The Silver Chalice (1954)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Victor Saville

Writers:

Thomas B. Costain (novel)
Lesser Samuels (writer)

Release Date:

20 December 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

EVERY BREATHLESS MOMENT OF THOMAS B. COSTAIN'S BEST-SELLER! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A Greek artisan is commissioned to cast the cup of Christ in silver and sculpt around its rim the faces of the disciples and Jesus himself...

Plot Keywords:

Jerusalem | Cup | Artisan | Caravan | Orgy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Virginia Mayo	...	Helena
Pier Angeli	...	Deborra
Jack Palance	...	Simon The Magician
Paul Newman	...	Basil
Walter Hampden	...	Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph Wiseman	...	Mijamin
Alexander Scourby	...	Saint Luke
Lorne Greene	...	Saint Peter
David J. Stewart	...	Adam
Herbert Rudley	...	Linus
Jacques Aubuchon	...	Nero
E.G. Marshall	...	Ignatius
Michael Pate	...	Aaron Ben Joseph
Natalie Wood	...	Helena, as a child
Donald Randolph	...	Selech

Runtime:

142 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) | Mono (RCA Sound System) (optical prints)

Certification:

UK:U (original rating) (cut) | Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved (PCA #17065, Adult Audience) | Sweden:15

Company:

Victor Saville Productions

Trivia:

The film debuts of Paul Newman and veteran character actor Robert Middleton.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The bald eagle is not native to Italy.

Quotes:

Saint Peter: [last lines, Peter is speaking about the Silver Chalice to Basi and Deborra,, and he utters his lines in the tone of a heroic speech] It will be restored, but for years and for hundreds of years, it will lie in darkness; where, I know not. When it is brought out into the light again there will be great cities, and mighty bridges and towers higher than the tower of Babel. It will be a world of evil and long bitter wars...

Movie Connections:

Featured in You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) (V)

Virginia Mayo, Paul Newman's First Leading Lady

Virginia Mayo, not only received top billing in "The Silver Chalice", but she has the distinction of being Paul Newman's first leading lady on the screen.

I'm not as critical of this picture as most people. Yes, Paul was wooden, but I felt that Mayo was wonderful in her role and Jack Palace was interesting in the role of Simon. He was ridiculous.

Beautiful Mayo's make up was also unusual (those eyebrows!) and her passionate love scenes with Newman were rather hot.

I especially loved the final scene where Simon goes crazy and decides he will fly without his rigged wings. Also great was Mayo's sudden "bravery" when Caesar commands her to be thrown off the Tower. Personally, I knew that Paul would make it in the movies. Every time the camera lingered on his incredible blue eyes and his classic Greek-like face, he was winning over his audience.

The set decoration was nominated for an Oscar, people. And, the CinemaScope photography was on par with the best of the 50s.