King David (1985)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Andrew Birkin (writer)
James Costigan (story)

Release Date:

29 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War | Adventure

Plot:

This is a movie about the life of Israel's king David. |

Plot Keywords:

King David | Ancient Israel | Epic | 10th Century B.c. | Religion

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Richard Gere	...	David
Edward Woodward	...	Saul
Alice Krige	...	Bathsheba
Denis Quilley	...	Samuel
Niall Buggy	...	Nathan
Cherie Lunghi	...	Michal
Hurd Hatfield	...	Ahimelech
Jack Klaff	...	Jonathan
John Castle	...	Abner
Tim Woodward	...	Joab
David de Keyser	...	Ahitophel
Ian Sears	...	Young David
Simon Dutton	...	Eliab
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Absalom
Arthur Whybrow	...	Jesse

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Company:

Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance

Trivia:

Rachel Weisz was offered a large part in this film when she was only 14, but her parents would not allow her to do it.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Unlike the film, according to the Bible King Saul was "more handsome than any of the sons of Israel" and being very tall he "stood head and shoulders above any of the people". (1 Sam.9:2)

Quotes:

[first lines]
Saul's guard: The king cannot speak with you now. He is engaged in the affairs of state.
Samuel: Since when have the affairs of state taken precedence over the affairs of God?
[shoves his way past and enters Saul's throne room]
Saul: ...Samuel. We welcome you. With God's blessing, our victory is complete.
Samuel: Is THIS how you show Him your gratitude... by robbing the Amalekites of their women and cattle? By holding their king in chains?
Saul: We were discussing a possible treaty. The king is to be ransomed...
Samuel: A *treaty?* *Ransom?* Saul, for this you have betrayed your own soul in the sight of God. His instructions were plain enough: "... Spare nothing from the sword."
[beheads the Amalekite king]
Samuel: ... When our tribes clamored for a king, to make us like other nations, I answered them: "We are not like other nations. The Lord of Hosts is both our God and our King." The people said, "We want a king we can see. We want a king of our own flesh and blood."
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ken Adam: Designing Bond (2000) (V)

One of the better Biblical adaptations

This is one unjustly maligned film. For the most part, the acting is well above average. Edward Woodward's love/hate relationship (enfasis on the hate) with David comes across excelently. Richard Gere does an adequate job. I can't stand his style on most films that I have seen him but here he is just fine. The Jonathan character is heroic and handsome, while the actor who portrays the prophet Nathan does as best a job as anyone could do. Some minor problems/irritations, the location of Jerusalem should have been a more scenic and lush one, not desert-like. Jerusalem might be semi-desert today but 3,000 years ago it was a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey. Highlights include David's dance before the Ark of the Covenant, the battle scene versus the Phillistines where King Saul is killed with his sons (Mel Gibson must have seen it) is Braveheart light, but realistic nonetheless. There are many more, I just wish it could have been longer due to them skipping a whole part of his later life all the way up to his deathbed. One of the better Biblical adaptations nonetheless.