Sins of Jezebel
Cast & Crew
Reginald Le Borg
Paulette Goddard
George Nader
Eduard Franz
John Hoyt
Ludwig Donath
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the 9th century B.C., from the city of Jezreel, King Ahab rules over the land known as Israel. Wishing to perpetuate his reign by fathering a son, the aging Ahab has decided to marry Princess Jezebel of Phoenicia. Although the prophet Elijah and Naboth, the Minister of State, warn Ahab of Jezebel's widely known evil ways, he is convinced that political and trade advantages will also result from the marriage and dismisses their misgivings. When Elijah prophesizes that a curse will fall upon his house, Ahab placates him by promising that Jehovah will be their only god. Ahab assigns Jehu, a distinguished soldier, to meet Jezebel's caravan and escort her to the palace. Jezebel is so interested in the handsome Jehu that she abandons her caravan and rides ahead with him in his chariot. When Ahab and Jezebel meet, he quickly becomes enchanted by her and later asks Jehu to deliver some jewels to her quarters where the princess seduces him. At a post-wedding feast, Deborah, Naboth's daughter and Jehu's sweetheart, warns Jehu that Jezebel is very evil. Besotted by Jezebel, Ahab promises her everything, but when she asks that he build a temple to her god Baal, he tells her that he cannot deny Jehovah. Although he tells her that in his land it is the custom for a wife to adopt her husband's religion, he relents. Later, in the newly constructed temple, where Jezebel is the high priestess, she again seduces Jehu. After Elijah enters the temple and condemns Ahab for permitting worship of a false god, he prophesizes that there will be a massive drought in the land and that all of the crops will wither. After the prophecy comes to pass, the starving population rises up against Ahab and the pagan god. As Jezebel intends to conquer Israel, she resolves to end the famine by sending her priests to Mount Carmel to invoke Baal to produce rain. Elijah mockingly interrupts the ceremony, prays to Jehovah and rain falls. When Jezebel learns that prayers to Jehovah, not Baal, brought forth the rain and that her priests have been seized by the people, she decrees that Elijah and his followers will pay with their lives. Although Naboth exhorts Ahab to denounce Jezebel, he refuses, and many of Elijah's followers are forced to flee. Although still bewitched by Jezebel and accused by Deborah of betraying his people, Jehu helps them to escape. Jezebel then has Naboth arrested and stoned to death. This act brings Jehu to his senses and, finally rejecting Jezebel, attracts an army of followers. Later, Ahab is wounded in a war with the Syrians and dies. Elijah then annoints Jehu as King of Israel and Deborah and Jehu marry. Jehu then triumphantly leads his forces against those of Jezebel, who is slain by an arrow.
Director
Reginald Le Borg
Cast
Paulette Goddard
George Nader
Eduard Franz
John Hoyt
Ludwig Donath
John Shelton
Joe Besser
Margia Dean
Carmen D'antonio
Crew
Serge Bertensson
Thomas Coleman
Joseph Edessa
Elmer Ellsworth
Ida Forgette
Thomas Kemp
John Kowalak
Richard Landau
Robert L. Lippert Jr.
Robert Lopez
William Magginetti
Sigmund Neufeld
Stanley Neufeld
Clark Paylow
Carl Pierson
Bob Post
Val Raset
Meta Rebner
Ray Sebastian
Bert Shefter
Earl Snyder
Frank Sylos
Ralph Sylos
Riley Thorn
T. T. Triplett
Gilbert Warrenton
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Re-released in Italy in 1959 under the new, more "macho" title, "Il Re D'Israeli."
Notes
The film begins and ends with modern sequences featuring John Hoyt, who also narrates and plays "Elijah" in the main story. In the opening sequence, Hoyt quotes passages from the Bible, and at the end of the film, he comments on Elijah's role in religion. A Hollywood Reporter production chart lists Stanley Neufeld as assistant director, although he is credited onscreen as production supervisor. In addition, a Hollywood Reporter news item dated May 25, 1953 adds Jack Reitzen to the cast. His appearance in the final film has not been confirmed.
