The Story of David (1976 TV Movie) User Reviews

Accurate and yet inaccurate

[JuguAbraham · 5/10 · 12 October 2007]

Several aspects of the film startle you. Unlike usual Hollywood works on the Bible, this one indicates that population in the Holy Land was a lot less than today--only European director Pasolini's "Gospel According to St Mathew" came close to this fact. While the film is faithful to the text in most places (including art direction of David's first glimpse of Bathsheba), the film's veracity crumbles with the death of Absalom--whose death was linked to his long hair--shown in the film as merely being hit on the forehead by a low branch.

Continuity is s problem too. Joab's attempt to attack the Jebusite fort (later called Jerusalem) is depicted to gain David's favor. Soon we find he won David's favor, What happened in the interim is not shown.

Note: Michal and Abigail are played by two different actresses not one. A reader, Clayton Slaughter, of this review pointed out to me that the final film was the amalgamation of two films (one shot in Israel, the other in Spain) by two directors, which explains this oddity.

I prefer Bruce Beresford's "King David" with Richard Gere that has received more brickbats than bouquets. It had fine performances, good direction, and intelligent camera-work--although it took artistic license with the the story.

Great TV description of psalmist king...

[mtr0118 · 7/10 · 15 March 2007]

This TV movie about King David may seem long,but it really shows in a vivid way David's transition from a mere shepherd boy to a great political figure and biblical icon.I liked the way the cast mentioned there faith in Yahweh.Keith Michell's portrayal of King David seemed realistic,especially in the scene where he was condemning Joab's murder of Abner.If we compare this film with the 1997 TV film of David by Lux Vide, both have great depictions of David's life. Anthony Quayle did a impressive performance as Saul.Too bad this film is only available on VHS. Let's hope that soon it can be restored or available on DVD.My hat goes of to Alex Segal and Lowell Rich for there project.

Should've had two Cherub on top

[derod1958 · 6/10 · 30 November 2022]

It is wrong.

Exodus 25:10-21 (NKJV)

The Ark of the Testimony (Ex. 37:1-9) 10 "And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. 13 And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. 15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.

17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you.

A very accurate depicting of David's life

[DATA-17 · 10/10 · 15 February 1999]

This is a very accurate portrayal of David from teen years to his death. I could follow along in the Bible with the movie. I like how they use God's name in Hebrew Yahweh throughout. It was filmed in Israel so the setting was real.

Good hebrew quotes...

[Matrom40 · 14 March 2004]

This depiction of the life of King David is really live and down in heart.I liked the way God's hebrew name,Yahweh, was used through out the picture even though it would of been better if it would of been pronounced in English "Jehovah" like in "Solomon and Sheba(1959)", "The Story of Ruth", & "Sodom and Gomorrah". Anthony Quayle's performance of a jealous Saul was superb and Jane Seymour was totally sexy and breathtaking as King David's neighbor and future wife Bathsheba.Michaelangelo's representation of David was an original idea. My hat goes off to the producers and to Keith Michell.Anybody who wants to see this movie should also see "King David(1985)"

A good story with faulty presentation.

[pranderson063095 · 4/10 · 10 February 2021]

The Biblical story of shepherd David to King David is a thrilling story with all the element needed in a good true story of one's life. The movie, (which we watched in one sitting) was s better attempt than many of its kind. It covers most of the important touch points of David, BarJesse life. Only a few that should NOT have been left out were missing.

Is it that the screen writers failed to truly understand David's life and his place in the line of Messiah? Or did they rely on advisors whose respect for this most important story lacked dedication and conviction necessary tell the story.

Four stars because of thin scenes with few when multitude were called for. So 2 stars gone for the same motive - too few when more would be better. By the count of four holes that canceled the other four stars. 1. The movie's look lacked careful proper art direction. It did not fit the culture of the period that the story happened in. Samuel's alter, seat of judgment was so far off that the movie had a cheap sci-fi look. Almost like the first seasons of Dr. Who. 2. Casting was poor with the minor characters. The actor portraying Saul's daughter/David's first wife left so very much to be desired. Main character actors were better. Quayle did well as Saul. Are there really that many long haired blond women among the Benjaminites? And, with one major character. Young and old David did not fit what an Israelite would look like unless the few exceptions were there for the movie. Thankfully Bottoms was able to carry the role. 3. Staging of some key events were so off the clear record. Absalom death and the significance of how he died did the story an unjust play. The only true accurate is in the Bible. Was it too hard to find a way to stage it and to include Absalom's excessive arrogance as the why he died the was he did? 4. The Ark of Testimony or Ark of Covenant was the worst disgrace. I'm sure the reason it was not fashioned with two cherubim and their outstretched wings touching over and covering the Ark's Mercy Seat was to avoid unintentional blasphemy. If orthodox Jewish scholars were involved, it would likely they avoided any offense. Yet the name Yahweh - the holy name of God Almighty was spoken often and in ways that orthodox would consider vain. The Ark of Testimony was brought to a Tabernacle of the kind which Moses had fashioned with God's instructions. Further staging its place in Jerusalem in a room and the curtains open to give a view rather than the Holy of Holies.

Most overlook such petty matters, we do not.

excellent movie i'd highly recommend it to anyone!

[olivercampaign · 8/10 · 17 October 2002]

one of the first of the tv "bible" movies, the story of david is one of the finest of its genre.

the cast, along with the direction and story line, make it a must see.

subsequent movies like "king david" pale in comparison.

if movies of this kind suit your taste, then make this on part of your collection.

"Beware of prophets pouring oil on your head"

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 18 November 2017]

So said Anthony Quayle as King Saul as he tells the young shepherd boy David on whom the blessing of the Lord would be granted soon enough and in succession to Saul. The Story Of David is a two part mini-series in which we see first the young David played by Timothy Bottoms and then Keith Michell as the older David.

The Bible really doesn't make it clear just why God got dissatisfied with his first choice of Saul to be King Of Israel. Considering what He later put up with when David took over I'd say Saul got a bad rap. Certainly with what is shown here and in scriptures about his son Jonathan he might have been just the king Israel needed. I liked very much the scene where Anthony Quayle says there are many times he wished God left him a farmer.

David is certainly not reflective or misses being a shepherd. He enjoys being a king and all the perks it provides. Back in the day Keith Michell certainly gathered around him enough women whose palace intrigues gave him a lot of grief. But in that age of polygamy Michell is still looking around and finds what he really likes in his neighbor Uriah the Hittite's bathroom where the lovely Bathsheba gets spotted bathing. Bathsheba is played by Jane Seymour.

The series covers the whole expanse of King David's life from his early days as a singing shepherd boy who took down the trash talking Goliath right up to David on his deathbed. A lot of Israeli players got parts here and it was shot in Israel in the locations where the events occurred.

This is not a Cecil B. DeMille spectacle where everyone is sounding high falutin'. DeMille was fortunate indeed to find Victor Mature and Charlton Heston a pair of actors who made his dialog sound plausible coming from them. No this TV mini-series is a sobering look at the real problem of governance in ancient time. Some of those same problems are with us today. And Anthony Quayle as Saul and Timothy Bottoms/Keith Michell as the younger and older David are shown as all too human.