Alfred Fremont Movies

"Her Salome Will Steal Your Breath Away" was the classic advertising slogan attached to this opulent Rita Hayworth epic -- a slogan which became laughable whenever a radio announcer would mispronounce Salome as "salami." Using the very sketchy Biblical story of the death of John the Baptist as its springboard, Salome depicts its title character, the stepdaughter of King Herod, as a victim of circumstance rather than a wanton temptress. Banished from Rome because of an unfortunate romance with the nephew of Caesar, Salome (Rita Hayworth) declares that all men are her enemies, but her resolve weakens when she falls in love with Claudius (Stewart Granger), the military commander of Galilee. Meanwhile, Salome's wicked mother, Herodias (Judith Anderson), plots the demise of John the Baptist (Alan Badel), who currently enjoys the protection of the superstitious Herod (Charles Laughton). At this point, the story departs radically from Scripture. Salome is no longer coerced by Herodias to demand the head of John the Baptist; instead, Herodias, on her own, promises Herod that Salome will perform the "Dance of the Seven Veils" for him -- but only if he beheads John first (Salome has been misinformed that the dance will save John from the headsman's sword). Somehow, scriptwriter Jesse Lasky Jr. even manages to concoct a happy ending for poor Salome, which is a lot more than Oscar Wilde or Richard Strauss were able to do. Considered an artistic flop in 1953, Salome seems somewhat better today, if only because of that powerhouse cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It is easy to imagine Theda Bara playing the lead in this Fox Biblical epic, especially since its credited director is J. Gordon Edwards, who manned the megaphone for many of Bara's films. But by 1920, Bara had pretty much left films (she would only make two more pictures during the 1920s), and Betty Blythe, who also became known for her exotic vehicles, played the lead. Blythe, however, did not exude the unbridled sexuality that Bara did -- something that trade paper Moving Picture World saw as a plus: the fact that "there is never a suggestion of the vamp in one of her poses or gestures," it noted, would keep the bluenoses from complaining about her skimpy costumes. And there is much bare flesh to be had in this picture. When the Queen of Sheba kills her mate, the wicked King (George Siegmann), her people are grateful. She pays a visit to the court of King Solomon (Fritz Leiber) and wins a chariot race for him. Solomon falls in love with her, and the night before she leaves she visits him in his private quarters. The result of this meeting is a child, which the Queen's people accept as the son of the dead King. When the boy (Pat Moore) is four, she sends him to visit Solomon, who is happy to see him. His brother (G. Raymond Nye), however, is not so thrilled -- he believes that Solomon plans to make the boy heir to his throne. He attempts to overthrow the King, and the Queen, realizing that her son is in danger, takes her army to help Solomon. Once the King's foes are vanquished, the Queen tells Solomon good-bye, and returns home with her son. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

A Southern aristocrat is under doctor's orders to put down his fiddle and take a vacation in the West. He plays a final song before putting down the instrument and picking up a gun to kill himself. His grim mission is interrupted by a young country girl (Shirley Mason) who is running away from her cruel mistress. The girl tells the troubled man that "love and faith meet every human need," and the two travel together out West. The fiddler fights off the villain trying to despoil the virtuous young girl, and the two find love and hope for the future. The man regains his health and proposes marriage to the grateful girl in this romantic drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Theda Bara doesn't do much vamping in her follow-up to Salome. She is Lillian Marchard, nursemaid to the lecherous Mortimer West (Joseph Swickard). While West makes disgusting advances towards Lillian, she pines for his son, Michael, who is a clergyman (Albert Roscoe). One night when the old man paws at Lillian, Michael walks in on them. He denounces Lillian, and the shock of the whole situation brings old man West to his death. Michael tells Lillian she is the cause of all this and throws her out. The disheartened girl transforms herself into a dancer named Poppea, and attracts the attention of Michael's cousin Reggie (Jack Rollens). Michael asks her to send the young man away. During their meeting, Poppea tries desperately to get back together with Michael, and she is successful. But Reggie has been spying on the two of them and he kills himself. Once again Michael blames the girl for this misfortune and leaves. At the end of her tether, Poppea decides to auction herself off to the highest bidder and then drink poison, but before she can end it all, she receives a bunch of lilies -- a peace offering from Michael, who finally realizes that she was innocent of any wrongdoing. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi