OLD TESTAMENT, THE

aka Il Vecchio testamento
1961
Italy/France
Cineproduzioni Associati
Director : Gianfranco Parolini
Story: Ghigo De Chiara, Giorgio Prosperi, Luciano Martino
Screenplay: Giovanni Simonelli, Gianfranco Parolini
Music : Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
Cinematography : Francesco Izzarelli
Cast : Brad Harris (Simon), Margaret Taylor (Miza), Susan Paget, John Heston [Ivano Staccioli], Philippe Hersent (Namele), Mara Lane (Diotema), Jacques Berthier (Appollonio), Carlo Tamberlani (Mattatia), Ivy Stewart, George Nenadovic, Ignazio Dolce, Isarco Ravaioli (Giovanni), Enzo Doria [Ezio Passadore] (Gionata), Nicola Stefanini, Pino Mattei, Ray Martino, Vladimir Leib (Antenone), Alan Steel [Sergio Ciani], Fulvia Gessner, Irena Prosen, Vladimir Bacic, Jovan Sever, Rino Mattioli

"Taylor and Heston…together at last!" You can almost imagine the billboards shouting it at all the passers by. Some of these may have stopped, examined the fine print and discovered that it wasn't the esteemed Elizabeth and Charlton who were being referred to, but the rather less renowned Mary and John. Yep, we're in the opportunist world of the Italian epic.

Israel is suffering under the yoke of it's Syrian oppressors, who all wear silly hats that look like metal tulips and are much given to sneering at innocent bystanders whilst proclaiming "Out of my way, or I'll have you whipped like a dog". Rebel rouser Judas Macabeus returns from hiding to Jerusalem in order to stir up a revolution before the new governor, Appollonio, arrives in town. He is persuaded against it by the combined force of his father, the high priest, and his peacenik brother Simon (Brad Harris), who is violently opposed to the shedding of innocent blood.

Things, however, go wrong. When the new ruler attempts to force a statue of Jove into the Holy Temple of the Hebrews a battle ensues. The Israelites win but the leaders of the uprising, knowing that reinforcements will soon be summoned to seek retribution, decide to embark upon another exodus. Left behind are a variety of the infirm and the old, as well as Simon, who has been wounded in the scrap and is being nursed back to health by his Syrian chums Antenone and the clearly enamoured babe Diotema. As he tries to breach some kind of truce, he witnesses the devious Appollonio enslave his remaining countrymen, who brand him a traitor for his efforts. Seeking to repair the damage he has unwittingly caused he travels into the desert to find his kinsmen and plan for a counter attack.

The Old Testament is a reasonable filler that suffers from a distinct lack of humour and vivacity. Whilst Parolini's later films rocket along in a hugely enjoyable fashion, this is somewhat turgid in approach. The action is restrained to a series of sword fights and brawls that, though capably handled, show no signs of displaying the relish that is to be found amongst the best examples of the genre. This brevity of approach combines with a somewhat po-faced script to create a cinematic whole that seems intent upon pushing away any fun that could be had.

On the positive side, there is some entertainment to be had from the variety of gratuitous tortures that crop up halfway through the film. Not only do we get to see the good old 'bury them up to their necks in sand' malarkey, but also some great 'sadistic whipping whilst displaying of an insane grin' exploits. I was also quite fond of the crap secondary villain who sets himself up in an impregnable fortress and surrounds himself with good food and dancing girls before being shish-kebabbed. My kind of guy!

Matt Blake