Filipe Neto This film is based entirely on a passage from the life of King David, in which he falls in disgrace before God by engaging with a married woman. Anyone who knows the Bible minimally or has attended Sunday School knows or has heard about this story, so the script doesn't bring us any surprises. What is most pleasing here is to see the humanity and fallibility of David, an anointed king, chosen by God, but who didn't cease to be a human and to make mistakes, for which he was punished.Gregory Peck is the main actor and gives us an intense, human performance. Initially vain to the point of being a braggart, Peck's David turns a victim of his own pride. Neither he, a king, was above the law or immune to divine wrath. It was a work that grew as the film progressed to the end and dramatic tension increased. Susan Hayward is Bathsheba, a married woman, clearly more vivid than the young king she deliberately provokes. The actress is very beautiful, has talent and was surely a good choice for the role. Jayne Meadows (in the role of David's first wife), Raymond Massey (who played the prophet Nathan) and Kieron Moore (the young and dedicated Uriah) were also excellent additions to the cast, fulfilling their roles with great merit.Technically, the film has only minor flaws. Costumes are good and magnificent to look at, but I didn't like that Jewish star always on Peck's chest. I knew that this symbol only became attached to the Jews in the Middle Ages, so that detail stank of anachronism. The sets were excellent and grandiose, as Hollywood got us used to when it comes to biblical epics. The beauty of colors and photography that Technicolor provides are something delicious for our eyes, perhaps even better than many of the digital features we are used to now. Soundtrack is good, but it doesn't stand out as in "Ten Commandments" or "Ben Hur".

HotToastyRag While a slew of biblical films came out of the 1950s, the universal favorites are Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. Even though two powerhouse actors star in the film adaptation of King David's story and it was really successful at the time, David and Bathsheba might not be one you'll want to watch every year. It's just a little corny, dated, and over-the-top in a bad way. It could have easily starred Victor Mature, and then no one would have ever remembered this movie was even made.Gregory Peck stars as King David, a man with many wives and the love of his people, but is still unsatisfied. Will rejoining his troops on the front lines of battle restore his old passions, or does he just need the love of a good woman to make him feel alive? As he ponders this one evening, he walks out on his balcony and sees Susan Hayward taking a bath in her house—with the windows open. I guess that answers that question.To me, the most memorable aspect about this movie is what it was able to sneak past the Hays Code. The kisses were longer than three seconds, there were blatant discussions about sex, and in one scene, both leads are lying down and Gregory Peck covers her body with his own as he kisses her! All these steamy elements were violations of the Hollywood censorship code, and I'm pretty amazed that this movie was released with a seal of approval.So, even though Gregory Peck is handsome and Susan Hayward is beautiful, this isn't my favorite of either of their films. Susan Hayward is one of my all-time favorite actresses, but I was forced to focus on how fantastic she looked to spare any criticism of her overpowering Brooklyn accent and the mediocre quality of the rest of the movie.

Leofwine_draca Nothing to complain about here: one of the big Hollywood Biblical films of the 1950s, featuring grand sets, grand passions and even grander actors. This one's all about King David, as played by Gregory Peck (one of my favourites), and his affair with Bathsheba (the alluring Susan Hayward).Of course, it wouldn't be an epic without some action, and most of it appears in flashback form here (including the classic David and Goliath sequence, without which any story of David wouldn't be complete!). The emotions are torrid and the acting strong, with Peck particularly on good form playing a complex guy it would be easy to hate in the wrong hands.Much of the film is talky but it held my attention at all times and I didn't feel it dragged at all. The solemn sequences towards the end, involving the Ark of the Covenant, are particularly engaging, finishing up what has been a strong and well-acted story throughout.

Al This film has all the size and grandeur of many of the great biblical epics of the 1950's and '60's. But it is also perhaps the first that really humanizes the biblical characters themselves. This is a unique and compelling balance that helps us to realize that even great figures like King David are flawed people who can find their faith and greatness in facing these very flaws.The actors are all first rate in the film from Gilbert Barnett as David's second son Absolom through to the wonderful Susan Hayward as Bathsheba. Hayward is at her best in this film. Her own larger than life but very truthful style of acting is quite at home on the TV screen as it was when first seen on the wide cinimascope screens of the 1950's. She is the seductress of the piece, but she plays the role in such a way that you sympathize with her.Raymond Massey does a great job as Nathan the prophet. As a child when I first saw the film, Massey seemed like he truly had just conversed with the Lord himself and was an awesome sight. No doubt helped also by the great music composed by the always amazing Alfred Newman who also had great successes in other biblical epics like "The Robe" and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" along with perhaps 100 other films too! The cinema photography by Leon Shamroy is well done and adds to the size but also the intimacy of the film. Henry King, a truly underrated film director who like William Wyler never really pigeon-holed himself into any one genre, pulls together a larger than life production that never loses sight of the love story between David and Bathsheba and David's own deep struggle with his faith in God. The path tread in this film could have been very hokey, but King keeps it real and interesting all the way. Plus we never lose the sense of mystery about trying to understand the will of God, just as David himself is struggling with the same. From the first scene where a soldier dies trying to save the ark from destruction. David is not satisfied with Nathan's answer, (to paraphrase)that no one can understand the will of God. This is the journey we embark on right through to the powerful ending where David is finally confronted with himself.Finally this film belongs to Gregory Peck who is wonderful as King David. His David is a man you can believe could rule a country as King and Warrior but who was also at one time a gentle and faithful singer of psalms. This is one of his best performances.I don't see this movie on television much anymore, but when I do I never fail to watch it. I think it still holds up very well today.