Salome (1953)

Salome: Directed by William Dieterle. With Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton, Judith Anderson. After her banishment from Rome, Jewish Princess Salome returns to her Roman-ruled native land of Galilee, where prophet John the Baptist preaches against Salome’s parents, King Herod and Queen Herodias.

“While this film does vary from the biblical storyline, itu0026#39;s worth watching for Rita alone. Sheu0026#39;s a vision in all her scenes and very good in her part, culminating in her u0026#39;Dance of the Seven Veilsu0026#39;, which is a treasure. {I only wish it wasnu0026#39;t montaged with the death of the Baptist.} Rita never looked lovelier than she does here and her Jean Louis costumes are all drop-dead gorgeous. Stewart Granger is pretty good, better than usual, he and Rita having good chemistry here. Itu0026#39;s well cast, with actors Charles Laughton and Dame Judith Anderson both excellent as King Herod and Queen Herodias. Arnold Moss is slithering as the evil adviser to Queen Herodias, though Alan Badel as John the Baptist seems more like a wild-eyed madman than a holy prophet. Though there are some filler segments that are not up to the rest of the film, still I think itu0026#39;s excellent entertainment.”