Good crowd scenes and costumes compensate for some casting weaknesses in this Hollywood slice of The Bible. But Gregory Peck is fine as King David, and Leon Shamroy's colour photography is another plus factor. King Saul is played by silent screen star Francis X Bushman (at the age of 68). Bushman is now best remembered as the evil Messala in Fred Niblo's great 1926 silent version of Ben Hur. Watch also for the girl performing an exotic dance. She's Gwyneth Verdon, later, as Gwen Verdon, she became a big musical star on Broadway, repeating her biggest hit on film - in Damn Yankees.

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