"And it came to pass in an eveningtide that David arose from off his bed and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon." (II Sam. 11:2).
These Biblical words have been brought to brightly colored life in the new movie extravaganza David and Bathsheba (1951 - my annotation). While the movie is full of authentic detail - Palestinian desert scenery (filmed in Arizona), slingshots, prophets, famine, psalms - the producers had to draw the line somewhere; and Bathsheba, who has been represented stark naked in classic paintings, is discreetly shielded by a translucent screen.
The lovers, David and Bathsheba, consort together after he has had a brief glimpse of her taking an evening bath. Soon David, played by Gregory Peck, gets her with child.
For adultery, a violation of sacred hebrew law, a woman in David's kingdom is stoned to death. This incident reminds David how seriously he himself has transgressed against the Almighty's law.
Desperate David, tries to persuade Bathsheba's warrior husband Uriah to join Bathsheba at home and thus appear later to be father of her child. Honest Uriah, having sworn to abstinence during battle, firmly refuses to comply.
David is denounced by Nathan the Prophet who says God has visited a drought upon Israel because David had Uriah killed in order to marry Bathsheba. David prays for forgiveness and begs God to recall his pious boyhood.
God's frogiveness descends upon David in form of a torrential rain which ends drought and movie. Though some critics have found David and Bathsheba a little stodgy, it is proving to be one of 1951's biggest money-makers.
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photos and documentation: LIFE Magazine (US) | Zetu Harrys collection
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