The Bible was intended by producer Dino De Laurentiis as the first in a series of films which would eventually cover the Old and New Testament in their entireties. The many directors engaged for this project dropped out one by one, leaving only the adventurous John Huston.
As a result, this film was the first and last in the series; its subtitle In the Beginning refers to the fact that only the first 22 chapters of Genesis ended up on film. After creation, we are introduced to the buff-naked Adam and Eve (Michael Parks and Ulla Bergyd), whose fall from grace segues into the Cain and Abel story.
Next on the docket is the story of Noah, played by director Huston, who’d originally wanted Charlie Chaplin for the role. Abraham’s sacrifice is then dramatized, with George C. Scott as the beleaguered protagonist. In quick succession, we are offered the Tower of Babel, the defiance of Nimrod, and Sodom and Gomorroh. Tying together these Old Testament episodes is Peter O’Toole as three angels; Ava Gardner also shows up in the role of Sarah.
The Bible: In the Beginning… is a 1966 American – Italian religious epic film produced by Dino De Laurentiis and directed by John Huston. It recounts the first 22 chapters of the biblical Book of Genesis, covering the stories from Adam and Eve to the binding of Isaac. Released by 20th Century Fox, the film was photographed by Giuseppe Rotunno in Dimension 150 (color by DeLuxe Color), a variant of the 70mm Todd-AO format. It stars Michael Parks as Adam, Ulla Bergryd as Eve, Richard Harris as Cain, John Huston as Noah, Stephen Boyd as Nimrod, George C. Scott as Abraham, Ava Gardner as Sarah, and Peter O’Toole as the Three Angels.
The Bible: In the Beginning… premiered at New York City’s Loew’s State Theatre on September 28, 1966. The day after the premiere, Ava Gardner remarked, “It’s the only time in my life I actually enjoyed working—making that picture.”
In 1967, the film’s score by Toshiro Mayuzumi was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures included the film in its “Top Ten Films” list of 1966. De Laurentiis and Huston won David di Donatello Awards for Best Producer and Best Foreign Director, respectively.
Filming
The scenes involving the Garden of Eden were shot at a “small zoological garden” in Rome instead of a “beautiful place of trees, glades and wildflowers” which had been demolished shortly before the shooting began. Ulla Bergryd, who was cast as Eve, later recalled, “Paradise was, in fact, an old botanical garden on the outskirts of Rome.”
There were five reproductions of Noah’s Ark built for the film.[17] The largest reproduction, which stood on the backlot of the De Laurentiis Film Center, was 200 feet long, 64 feet wide, and 50 feet high; it was used for the long shot of Noah loading the animals. The interior reproduction, which was one of the “largest interior sets ever designed and constructed,” was 150 feet long and 58 feet high and had “three decks, divided into a hundred pens” and a ramp that ran “clear around the ark from top to bottom.”
The third reproduction was a “skeleton” ark, built for the scenes depicting Noah and his sons constructing the Ark. The fourth reproduction was “placed at the foot of a dam” for the inundation sequences and the fifth reproduction was a miniature for the storm sequences. The cost of building the five reproductions was more than $1 million. The building took months and more than 500 workers were employed. The animals were delivered from a zoo in Germany. The whole segment of Noah’s Ark had a total budget of $3 million.
The Bible: In the Beginning… (1966)
Directed by: John Huston
Starring: Michael Parks, Ulla Bergryd, Richard Harris, John Huston, Stephen Boyd, George C. Scott, Ava Gardner, Peter O’Toole, Gabriele Ferzetti, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Franco Nero, Maria Grazia Spina
Screenplay by: Christopher Fry (Based on Book of Genesis)
Production Design by: Giuseppe Rotunno
Cinematography by: Giuseppe Rotunno
Film Editing by: Ralph Kemplen
Costume Design by: Maria De Matteis
Art Direction by: Mario Chiari
Makeup Department: Alberto De Rossi, Elda Magnanti
Music by: Toshiro Mayuzumi, Ennio Morricone
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: September 28, 1966 (New York City premiere)
