Esther and the King

Meega Anthoni
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Raoul Walsh Mario Bava (Italian version)
Produced by	Raoul Walsh
Screenplay by	Raoul Walsh Michael Elkins Ennio De Concini
Starring	Joan Collins Richard Egan
Music by	Angelo Francesco Lavagnino Roberto Nicolosi
Cinematography	Mario Bava
Edited by	Jerry Webb
Production company	Galatea Film Titanus
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	December 14, 1960 (U.S.) February 17, 1961 (Italy)
Running time	109 mins.
Country	Italy United States
Language	English

Ester e il re (English Translation: Esther and the King) is a 1960 Italian / American international co-production religious epic film directed (with Mario Bava, the film's director of photography, who was credited as a co-director on Italian prints of the film ), written, and produced by Raoul Walsh. It was made in Cinemascope and DeLuxe Color, and produced at 20th Century Fox/ Raoul Walsh Productions, and was released by 20th Century Fox. Joan Collins stars as Esther in this melodramatic, routine Biblical story. Based on the Old Testament, this epic recreates the Book of Esther, the tale that is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim.

The film is set in Persia in the 5th century BC. After the King’s wife is murdered, Esther (a Jewish woman) comes to the attention of the recently widowed King Ahasuerus. The king has been trying to stifle and defeat the campaign of hatred against the Jews by his evil minister Haman (Sergio Fantoni). Before the King can pair off with Esther and defeat the villainous Haman, there are several intervening adventures and an additional, attractive woman who competes for attention.

Rosalba Neri's performance has been evaluated as "memorable".