Slaves of Babylon

Slaves of Babylon
Slaves of Babylon
Directed by	William Castle
Screenplay by	DeVallon Scott
Story by	DeVallon Scott
Produced by	Sam Katzman
Starring	Richard Conte; Linda Christian
Cinematography	Henry Freulich
Edited by	William A. Lyon
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	October 1953;
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Slaves of Babylon is a 1953 American adventure film directed by William Castle and starring Richard Conte and Linda Christian^[1]^[2]

William Castle called it a "low budget extravaganza".^[3]

Plot

In 586 BC the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the armies of king Nebuchadnezzar and its people were brought captive into Babylon. After decades of subjugation by their Babylonian masters the Jews are crying out for a saviour. The prophet Daniel dispatches Nahum, one of his faithful servants, to search the faraway empire of Media for a young shepherd named Cyrus, who unknowingly is destined to become Cyrus, king of the Persians, who holds the key to the freedom of the Jewish people.

Cast

Richard Conte as Nahum
Linda Christian as Panthea
Maurice Schwartz as Daniel
Terence Kilburn as Cyrus
Michael Ansara as Belshazzar
Leslie Bradley as Nebuchadnezzar
Ruth Storey as Rachel
John Crawford as General Avil
Ric Roman as Arrioch
Robert Griffin as King Astyages
Beatrice Maude as Cyrus' Foster Mother
Wheaton Chambers as Cyrus' Foster Father
Paul Purcell as Overseer
Julie Newmar as Dancer-Assassin (as Julie Newmeyer)

Production

The film was announced by Katzman in November 1951. It was part of an eight-film slate he was making at Columbia, others including Prince of Pirates with Paul Henreid, Serpent of the Nile, Cairo to Suez, Jack McCall, Desperado, The Pathfinder, Siren of Bagdad and Flame of Calcutta.^[4]

In January 1952 the film was formally put on the schedule. It was part of the early 50s boom in Biblical era pictures.^[5] In May Kaztman said the film would start in November.^[6]

In July Richard Conte was announced as Nahum.^[7]

In October 1952 it was announced Richard Conte's wife Ruth would make her film debut in the movie under the name "Ruth Storey" and that Linda Christian would also appear.^[8] The same month Katzman said William Castle would direct following Conquest of Cochise.^[9]

References

^ "Sam Katzman: He Makes The Serials". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). No. 243. New South Wales, Australia. 20 September 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 8 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
Schallert, Edwin (21 November 1951). "Drama: Dunne and MacMurray Reunion Hinted; Sam Katzman Slate Notable". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
^ "SLAVES OF BABYLON (Columbia)". Picture Show. Vol. 62, no. 1605. London. Jan 2, 1954. p. 10.
^ Castle, William (1976). Step right up! : ... I'm gonna scare the pants off America. Putnam. p. 124.
^ Schallert, Edwin (Nov 21, 1951). "Drama: Dunne and MacMurray Reunion Hinted; Sam Katzman Slate Notable". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
^ Schallert, Edwin (Jan 15, 1952). "Gary Cooper to Star in 'Springfield Rifle;' Korvin to Stage-Direct". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.
^ Schallert, Edwin (May 31, 1952). "Drama: Minnelli Will Guide Astaire, Fabray; Big Oriental Fete Slated". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
^ Schallert, Edwin (July 12, 1952). "Drama: 'Don Juan in Hell' Set; Conte to Change Pace; Hayes Covets 'Lives'". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
^ Schallert, Edwin (Oct 4, 1952). "Cornel Wilde Possible for Spain Project; Ford May Guide Cinerama". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Oct 31, 1952). "Eva Bartók With Duff; Lovejoy Faces 'Trial;' 'Moulin Rouge' Rushed". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.

External links

Slaves of Babylon at the TCM Movie Database
Slaves of Babylon at IMDb

[1] "Sam Katzman: He Makes The Serials". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). No. 243. New South Wales, Australia. 20 September 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 8 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
Schallert, Edwin (21 November 1951). "Drama: Dunne and MacMurray Reunion Hinted; Sam Katzman Slate Notable". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.

[2] "SLAVES OF BABYLON (Columbia)". Picture Show. Vol. 62, no. 1605. London. Jan 2, 1954. p. 10.

[3] Castle, William (1976). Step right up! : ... I'm gonna scare the pants off America. Putnam. p. 124.

[4] Schallert, Edwin (Nov 21, 1951). "Drama: Dunne and MacMurray Reunion Hinted; Sam Katzman Slate Notable". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.

[5] Schallert, Edwin (Jan 15, 1952). "Gary Cooper to Star in 'Springfield Rifle;' Korvin to Stage-Direct". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.

[6] Schallert, Edwin (May 31, 1952). "Drama: Minnelli Will Guide Astaire, Fabray; Big Oriental Fete Slated". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.

[7] Schallert, Edwin (July 12, 1952). "Drama: 'Don Juan in Hell' Set; Conte to Change Pace; Hayes Covets 'Lives'". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.

[8] Schallert, Edwin (Oct 4, 1952). "Cornel Wilde Possible for Spain Project; Ford May Guide Cinerama". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.

[9] Scheuer, Philip K. (Oct 31, 1952). "Eva Bartók With Duff; Lovejoy Faces 'Trial;' 'Moulin Rouge' Rushed". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.

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