The Bible: In the Beginning
(La Bibbia)

Italy (1966): Drama

This film was intended by producer Dino De Laurentiis as the first in a series that would eventually cover the Old and New Testament in their entireties. The many directors engaged for this project dropped out one by one, leaving only the adventurous John Huston. As a result, this film was the first and last in the series; its subtitle "In the Beginning" refers to the fact that only the first 22 chapters of Genesis ended up on film. After a nicely handled special-effects Creation, we are introduced to the buff-naked Adam and Eve (Michael Parks and Ulla Bergyd), whose fall from grace segues into the Cain and Abel story (w. Richard Harris and Franco Nero). Next on the docket is the story of Noah, played by director Huston, who'd originally wanted Charlie Chaplin for the role. Abraham's sacrifice is then dramatized, with George C. Scott as the beleaguered protagonist. In quick succession, we are offered the Tower of Babel, the defiance of Nimrod (with Stephen Boyd made up to look like Jack Palance) and Sodom and Gomorroh. Tying together these Old Testament episodes is Peter O'Toole as three angels; Ava Gardner also shows up in the role of Sarah. On the plus side, Christopher Fry's screenplay dispenses with the usual rheumy-eyed reverence attending Biblical epics, depicting God's various miracles in a matter-of-fact fashion. The Bible says that these things happened, so these things happened; the film takes on the dimensions of a tale told around a tribal campfire. The negative aspects of The Bible: In the Beginning are unfortunately too numerous to mention, a prime example of everyone biting off far more than they could chew. Co-produced and released by 20th Century-Fox. (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

 View the original theatrical trailer for this film on YouTube.com.

1 nomination