Salome

I have never had much interest in John the Baptizer, much less his life, story or death.  The mysteries of Jesus and His words have always intrigued me far more.

According to Mark 6:21-29, a daughter of Herodias, danced before Herod and her mother Herodias at the occasion of his birthday, and in doing so gave her mother the opportunity to obtain the head of John the Baptizer.  Even though the New Testament accounts do not mention a name for the girl, this daughter of Herodias is often identified with Salome.  According to Mark's gospel Herodias bore a grudge against John for stating that Herod's marriage to her was unlawful; she encouraged her daughter to demand that John be executed.

In 1953, Columbia Pictures came out with its epic tale of Salome.  It is an intriguing film as well as one of the worse movies I have ever seen!  First, you have Rita Hayworth as the BLONDE bombshell semi-Jewish girl.  Add Stewart Granger as a Roman captain trapped between a new Roman Governor, a self serving Herod, the not so great, his friendship with John and his lust for Salome!  Whew!  Luckily, Granger is an able actor, even when faced with playing a mind numbing fictional roll.  Now let us move on with completely incorrect costuming, incorrect roles, incorrect responsibilities and you have a train-wreck of a movie.

But what I liked about the film is that the director was able to weave the politics of Herod's Court, that of the new Roman Governor, Jewish religious expectations and a simmering zealot subplot.  It was done well.  One almost had to feel sorry for Herod II, but hey, he was a creep.

No there is no history here to be learned, it is a work of fiction.
There is no superb drama or acting, the actors were like drunken fools being fish slapped.
All there is, is a chance to see how weighty the politics of the era were.

For detractors:
Salome did exist and lived in Herod's Court.
John the Baptizer's head was lobbed off and his headless body has been excavated from the floor of his school.
Salome is also the name of someone whom was a follower of Jesus ... hmmmmm.
Herod II, Herodias, Philip, Festus and Pilot are all historically accurate.

So, a shame they went for fiction ...