I actually enjoyed a few parts of this bizarre movie, the first for Paul Newman. I think Jack Palance had the juicier role and he made the most of it as the magician, Simon, who challenges the Lord himself. This was the only "real" part of this movie, with a storyline taken from the Bible.
Then we get the problem areas. A real bible story with modernistic, surreal sets.
Beautiful Virginia Mayo looks like a Vulcan from Star Trek with her uplifted eyebrows. Her gowns are very 1950's.
During Caesar's feast the dancers pop out of the floor and gyrate like they just came from a modern dance recital. The music is deafening.
The dialog is simplistic and often unintentionally funny. So are some of the scenes, like the looting scene where two women fight over a gown like they're in Macy's.
But what takes so much from the actors is the sets. I just couldn't get past gawking at the most bizarre sets I've ever seen in a movie, much less a Biblical one. These two things simply do not mesh.
Then we get the problem areas. A real bible story with modernistic, surreal sets.
Beautiful Virginia Mayo looks like a Vulcan from Star Trek with her uplifted eyebrows. Her gowns are very 1950's.
During Caesar's feast the dancers pop out of the floor and gyrate like they just came from a modern dance recital. The music is deafening.
The dialog is simplistic and often unintentionally funny. So are some of the scenes, like the looting scene where two women fight over a gown like they're in Macy's.
But what takes so much from the actors is the sets. I just couldn't get past gawking at the most bizarre sets I've ever seen in a movie, much less a Biblical one. These two things simply do not mesh.