This cut rate biblical epic is about that most wicked of kings, Herod The Great most noted for the mass infanticide in Bethlehem shortly after the first Christmas. But this film presents a far different view of what led up to those tragic events.
Herod as played by Edmond Purdom borrows a bit from Othello. This is one jealous dude whose fits of madness are encouraged by the Iago he has fathered, son Antipas who as the Bible tells us eventually inherited the crown.
Herod is also a character in Antony and Cleopatra and he had the misfortune to pick a loser there when Antony and Cleopatra lost at Actium and commit suicide. Now Octavian is probably going to pick a Roman governor for Judea and Herod will be deposed. Herod goes out on a diplomatic mission to save his throne.
He does, but while he's away the rumor is spread because they really do think Octavian's going to do Herod in, it would seem the logical course. But instead they arrive at a power sharing arrangement for Judea. All the people who've dethroned Herod prematurely are in deep trouble. But his psyche is now ripe for the evil counsel of his kid Antipas.
Herod has an infant son as well and the mother has spirited him away from the palace. When he gets rumors that they made flight to Bethlehem and that famous star appears, Herod of course misinterprets the whole thing.
The film was not as bad as I thought it would be and certainly provides an interesting alternative for the biblical explanation of events that we are all familiar with.
Herod as played by Edmond Purdom borrows a bit from Othello. This is one jealous dude whose fits of madness are encouraged by the Iago he has fathered, son Antipas who as the Bible tells us eventually inherited the crown.
Herod is also a character in Antony and Cleopatra and he had the misfortune to pick a loser there when Antony and Cleopatra lost at Actium and commit suicide. Now Octavian is probably going to pick a Roman governor for Judea and Herod will be deposed. Herod goes out on a diplomatic mission to save his throne.
He does, but while he's away the rumor is spread because they really do think Octavian's going to do Herod in, it would seem the logical course. But instead they arrive at a power sharing arrangement for Judea. All the people who've dethroned Herod prematurely are in deep trouble. But his psyche is now ripe for the evil counsel of his kid Antipas.
Herod has an infant son as well and the mother has spirited him away from the palace. When he gets rumors that they made flight to Bethlehem and that famous star appears, Herod of course misinterprets the whole thing.
The film was not as bad as I thought it would be and certainly provides an interesting alternative for the biblical explanation of events that we are all familiar with.