David and Goliath

(1960)

95 minutes.

Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, Richard Pottier, and Orson Welles

Cast: Orson Welles, Eleonora Rossi Drago and Ivica Pajer

Country: Italy

Film / Drama / Adventure / Sword and Sandal / Foreign

King Saul of Israel, once fair and just but now mad with power, is denounced by the prophet Samuel, who predicts that a young monarch of extraordinary intelligence and goodness will succeed to the throne. Guided by the Lord, Samuel chooses David, the youngest son of a Bethlehem shepherd, and has him brought to the court of Saul. When the youth's goodness and wisdom begin to attract a following, particularly Saul's son Jonathan and daughter Michal. The evil prime minister, Abner, advises the king to send David to arrange a truce with the Philistines, with whom Israel has long been warring. David confronts King Asrod of the Philistines, who, impressed by the boldness of the youth, agrees to a truce if David can slay Goliath, the powerful Philistine giant.