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Esther and the King

Meega Anthoni
Estherandthekingposter.jpg
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".


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