SunnyHello Nice effects though.

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Desertman84 Solomon and Sheba is a biblical romantic epic that is based from the events chronicled the events of the ninth and tenth chapters of the First Book Of Kings and Second Chronicles respectively.It stars Yul Brynner as Solomon and Gina Lollobrigida as Sheba in the title roles together with George Sanders, Marisa Pavan and David Farrar. The theme of the movie differs substantially from Biblical sources and is highly fictionalized story written by Crane Wilbur.In it,we have the the Queen of Sheba as an ally of ancient Egypt in opposition to King Solomon of Israel with whom she is having a love affair.Too bad that the movie somewhat failed to live into its expectation as Brynner looks weak in his portrayal as King Solomon.He fails to create a believable chemistry with Lollobrigida,who showcases a lot of wit and intelligence as Sheba.Added to that,it was slow in pacing despite having great spectacles such as the battle of the Egyptians and Israelites which would definitely entertain the viewer.

kevin_s_scrivner I marked "spoilers" but other reviewers have already mentioned the highlights."Solomon and Sheba" was made in 1959, the same year as "Ben Hur." Yul Brynner (with hair!!!) plays a Solomon so wise and serious he never smiles, not even when he's kissing the Queen of Sheba, portrayed by Italian sexpot Gina Lollobrigida. The screenplay bears no relation to Scripture, grabbing biblical names and running with them. In this tale, Sheba (her given name is never provided) is an agent of the Egyptian pharaoh, visiting Solomon in order to find a way to trip him up so her sponsor can gain the upper hand in the ongoing rivalry between the two kingdoms. She determines that a successful seduction will cause the Israelite king to break the Covenant, destroying his popular support and splintering the Twelve Tribes into vulnerable factions. Meanwhile, Solomon's jealous and militaristic older brother (George Sanders) would welcome any excuse to grab the throne he feels he was cheated of.Solomon, being the wisest man on earth and all, knows Sheba is up to no good. He can't resist falling for her undeniable charms anyway, even though he's got a harem stuffed with scantily clad beauties. Over the protests of Nathan the prophet and the tribal leaders, he agrees to allow Sheba to hold a festival in honor of her people's fertility god (the one she's been praying to for success throughout her seduction campaign). Solomon's struggle with temptation is the most realistic part of the movie. He broods alone in his room as the drums of the orgy begin outside, stalks moodily through the harem filled with lovely women eager for his attention, brushes off the admonitions of his devout, youthful ward (who confesses her own chaste love for him), and finally stumbles, dazed, to where the visiting Shebans are prancing around underdressed.Although there are several vigorous battle scenes between Egyptian chariots and Israeli cavalry and a final confrontation between Solomon and his scheming brother, the pagan fertility festival is the true climax (pun intended) of the movie. The king stands mesmerized as Sheba gyrates before him in a non-outfit that would do credit to one of Conan the Barbarian's girlfriends (according to the Internet Movie Database, Lollobrigida was nude from the waist up in the European version). Finally, they join the other crazed couples in running off into the bush to find a place to make whoopee. Just as they consummate their lust in a convenient cave, an angry Jehovah sends lightning bolts that zap the fertility idol into charcoal and smash the upper levels of his own ziggurat-like temple. The rubble-strewn Holy of Holies stands exposed for the rest of the movie, lit dramatically by a new divinely created skylight.Fortunately, my son was busy in the garage repairing my daughter's bicycle while all this was going on on screen. I'd been worried about the scene, which I'd previewed and found pretty racy even for today, especially in a supposedly religious movie. It must have been downright shocking in 1959, and apparently did negatively affect the financial success of the film.Does Solomon repent? Does Sheba repent? Do they really love each other? Do the Israelites manage to unite in time to beat the Egyptians? Hey, it's a Fifties biblical epic. But after that orgy (which makes the Golden Calf scene in "The Ten Commandments" seem positively dull by comparison), not much else really matters, not even the plots of George Sanders. On a positive note, God is active and involved throughout the story, even during the bittersweet ending. But none of it ever really happened.According to Wikipedia, the kingdom of Sheba was located either in modern Yemen (Arabian peninsula) or Ethiopia (immediately across the Persian Gulf). It may have encompassed both areas, as the nation's borders shifted around over time. Archaeological evidence is scarce but Ethiopian tradition claims the Queen of Sheba as one of their own.

ma-cortes Breathtaking story set in Biblical times with emphasis in lavish costumes and crowds . Justly before his death in ancient Israel King David (Finlay Currie) has a vision from God saying him that his younger son Solomon (Yul Brynner) should succeed him as king . His other son Adonijah (George Sanders) is mean and promises to achieve the kingdom by whatever way . King David names his younger son, Solomon his heir , facing his older son Adonijah. King Solomon acts with wisdom and benevolent and his government is seen as a threat to more tyrannical monarchs in the region . Meanwhile the Egyptian Pharoah agrees to give up a Red Sea port to the Queen of Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) if she can encounter a manner to overthrow Solomon . Sheba, Pharoah, Adonijah, the leaders of the Twelve Tribes and his own God make life dangerous for Solomon . Meantime the Queen of Sheba arrives in Jerusalem, supposedly for a friendly meeting , Solomon slowly falls in love with her. In fact, the Queen is in covenant with the Pharaoh of Egypt (David Farrar) and her aim is to destroy the twelve tribes of Israel and he utilizes the ambitious Prince Adonijah in her schemes .An overblown all-star treatment of the stories in the Old Testament dealing with David , Salomon , Sheba and Adonijah . Lavish spectacle about Solomon and his lover Sheba based on hokey historical events. Brynner and Lollobrigida play a sultriest couple , including some sexy scenes very erotic for the 50s . Tyrone Power died during the shooting in Spain and some shots still show him , he was replaced by Brynner who remade his early scenes .There's so much visual padding full of armours , weapons, carriages , feathers and crowd scenes . Director Vidor gives this film the feel of a Cecil B. De Mille spectacle , but there is little human touch to any of the deeds. Very good photography in super Technirama 70 by the classic cameraman Freddie Young filmed in Madrid, Valdespartera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain . Evocative and impressive musical score by Mario Nascimbene . King Vidor's last movie that is recently restored to 139 minutes . Vidor realized an excellent career plenty of classics as ¨Bird of paradise , Champ , Our daily bread , The citadel , Duel in the sun ; also directed another super-production as ¨War and Peace¨ . Rating : 6 , passable and acceptable.

xjadx_hinosenshi Holy Cow! I watched "Solomon and Sheba" the other day on TCM, and I totally LOVED it! It is very Biblically inaccurate (there was NOTHING between Solomon and the queen of Sheba, just a conversation!), but a lot of fun!Yul Brynner is one of my favorite actors to watch on screen; he is sexy, charismatic, over the top, and has that whacked out ambiguous accent. His ability to believably play just about any nationality and role is very evident in his role as the Hebrew king in this film; even though he seems a little out of place. I wonder why they chose him to replace Tyrone Power? Is it just me, or did he never smile in this or any other movie? Sexy!!!!!Gina Lollobrigia is waaaaaaaaaay hot in this movie! As the erotically inclined, temptress queen, she heats up the screen and blows everyone else out of the water! She and Brynner look very good together, and their love scenes are some of the HOTTEST I've seen in a 50's movie (especially the incredible steamy one at the pagan orgy-WOW!)! Gina has Vulcan eyebrows! I've never seen her in anything else, but I hope I can! She's as va-va-voom as Sophia Loren!Other than these two hot actors, everybody else in the movie SUCKS. George Sanders is like a dull imitation of a villain-yawn! I got bored with the overlong battle scenes, most of which had no Historical basis at all! Errrrrggh!Overall, I give "Solomon and Sheba" an 8 out of 10, it should be a 6 but the sexiness and eroticism of the love story brings it up to an 8. If you like pointless epics with some sexuality thrown in, then I definitely recommend this movie to you. It is a great way to waste a boring afternoon alone!