A Story of David

Last updated

A Story of David
Directed byBob McNaught
Written by Gerry Day
Terence Maples
Produced by William Goetz
George Pitcher
Irving Starr
Starring Jeff Chandler
Basil Sydney
Peter Arne
Production
companies
Scoto
Mardeb
ABC Television
Release date
18 November 1962 (US TV)
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Israel

A Story of David is a 1961 British-Israeli drama film directed by Bob McNaught and starring Jeff Chandler, Basil Sydney and Peter Arne. [1] It depicts the life of the Biblical King David and his conflicted relationship with King Saul.

Contents

It was one of the first films made for television. [2]

Plot

Saul becomes jealous of the popularity of his protege and son-in-law David and tries to kill him. David goes into hiding.

Cast

Production

The film was a co-production between ABC-TV and William Goetz. It was shot in Israel and London. [3] It was intended that the film be released as two one-hour episodes for TV in the US and as a feature in other countries. [3] Part one was to be called David the Outlaw; part two David the Hunted. [4]

"It's a simple story," said Chandler "only half a dozen people in it. There'll be no chariot race." [5] Filming took place in Israel in August and September 1960; Israel troops guarded them near the Jordan border. The unit then shifted to Elstree studios in London. Filming had completed by October. [6]

During filming Chandler met David Ben Gurion.

Release

ABC could not find a sponsor for the program. It eventually screened on ABC as a Sunday night movie in 1962. [7] The film drew record high ratings and prompted ABC to commission a series Great Bible Stories . [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goliath</span> Philistine giant in the Bible

Goliath is a Philistine warrior in the Book of Samuel. Descriptions of Goliath's immense stature vary among biblical sources, with the Masoretic Text describing him as 9 feet 9 inches (2.97 m) tall. Goliath issued a challenge to the Israelites, daring them to send forth a champion to engage him in single combat; he was ultimately defeated by the young shepherd David, employing a sling and stone as a weapon. The narrative signified King Saul's unfitness to rule, as Saul himself should have fought for Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Finch</span> English-Australian actor (1916–1977)

Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch was an English-Australian actor of theatre, film and radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Sanders</span> British actor and singer (1906–1972)

George Henry Sanders was a British actor and singer whose career spanned over 40 years. His heavy, upper-class English accent and smooth, baritone voice often led him to be cast as sophisticated but villainous characters. He is remembered for his roles as wicked Jack Favell in Rebecca (1940), Scott ffolliott in Foreign Correspondent, The Saran of Gaza in Samson and Delilah, theater critic Addison DeWitt in All About Eve, Sir Brian De Bois-Guilbert in Ivanhoe (1952), King Richard the Lionheart in King Richard and the Crusaders (1954), Mr. Freeze in a two-part episode of Batman (1966), and the voice of Shere Khan in Disney's The Jungle Book (1967). Fans of radio detective stories know Sanders as Simon Templar, The Saint, (1939–41), and the suave crimefighter The Falcon (1941–42).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Boone</span> American actor (1917–1981)

Richard Allen Boone was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns, including his starring role in the television series Have Gun – Will Travel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Chandler</span> American actor (1918–1961)

Jeff Chandler was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Cochise in Broken Arrow (1950), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was one of Universal Pictures' more popular male stars of the 1950s. His other credits include Sword in the Desert (1948), Deported (1950), Female on the Beach (1955), and Away All Boats (1956). In addition to his acting in film, he was known for his role in the radio program Our Miss Brooks, as Phillip Boynton, her fellow teacher and clueless object of affection, and for his musical recordings.

<i>King David</i> (film) 1985 film by Bruce Beresford

King David is a 1985 American Biblical epic film about the life of David, the second King of the Kingdom of Israel, as recounted in the Hebrew Bible. The film is directed by Bruce Beresford, written by Andrew Birkin and James Costigan, and stars Richard Gere in the title role. The ensemble cast includes Edward Woodward, Alice Krige, Denis Quilley, Cherie Lunghi, Hurd Hatfield, John Castle, Jean-Marc Barr, Christopher Malcolm, and Gina Bellman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Chandler</span> American actor (born 1965)

Kyle Martin Chandler is an American actor. Chandler received widespread critical acclaim for his performance as Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights (2006–2011); he received numerous award nominations for his portrayal of the character and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2011 for his performance in the show's final season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boris Karloff filmography</span>

Boris Karloff (1887-1969) was an English actor. He became known for his role as Frankenstein's monster in the 1931 Frankenstein, leading to a long career in film, radio, and television.

<i>David and Bathsheba</i> (film) 1951 film by Henry King

David and Bathsheba is a 1951 Technicolor epic film produced by 20th Century-Fox and starring Gregory Peck as King David. It was directed by Henry King and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, with a screenplay by Philip Dunne and cinematography by Leon Shamroy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basil Sydney</span> English actor (1894–1968)

Basil Sydney was an English stage and screen actor.

<i>The Robe</i> (film) 1953 film by Henry Koster

The Robe is a 1953 American fictional Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that is responsible for the Crucifixion of Jesus. The film was released by 20th Century Fox and was the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope. Like other early CinemaScope films, The Robe was shot with Henri Chrétien's original Hypergonar anamorphic lenses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil Kellaway</span> South African actor (1890–1973)

Cecil Lauriston Kellaway was a South African character actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice, for The Luck of the Irish (1948) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).

<i>Solomon and Sheba</i> 1959 film

Solomon and Sheba is a 1959 American epic historical romance film directed by King Vidor, shot in Technirama, and distributed by United Artists. The film dramatizes events described in The Bible—the tenth chapter of First Kings and the ninth chapter of Second Chronicles.

<i>And Now Tomorrow</i> 1944 film by Irving Pichel

And Now Tomorrow is a 1944 American drama film based on the best-selling novel, published in 1942 by Rachel Field, directed by Irving Pichel and written by Raymond Chandler. Both center around one doctor's attempt for curing deafness. The film stars Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, and Susan Hayward. Its tagline was Who are you that a man can't make love to you?. It is also known as Prisoners of Hope.

<i>Merrills Marauders</i> (film) 1962 film by Samuel Fuller

Merrill's Marauders is a 1962 Technicolor war film, photographed in CinemaScope, and directed and co-written by Samuel Fuller. It is based on the exploits of the long-range penetration jungle warfare unit of the same name in the Burma campaign, culminating in the Siege of Myitkyina.

<i>Sword in the Desert</i> 1949 film by George Sherman

Sword in the Desert is a 1949 American war film directed by George Sherman. It was the first American film to deal with the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and marked the first significant feature film role for Jeff Chandler.

<i>Pursuit</i> (1972 American film) 1972 American TV series or program

Pursuit is a 1972 American made-for-television drama film that screened on the ABC network as an ABC Movie of the Week. It was Michael Crichton's first work as a director, though his theatrical directorial debut would not premiere until the following year. It is based on Crichton's 1972 novel Binary, which he published under the pseudonym John Lange.

<i>The Shepherd King</i> 1923 film by J. Gordon Edwards

The Shepherd King is a 1923 American silent biblical epic film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Violet Mersereau, Nerio Bernardi, and Guido Trento. It is a film adaptation of a 1904 Broadway play by Wright Lorimer and Arnold Reeves. The film depicts the biblical story of David (Bernardi), a shepherd prophesied to replace Saul (Trento) as king. David is invited into Saul's court, but eventually betrayed. He assembles an army that defeats the Philistines, becomes king after Saul's death in battle, and marries Saul's daughter Michal (Mersereau).

<i>Deported</i> (film) 1950 film by Robert Siodmak

Deported is a 1950 American crime film noir directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Märta Torén, Jeff Chandler and Claude Dauphin. It was made and distributed by Universal Pictures.

The Scarface Mob is an American feature film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Robert Stack. It consists of the pilot episodes for the TV series The Untouchables (1959) that originally screened as a two-part installment of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse on April 20 and 27 1959. The episodes were cut together and released theatrically as a stand-alone feature outside America in 1959 and inside the US in 1962.

References

  1. BFI.org
  2. Two-Part Show Is One Worth Look. Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 21 Nov 1963: C14.
  3. 1 2 Renewal at Allied for Jeff Chandler: 'Plunderers' Pleases Studio; Star Urges Subsidy for Films Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 4 October 1960: A9.
  4. TV King David Is a Diplomat, Too Chicago Daily Tribune21 Aug 1960: sw18
  5. I GET FRUSTRATED: JEFF CHANDLER Jennings, Betty. Picture Show; London (Aug 13, 1960): 7.
  6. THE STORY OF DAVID: Being filmed on location in Israel The Sphere; London Vol. 242, Iss. 3146, (Sep 17, 1960): 416-417.
  7. Biblical Special, 'David' to Screen Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 16 Nov 1962: D18.
  8. NEWS OF TV AND RADIO: Perennial Best Seller Will Be Source Of New A.B.C. Series Other Items By RICHARD F. SHEPARD. New York Times 30 June 1963: 75.