Esther and the King
 
109 min  -  Drama  -  1960 (Italy, USA) 

Directors: Raoul Walsh, Mario Bava


CAST:
Joan Collins ... Esther
Richard Egan ... King Ahasuerus
Denis O'Dea ... Mordecai
Sergio Fantoni ... Haman
Rik Battaglia ... Simon
Renato Baldini ... Klydrathes
Gabriele Tinti ... Samual
Rosalba Neri ... Keresh
Robert Buchanan ... Hegai
Daniela Rocca ... Queen Vashti
Folco Lulli ... Tobiah 


Ester e il re (English Translation: Esther and the King) is a 1960 Italian / U.S.A. religious epic film directed (with Mario Bava, the film's director of photography, who was credited as a co-director on Italian prints of the film [1]), written, and produced by Raoul Walsh. It was produced at 20th Century Fox/ Raoul Walsh Productions, and was released by 20th Century Fox. Joan Collins stars as Esther in this melodramatic, routine Biblical story. Based on the Old Testament, this epic recreates the Book of Esther, the tale that is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim.

Plot:
The film is set in Persia in the 5th century BC. After the KingΓÇÖs wife is murdered, Esther (a Jewish woman) comes to the attention of the recently widowed King Ahasuerus. The king has been trying to stifle and defeat the campaign of hatred against the Jews by his evil minister Haman (Sergio Fantoni). Before the King can pair off with Esther and defeat the villainous Haman, there are several intervening adventures and an additional, attractive woman who competes for attention.