Editing The Big Fisherman

{{short description|1959 film}}
{{For|the 1948 historical novel|The Big Fisherman (book)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = The Big Fisherman
| image          = Bigfishpos.jpg
| caption        = [[Film poster]] by [[Reynold Brown]]
| director       = [[Frank Borzage]]
| screenplay     = [[Howard Estabrook]]<br>and [[Rowland V. Lee]]
| based_on       = the novel by [[Lloyd C. Douglas]]
| producer       = Rowland V. Lee
| starring       = [[Howard Keel]]<br>[[Susan Kohner]]<br>[[John Saxon]]<br>[[Martha Hyer]]<br>[[Herbert Lom]]
| cinematography = [[Lee Garmes]], [[A.S.C.]]
| editing        = [[Paul Weatherwax]], [[American Cinema Editors|A.C.E.]]
| music          = [[Albert Hay Malotte]]
| studio         = Centurion Films, Inc.<br>Rowland V. Lee Production
| distributor    = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Film Distribution Company]]
| released       = {{Film date|1959|08|04|US}}
| runtime        = 180 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $4 million<ref name=Variety>{{cite magazine|title=Rowland V. Lee Brings in 'Big Fisherman'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 4, 1959|page=20|url=https://archive.org/details/variety213-1959-02?view=theater#page/n19/mode/1up|access-date=July 5, 2019|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref>
| gross          = $3 million (US/Canada rentals)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety221-1961-01?view=theater#page/n46/mode/1up|title=Rental Potentials of 1960|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 4, 1961|page=47|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''''The Big Fisherman''''' is a 1959 American historical drama film directed by [[Frank Borzage]] about the life of [[Simon Peter]], one of the  disciples of Jesus. Starring [[Howard Keel]], [[Susan Kohner]] and [[John Saxon]], the production is adapted from the 1948 [[The Big Fisherman (book)|novel of the same name]] by [[Lloyd C. Douglas]]. The film was shot at [[Universal-International]] studios but released by [[Buena Vista Distribution|Buena Vista]], the film releasing company of [[Walt Disney Productions]].

''[[The Robe]]'' ends with "the Big Fisherman" as a nickname for Peter;<ref>[https://widescreenmovies.org/Highlights/epic.htm Hayes, John. "The Epic That Disappeared: ''The Big Fisherman''" ''Widescreen Movies Magazine'' (last revised 6 November 2009)]</ref> Jesus called him "the fisher of men" and "the Rock".

==Plot==
The story traces Peter's journey from self-sufficient fisherman to his dependency on a risen Christ. It also presents another story of redemption and forgiveness, as he takes in a young Arab/Jewish girl, Fara. As they both learn of Jesus, it changes their lives.

The young Fara discovers that she is the daughter of [[Herod Antipas]] who married and shortly discarded her Arab mother [[Phasaelis (princess)|Arnon]] in favor of [[Herodias]]. Disguised as a boy, Fara goes to Galilee to assassinate Antipas in revenge.

Robbed by bandits, Fara is discovered by [[John the Baptist]] who advises her to listen to the great teacher, Jesus. She comes under the protection of Peter but persists in her vows to kill Antipas. She manages to be employed in Antipas' household to translate a series of prophecies.

Fara and Peter hear Jesus teaching. Fara turns away when he urges nonviolence. Peter is initially cynical, but in stages is drawn to become his disciple.

Fara gains an opportunity to kill Antipas, and reveals her identity to him. As Peter watches, Antipas urges her not to sink to murder. Fara recalls the words of Christ, and lowers her knife. Peter declares her free of her own chains.

Peter takes Fara to Arabia where they rescue Voldi, an Arab prince who wishes to marry her. However, Fara realises that her mixed race would jeopardize his future rule, so she leaves with Peter to spread the word of peace.

==Cast==
* [[Howard Keel]] as [[Simon-Peter]]
* [[Susan Kohner]] as Fara
* [[John Saxon]] as Voldi
* [[Martha Hyer]] as [[Herodias]]
* [[Herbert Lom]] as [[Herod Antipas]]
* [[Ray Stricklyn]] as Deran
* [[Marian Seldes]] as [[Phasaelis (princess)|Arnon]]
* [[Alexander Scourby]] as David Ben-Zadok
* [[Beulah Bondi]] as Hannah
* Jay Barney as [[John the Baptist]]
* Charlotte Fletcher as Rennah
* Mark Dana as Zendi
* [[Rhodes Reason]] as [[Saint Andrew|Andrew]]
* [[Henry Brandon (actor)|Henry Brandon]] as Mencius
* [[Brian Hutton (actor)|Brian Hutton]] as [[John the Apostle|John]]
* [[Thomas Troupe]] as [[James, son of Zebedee|James]]
* [[Marianne Stewart]] as Ione
* [[Jonathan Harris]] as Lysias
* [[Leonard Mudie]] as Ilderan
* [[James Griffith]] as The beggar
* Peter Adams as Phillip ([[Herod II|Herod Philip]])
* Jo Gilbert as Deborah
* [[Michael Mark (actor)|Michael Mark]] as Innkeeper
* Joe Di Reda as Assassin
* [[Stuart Randall (actor)|Stuart Randall]] as [[Aretas IV Philopatris|Aretas]]
* [[Herbert Rudley]] as [[Tiberius]]
* [[Phillip Pine]] as [[Lucius of Cyrene|Lucius]]
* [[Francis McDonald]] as Scribe spokesman
* Perry Ivins as [[Pharisee]] spokesman
* [[Ralph Moody (actor)|Ralph Moody]] as Aged Pharisee
* Jony Jochim as [[Sadducee]] spokesman
* Don Turner as Roman captain

==Production==
The film was [[Rowland V. Lee]]'s first in over 10 years.<ref name=Variety/> It was shot in [[Super Panavision 70]] (the first film so credited) by [[Lee Garmes]]. The original music score was composed by [[Albert Hay Malotte]], an American composer who is best known for his musical setting of [[The Lord's Prayer]], composed in 1935, and introduced on radio that year by [[John Charles Thomas]].

Though originally rejected by [[Walt Disney]] because of its religious tone, the film was supported by [[Roy O. Disney|Roy Disney]], and was distributed by [[Buena Vista (brand)|Buena Vista]], making it one of the few religious films ever associated with the [[Disney Company]].

It was shot on location in the San Fernando Valley in California. Portions were shot at La Quinta, California.<ref name=Niemann>{{Cite book
 | last = Niemann
 | first = Greg
 | title = Palm Springs Legends: creation of a desert oasis
 | publisher = [[Sunbelt Publications]]
 | year = 2006
 | location = San Diego, CA
 | pages = 286
 | url =  https://books.google.com/books?id=RwXQGTuL1M0C&pg=PA169
 | isbn = 978-0-932653-74-1
|oclc=61211290}}<!-- {{LCC|F869 P18 N45 2006}} {{ASIN|093265374X}}--> ([https://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0516/2005021837.html here for Table of Contents])</ref>{{rp|168–71}}<ref>{{AFI film|52830|The Big Fisherman}}</ref>

After having starred in a number of [[MGM]] film musicals from 1950 (''[[Annie Get Your Gun (film)|Annie Get Your Gun]]'') to 1955 (''[[Kismet (1955 film)|Kismet]]''), Howard Keel switched to straight acting roles with the 1958 British noir thriller ''[[Floods of Fear]]'', followed by ''The Big Fisherman''. He starred or co-starred in six additional features (four of which were westerns) between 1961 and 1968 and made his final appearance in a 2002 film, playing a supporting role.

John Saxon was borrowed from [[Universal Pictures|Universal]].<ref name="filmink">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=The Top Twelve Stages of Saxon|date=July 29, 2020}}</ref> It was the last film that Borzage completed.

==Reception==
''Variety'' called it "pious but plodding."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/variety215-1959-07/page/n6/mode/1up?q=%22john+saxon%22 Review of film] at ''Variety''</ref>

''[[Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide]]'' (2012 edition) gave ''The Big Fisherman'' 2½ stars out of 4, describing it as a "sprawling religious epic" and deciding that it is "seldom dull, but not terribly inspiring." ''[[Steven H. Scheuer's Movies on TV and Videocassette]]'' (1993–1994 edition) also settled on 2½ stars out of 4, writing that "the story of Simon called Peter" "unfolds with predictable pageantry and uplifting sermonizing".

Assigning 2 stars (out of 5), ''[[The Motion Picture Guide]]'' (1987 edition) found it to be "long, often-enraging and totally miscast" with "a nonsinging Keel as Saint Peter". Evaluating the presentation as "just so much biblical nonsense because such liberties are taken that any serious student of the life and surrounding events will take exception," the write-up declares that "Douglas wrote the novel but made the mistake of entrusting it to the wrong people." After pointing out the film's "numerous technical mistakes: microphone boom shadows, klieg lights, Martha Hyer's vaccination mark", the ''Guide'' concludes that "to make a love story the focal point of such a potentially dynamic saga of history's most memorable era was a bad decision. One of the rare bummers by Disney in those years."<ref>''The Motion Picture Guide'' (Chicago, 1987), volume I, page 193</ref>

[[Leslie Halliwell]] in his ''Film and Video Guide'' (5th edition, 1985) dismissed it as a "well-meaning but leaden adaptation of a bestselling novel which followed on from ''The Robe''. He concluded that it is "too reverent by half, and in many respects surprisingly incompetent." Halliwell's quoted ''[[Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' ("its overall flatness of conception and execution is a stiff price to pay for the lack of spectacular [[sensationalism]] characterizing its fellow-epics") and ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' ("the picture is three hours long, and, except for those who can be dazzled by big gatherings of props, horses and camels, it is hard to find three minutes of entertainment in it").

==Running time==
''Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'' (2012 edition) notes that the film's running time was originally 184 minutes, then cut to 164 minutes then to 149 minutes.

==Awards and honors==
The film was nominated for three [[Academy Awards]]:
* [[Lee Garmes]] for [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
* [[Renié]] for [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
* [[John DeCuir]] and [[Julia Heron]] for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction (color)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{AFI film|52830|The Big Fisherman}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0052627|title=The Big Fisherman}}
* {{TCMDb title|68656|The Big Fisherman}}
* [https://movies.tvguide.com/miracle-in-the-rain/review/106944 ''The Big Fisherman''] at ''[[TV Guide]]'' (a longer form of this 1987 write-up was originally published in ''The Motion Picture Guide'')
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=the-big-fisherman|title=The Big Fisherman}}
* ''[https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks04/0400641h.html The Big Fisherman]'' (e-book) available freely at the ''[[Project Gutenberg]] of Australia'' website.

{{Frank Borzage|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Fisherman, The}}
[[Category:1959 films]]
[[Category:American historical drama films]]
[[Category:1950s historical drama films]]
[[Category:Films based on the Gospels]]
[[Category:1959 drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Frank Borzage]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Saint Peter]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Howard Estabrook]]
[[Category:American religious epic films]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s American films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Herod Antipas]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Tiberius]]
[[Category:English-language historical drama films]]