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| Paulette Goddard |
SINS OF JEZEBEL (1953). Director: Reginald Le Borg.
King Ahab (Eduard Franz of
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake) of Israel sends Captain Jehu (George Nader of
Death in a Red Jaguar) to accompany his bride-to-be, Princess Jezebel (Paulette Goddard), back to the palace. Jezebel is delighted to see handsome Jehu and at first mistakes him for the King. Her face reflects her disappointment when she finally comes face to face with the much-older Ahab, but she's also relieved that her future husband isn't the fat man in consultation with him. Even before the ceremony, Jezebel is making out with a besotted Jehu, who undoubtedly thinks that his girlfriend, Deborah (Margia Dean), can't hold a candle to the much sexier Jezebel. Jezebel insists that Ahab build a temple to her Pagan God, Baal, which infuriates the pious prophet Elijah (John Hoyt). You know all of this will lead to trouble. And just where does one of the Three Stooges fit in with Jezebel and her schemes?
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| Goddard with George Nader |
No, this isn't
The Three Stooges Meet Jezebel although that might have been more fun. And Joe Besser of the Stooges does have a very small role as the keeper of the chariots (and isn't very good).
Sins of Jezebel almost sinks right from the start with tedious narration of Genesis from the bible delivered by John Hoyt in front of a large painting depicting some of the events. With a beard, Hoyt also plays Elijah and he is good in the role, although when he shows up again as a lecturer at key moments (obviously the budget was too small to film every sequence) it's a different story.
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| John Hoyt as pious Elijah |
Paulette Goddard had only four minor films to make and several TV appearances before she retired. She was still quite attractive at 43 but not quite in the siren league. She gives a solid "B" movie performance in this -- the film doesn't deserve anything better -- and the same could be said for George Nader.
Sins doesn't have very strong production values, and the best thing about it is a notable score by Bert Shefter. The picture does follow the essential story of Jezebel, Ahab and Elijah, although we don't see the queen being eaten by wild dogs.
Verdict: Not bad or campy enough to be good. **.
Too bad; I really enjoy Paulette Goddard and the handsome George Nader too. Goddard is great in The Women and So Proudly We Hail, and if Selznick had not met Vivien Leigh, I think she would have made a spirited Scarlett O'Hara; judging from the screen tests, she would have been quite good.
ReplyDelete-Chris
I agree with you. She had that certain inner fire. Too bad she didn't have a better vehicle when she played Jezebel.
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