The Big Fisherman (1959)

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(88 ratings)

The lush romanticism of director Frank Borzage (Seventh Heaven, Street Angel) is subsumed by the plodding reverence of producer Rowland V. Lee's screenplay (co-written with Howard Estabrook), based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. Howard Keel stars as a stalwart Simon-Peter, the… More The lush romanticism of director Frank Borzage (Seventh Heaven, Street Angel) is subsumed by the plodding reverence of producer Rowland V. Lee's screenplay (co-written with Howard Estabrook), based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. Howard Keel stars as a stalwart Simon-Peter, the apostle of Christ called "the fisher of men" and the "Rock" upon whom the Christian Church was founded. The film, on the surface, deals with Simon-Peter's conversion from a self-sufficient fisherman to a believer in the inspirational teachings of Christianity. Simon-Peter also serves the needs of the real story: how Simon-Peter succeeds in joining together two lovers from the other side of the tracks. John Saxon is Voldi, an Arab prince who wants to follow in his father's footsteps as the chief of an Arab tribe and marry his beloved, Fara (Susan Kohner). But Fara, wants to see her father, Herod Antipas (Herbert Lom), dead for the misery he has inflicted upon her mother -- abandoning her for the lustful Herodias (Martha Hyer). When Voldi and Fara hear the teachings of Christ, they realize that their love must be put in abeyance to their Christian beliefs. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 3 hr.
Directed By: Frank Borzage
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 4, 1959 Wide

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Cast

            Howard Keel as Simon Peter

            Susan Kohner as Fara

            John Saxon as Voldi

            Martha Hyer as Herodias

            Herbert Lom as Herod Antipas

            Ray Stricklyn as Deran

            Marian Seldes as Arnon

            Alexander Scourby as David Ben-Zadok

            Beulah Bondi as Hannah

            Jay Barney as John the Baptist

            Charlotte Fletcher as Rennah

            Mark Dana as Zendi

            Rhodes Reason as Andrew

            Henry Brandon as Menicus

            Brian G. Hutton as John

            Tom Troupe as James

            Marianne Stewart as Ione

            Jonathan Harris as Lysias

            Leonard Mudie as Ilderan

            James Griffith as The Begger

            Peter Adams as Herod Phillip

            Michael Mark as Innkeeper

            Joe Di Reda as Arab Assassin

            Stuart Randall as King Aretas

            Herbert Rudley as Tiberius

            Phillip Pine as Lucius

            Francis McDonald as Scribe Spokesman

            Jo Gilbert
            
            Don Turner
            
See full cast

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