IMDb RATING
4.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Paul Newman - in his screen debut - plays a 1st-century Greek sculptor who is sold into slavery.Paul Newman - in his screen debut - plays a 1st-century Greek sculptor who is sold into slavery.Paul Newman - in his screen debut - plays a 1st-century Greek sculptor who is sold into slavery.
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
- Thomas B. Costain(novel "The Silver Chalice")
- Lesser Samuels(written for the screen by)
- Stars
- Thomas B. Costain(novel "The Silver Chalice")
- Lesser Samuels(written for the screen by)
- Stars
- Thomas B. Costain(novel "The Silver Chalice")
- Lesser Samuels(written for the screen by)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst feature film appearance of Paul Newman.
- Goofs(at around 1 min) Basil and Deborra enter the set from behind the cut, painted, and layered scenery, completely spoiling the intended trompe l'oeil effect of rooftop domes.
- Quotes
Saint Peter: [last lines, Peter is speaking about the Silver Chalice to Basil 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. In such a world as that the little cup will look very lonely. But it may be in that age when man holds lightning in his hands, and rides the sky as Simon the Magician strove to do it will be needed more than it is needed now.
- Crazy creditsand introducing Paul Newman
Review
Featured review
Pretty odd, pretty awful...Paul Newman's debut is best forgotten...
I have to agree with the negative comments on this one. First of all, let's begin with the good points. It got two Oscar nominations--one for William Skall's color cinematography and the other for Franz Waxman's tasteful background score. Indeed, the only tasteful thing about the film is that score.
PAUL NEWMAN at least doesn't have to be ashamed of how he photographed in color because he makes a handsome film debut (physically) but was apparently given no directions from Victor Saville on how to play the role of a man who worked on the framework for The Silver Chalice. His is a bland performance at best and it is undercut even more when he has to share the screen with the terribly miscast VIRGINIA MAYO.
Mayo looks as though she just left the chorus line of The Goldwyn Girls and had the artists paint her eyebrows in what someone must have assumed would resemble women of antiquity. She saunters around in her veiled costumes as though she is about to break out into a burlesque queen's rendition of a bump and grind song number.
JACK PALANCE steals the show with his overwrought, maniacal performance as a magician who begins to believe in his own ballyhoo (or his own press clippings) and thinks he can actually fly without any contraptions aiding his flight. Oddly enough, his caricature of a role fits into the scheme of things, seeing as how the stylized sets and costumes suggest nothing more than comic strip vision.
Adding to lack of credibility is the casting of NATALIE WOOD as the young Helena who turns into Mayo as an adult. Now that would take the work of a major magician. LORNE GREENE, in his film debut, and E.G. MARSHALL struggle with poorly defined roles in the supporting cast.
Summing up: Dismal. The only question is, what inspired Franz Waxman to write such a pleasing background score?
PAUL NEWMAN at least doesn't have to be ashamed of how he photographed in color because he makes a handsome film debut (physically) but was apparently given no directions from Victor Saville on how to play the role of a man who worked on the framework for The Silver Chalice. His is a bland performance at best and it is undercut even more when he has to share the screen with the terribly miscast VIRGINIA MAYO.
Mayo looks as though she just left the chorus line of The Goldwyn Girls and had the artists paint her eyebrows in what someone must have assumed would resemble women of antiquity. She saunters around in her veiled costumes as though she is about to break out into a burlesque queen's rendition of a bump and grind song number.
JACK PALANCE steals the show with his overwrought, maniacal performance as a magician who begins to believe in his own ballyhoo (or his own press clippings) and thinks he can actually fly without any contraptions aiding his flight. Oddly enough, his caricature of a role fits into the scheme of things, seeing as how the stylized sets and costumes suggest nothing more than comic strip vision.
Adding to lack of credibility is the casting of NATALIE WOOD as the young Helena who turns into Mayo as an adult. Now that would take the work of a major magician. LORNE GREENE, in his film debut, and E.G. MARSHALL struggle with poorly defined roles in the supporting cast.
Summing up: Dismal. The only question is, what inspired Franz Waxman to write such a pleasing background score?
helpful•4512
- Doylenf
- Nov 28, 2006
Details
Box office
- 2 hours 22 minutes
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