know and understand the story of David and his journey to become the King of Israel, made this story all the more compelling. You could feel his lust for a beautiful woman, Gregory Peck showed the real human side of this man who in his time was larger than life. Susan Hayward's fear, reluctance, but then obedience to his authority as her King was beautifully portrayed by her. One could also feel David's anguish the nigh that Uriah spent the night at the gate instead of at home. As well as the sadness when he was killed in battle. Raymond Massey's powerful and authoritative condemnation of the King made me feel his anger. The sets were real enough, and the atmosphere believable. All in all I think this was one of the best movies of it's kind. I gave it a rating of ten.