Solomon (1997) (TV)

Director:

Roger Young

Writer (WGA):

Bradley T. Winter (teleplay)

Release Date:

30 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

David, now an old man, is still king of Israel. Among his sons, the ambitious Adonijah and the clever Solomon...

Plot Keywords:

King | King David | Queen | Chariot | Chariot Race

Cast

Ben Cross	...	Solomon
Anouk Aimée	...	Bathsheba
Vivica A. Fox	...	Queen of Sheba
Max von Sydow	...	David
Maria Grazia Cucinotta	...	Abishag
Umberto Orsini	...	Nathan
Stefania Rocca	...	Hannah
Richard Dillane	...	Jeroboam
Marta Zoffoli	...	Basemah
Ivan Kaye	...	Adonijah
G.W. Bailey	...	Azarel
Dexter Fletcher	...	Rehoboam
Roger Hammond	...	Zadok
Michael Culkin	...	Hiram of Naphtali
Stefan Gubser	...	Abiathar
Pete Lee-Wilson	...	Ahlijah
Ahmed Boulane	...	Farmir Sidon
Thom Hoffman	...	General Brealah
Abderrahim Bargache	...	Stafholder
Vadim Glowna	...	King Hiram
Abdelkader Lofti	...	Sandalmaker
Rachid Fekkak	...	Horseman
Fengirou	...	Owner
Rachid El Ouali	...	Soldier (as Rachid El Wali)
Hassan El Fad	...	Customer
Mustapha Salamat	...	Old Man
Mohamed Benbrahim	...	Second Old Man (as Mohamed Ben Brahim)
Mohamed Khyya	...	Third Old Man
Aziz Janah	...	Man with Horse
Mohamed Bensouda	...	Barman (as Bensouda Mohamed)
David Suchet	...	Joab
Adil El Hacium	...	Angry Man (as Adil El Hachimi)
Naima Lamcharki	...	Third wife (as Naima Elmcharki)
Larbi Sassi	...	Second Man
Ibrahim Abbes	...	Third Man
Nick Deal	...	Young Man in Council
Zaki Houari	...	Old Man in Council (as Zaki Ouari)
Saïda Baadi	...	First Wife (as Saida Baadi)
Chakara Istissam	...	Second Wife (as Chakara Ibtissam)
Lloyd Martin	...	Young Rehoboam
Siham Assif	...	Egyptian Bride
Mohamed Majd	...	Hanani
Emma Komlosy	...	Sheba's Court Member
Oliver Robsom	...	Rehoboam, 12 years old

Directed by
Roger Young

Writing credits (WGA)
Bradley T. Winter		(teleplay)

Produced by
Eleonora Andreatta	....	producer: RAI
Luca Bernabei	....	co-producer: Lux Vide
Heinrich Krauss	....	producer: Beta Film
Susu Langlands	....	associate producer (as Susu Erca)
Paolo Lucidi	....	line producer
Lorenzo Minoli	....	producer
Paolo Piria	....	associate producer
Gerald Rafshoon	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone
Patrick Williams

Cinematography by
Raffaele Mertes

Film Editing by
Benjamin A. Weissman

Casting by
Ahmed Boulane
Cornelia von Braun
Jeremy Zimmermann

Production Design by
Paolo Biagetti

Set Decoration by
Titus Vossberg

Costume Design by
Simonetta Leoncini
Giovanni Viti

Makeup Department
Laura Borselli	....	makeup artist (as Laura Borzelli)
Franco Casagni	....	makeup artist
Claudia Catini	....	hair stylist
Hayat Ouled Dahhou	....	hair stylist
Mirella Ginnoto	....	hair stylist
Federico Laurenti	....	makeup artist
Elda Magnanti	....	key hair stylist
Mario Michisanti	....	key makeup artist
Gianna Viola	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jawad Cherkaoui	....	unit manager: Morocco
Ahmed Darif	....	production manager: Morocco
Federico Foti	....	unit manager
Giovanni Lovatelli	....	production manager
Giovanni Lovatelli	....	unit production manager
Alessandro Lucidi	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adil Abdelwahab	....	assistant director
Sergio Ercolessi	....	first assistant director
Emanuela Minoli	....	second second assistant director
Barbara Pastrovich	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Pasquale Avvisato	....	property master
Fabio Carussi	....	construction team
Angelo Caso	....	sculptor
Marco Davoli	....	construction team
Tatiana Hahn	....	assistant to set decorator
Claudio Magrini	....	key construction
Barnaba Pagliarini	....	upholsterer
Olga Pagnotta	....	buyer
Pietro Petri	....	construction team
Alberto Ruiu	....	key plasterer
Sergio Ruiu	....	plasterer
Giancarlo Sensidoni	....	key painter

Sound Department
Bernard Bats	....	sound mixer
Pierre-Yves Bruneel	....	boom operator
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist
Bob Costanza	....	sound editor
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
G. Michael Graham	....	supervising sound editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kristi Johns	....	supervising adr editor
Bernard Rochut	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Gino De Rossi	....	special effects

Stunts
Franco Columbu	....	stunt coordinator
Gérard Lesage	....	stunts
Stefano Maria Mioni	....	stunts (as Stefano Mioni)
Cedric Proust	....	stunts
Claudio Quaglietti	....	stunt coordinator
Alessandro Scepi	....	stunts
Mustapha Touki	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Armando Barberi	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Fabio Capozzi	....	gaffer
Manolo Catini	....	electrician
Giovanni Cuomo	....	grip
Massimo Lupi	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Roberto Luzi	....	camera operator
David Massaro	....	clapper loader
Roberto Moreschini	....	key grip
Stefano Moreschini	....	grip
Marco Porto	....	electrician
Vincenzo Savino	....	still photographer
Sergio Strizzi	....	still photographer
Riccardo Tonni	....	focus puller: "b" camera

Casting Department
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting (as Brenden Donnison)
Francesca Marra	....	casting: Italy
Cornelia von Braun	....	casting: Germany

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Romano Amidei	....	wardrobe
Antonia Chimera	....	set costumer
Ali Lammari	....	set costumer
Rossano Marchi	....	set costumer
Giulia Orsacchiotto	....	seamstress
Olga Pagnotta	....	costumer
Olga Pagnotta	....	cutter
Olga Pagnotta	....	tailor
Uliva Pizzetti	....	assistant to costume designers
Maurizio Torti	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Carolyn Calvert	....	assistant editor
Michael H. Friedlander	....	first assistant editor (as Michael Friedlander)
David Lebowitz	....	assistant editor
Francesco Reitano	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Dino A. Moriana	....	music editor (as Dino Moriana)
Charles Pollard	....	score engineer
Daniel Wells	....	music preparation

Transportation Department
Said Andam	....	transportation
Giovanni Cosi	....	driver: catering truck
Giovanni Battista Serra	....	assistant truck driver

Other crew
Adil Abdelwahab	....	crowd marshall
Damian Anderson	....	assistant: Roger Young
Damian Anderson	....	production assistant: Rome
Massimo Bernardini	....	production runner: Rome
Catherine Brelet	....	assistant: Roger Young
Carmine Cellitti	....	caterer
Francesca Cingolani	....	production coordinator: Rome
Francesca Deodato	....	production secretary
Gabriella Di Santo	....	production coordinator (as Gabriella DiSanto)
Petra Esparza	....	assistant: Mrs. Aimee
Giampaolo Grassi	....	armorer
Giampaolo Grassi	....	leather master
Michele Greco	....	location manager
Franco Penna	....	accountant
Roberto Penna	....	production auditor
Carla Maria Perrina	....	payroll clerk
Andrea Piria	....	accounting assistant
Joel Proust	....	horse master
Laura Vergelli	....	production assistant: Rome

Production Companies

• ARD Degeto Film
• Beta Film
• British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)
• Ceská Televize
• France 2 (FR2)
• Kirch Gruppe
• KirchMedia
• Lux Vide
• MTM Enterprises
• NCRV Television
• Quinta Communications
• Radiotelevisione Italiana

Distributors

• Con Dios Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Radiotelevisione Italiana (1997) (Italy) (TV) (original airing)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Pax TV (2000) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Trimark Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Biblical Studio Morocco  filming studio

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and sensuality/nudity (original rating) (rating surrendered)

Runtime:

Germany:166 min (2 parts) | USA:180 min (2 parts)

Country:

UK | Czech Republic | France | Italy | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (original rating) (rating surrendered) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Ouarzazate, Morocco

Company:

ARD Degeto Film

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Apocalypse (2002) (TV)

excellent story of Israel's greatest king

I fist saw a rather abrupt cut of Roger Young's "Solomon" in a bible collection. Still it was so good I was determined to see the full version. Boy was i glad I did! Ben Cross does an absolutely amazing job as the title character, much like in "Jesus" and "Jacob" The film makers aren't afraid to present these legendary people as people! They have loves and fears and aren't so perfect and aloof. Cross is young and a bit arrogant at first, but very loyal to his father David, played beautifully by the great Max von Sydow, and his mother Bathsheba. The early part of the movie has him dealing with his scheming half-brother Adonijah and the general Joab, played by David Suchet. overcoming both he asks God for wisdom to rule his people wisely. Like any of us would be God is impressed and Solomon makes great judgments, never allowing his priests or prophets to rule him.

The legend of his wisdom grows till it reaches the beautiful Queen of Sheba, played with nice understatement by Viveca A. Fox. She journey to Isreal to see the truth of this legend. Here Solomon finds true love at last, but under pressure and unable to convince Sheba to stay in Israel he is left alone and despite still ruling wisely begins to anger the people by allowing freedom of worship. Hmmm. like the U.S.? Upon his death the kingdom is divided again and Israel will never again be a world power as it was under him.

I thought he acting, sets and photography were all first rate. I really like this move, yes it's long, but it's well worth your time, even if biblical epics aren't your usual speed. Well recommended.