IMDb > The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)
The Bible: In the Beginning...
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 25 | slideshow) Videos
The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966) -- Extravagant production of the first part of the book of Genesis. Covers Adam and Eve, Noah and the Flood and Abraham and Isaac.

Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   1,254 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Christopher Fry (screenplay)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Bible: In the Beginning... on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 September 1966 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
...In the Beginning more
Plot:
Extravagant production of the first part of the book of Genesis. Covers Adam and Eve, Noah and the Flood and Abraham and Isaac. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
'Lost': The core themes and mysteries
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 31 July 2009, 10:01 AM, PDT)

Bradford International Film Festival Diary Day 3:
 (From CinemaRetro. 28 March 2009, 3:22 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Genesis more (33 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Michael Parks ... Adam
Ulla Bergryd ... Eve

Richard Harris ... Cain

John Huston ... Noah

Stephen Boyd ... Nimrod

George C. Scott ... Abraham

Ava Gardner ... Sarah

Peter O'Toole ... The Three Angels
Zoe Sallis ... Hagar
Gabriele Ferzetti ... Lot
Eleonora Rossi Drago ... Lot's Wife
Franco Nero ... Abel
Pupella Maggio ... Noah's Wife
Robert Rietty ... Abraham's Steward
Peter Heinze ... Shem
Roger Beaumont

Gianluigi Crescenzi
Maria Grazia Spina ... Daughter of Lot (as Grazia Maria Spina)
Angelo Boscariol ... Ham
Claudie Lange ... Nimrod's Wife
Anna Orso ... Shem's Wife (as Anna Maria Orso)
Adriana Ambesi ... Daughter of Lot
Eric Leutzinger ... Japheth
Michael Steinpichler
Gabriella Pallotta ... Ham's Wife
Alberto Lucantoni ... Isaac
Rossana Di Rocco ... Japheth's Wife (as Rossana De Rocco)
Luciano Conversi ... Ishmael
Giovanna Galletti ... Sinful Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paola Ambrosi ... (uncredited)
Flavio Bennati ... Serpent (uncredited)
Salvatore Billa ... Follower of Abraham (uncredited)
Giovanni Di Benedetto ... Nimrod's man (uncredited)
Aviva Israeli ... (uncredited)
Flavio Nennati ... (uncredited)
Marie-Christine Pratt ... (uncredited)
Ivan Rassimov ... Dignitary of Babylon (uncredited)
Amru Sani ... (uncredited)
Elisabetta Velinska ... (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
John Huston 
 
Writing credits
Christopher Fry (screenplay)

Mario Soldati  uncredited
Orson Welles  uncredited

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis .... producer
Luigi Luraschi .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Toshirô Mayuzumi (musical score) (as Toshiro Mayuzumi)
Ennio Morricone (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Giuseppe Rotunno 
 
Film Editing by
Ralph Kemplen 
Alberto Gallitti (uncredited)
 
Casting by
Guidarino Guidi 
 
Art Direction by
Mario Chiari 
 
Costume Design by
Maria De Matteis 
 
Makeup Department
Alberto De Rossi .... makeup supervisor
Elda Magnanti .... hairdresser
 
Production Management
Bruno Todini .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vana Caruso .... assistant director
Ernst Haas .... second unit director (segment "The Creation")
Ottavio Oppo .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Bruno Avesani .... set dressing
Enzo Eusepi .... set dressing
Stephen B. Grimes .... associate art director (as Stephen Grimes)
Aldo Puccini .... set construction
Pasquale Romano .... assistant art director
Mario Scisci .... set construction
Tani .... property master
Luciano Puccini .... assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Italo Tomassi .... scene painter (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Basil Fenton-Smith .... sound recordist
Leslie Hodgson .... sound editor
Fred Hynes .... sound recording supervisor
Murray Spivack .... sound recordist
John Blunk .... sound effects editor (uncredited)
Wayne Fury .... sound effects editor (uncredited)
Marvin Walowitz .... sound effects editor (uncredited)
James D. Young .... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Zeus Ianiro .... special projector: sun effects
Augie Lohman .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Linwood G. Dunn .... special optical effects: Film Effects of Hollywood (as Linwood Dunn)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Giuseppe Di Biase .... first assistant camera (as Pino Di Biase)
Giuseppe Maccari .... camera operator
Piero Servo .... assistant camera
Donald C. Rogers .... photographer: second unit (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Eunice Mountjoy .... assistant to film editor
 
Music Department
Franco Ferrara .... conductor
Gilbert D. Marchant .... music editor (as Gilbert Marchant)
Murray Spivack .... music recordist
Goffredo Petrassi .... musical advisor (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Yvonne Axeworthy .... script girl (as Yvonne Axworthy)
Romano Dandi .... production assistant
Dino De Laurentiis .... presenter
Katherine Dunham .... choreographer
Monsignor Salvatore Garofalo .... consultant (as Mons. Salvatore Garofalo)
Gladys Hill .... associate: John Huston
Angelo Lombardi .... zoological consultant
Prof. The Rev. W.M. Merchant .... consultant (as Professor the Rev. W.M. Merchant)
Giorgio Morra .... production assistant
Ralph Serpe .... assistant to producer
Fred Sidewater .... assistant to producer
Emilio Villa .... historical advisor (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Mirko Basaldella .... acknowledgment: Dino De Laurentiis and John Huston wish to thank the following artists for their co-operation (as Mirko)
Corrado Cagli .... acknowledgment: Dino De Laurentiis and John Huston wish to thank the following artists for their co-operation
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
La bibbia (Italy)
The Bible (USA) (short title)
more
Runtime:
174 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System) | 70 mm 6-Track

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Franco Nero was dubbed by an uncredited actor in this film. It is possible, though, not confirmed, that several of the other Italian actors were dubbed as well, although the actors themselves can be seen mouthing the words. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Before they get into the Ark, one of Noah's daughter-in-laws has on a modern bra under her tunic. more
Quotes:
One of the Three Angels: [after Sarah laughs when told she is to have a child at her advanced age] Why dost thou laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord? more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Religulous (2008) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Genesis, 28 December 2007
6/10
Author: dbdumonteil

In her memoirs ,Ava Gardner wrote that she hated some of her lines,notably when she had to tell her servant she would give children to her husband ."I just cannot say that,it's not my style" But the director answered:"my dear,you will".

"The Bible" is par excellence the movie Huston's fans love to hate ;other examples are "the roots of Heaven" or "the barbarian and the geisha " .Hindsight displays its charms:first,it is an accurate rendition of the Genesis (the title reads "in the beginning" and it is exactly what it is).There's more voice over than dialog but if you have read the Bible (and I'm sure you have)you know that the characters have only a few lines to say .

Chapters include the Creation and the wonders of nature ;Adam and Eve;Abel and Cain (should Abel have gone veggie,crime would never happen );Noah 's ark where the animals went in two by two just to get out of the rain and the huge hippopotamus -featured in the movie- did not get stuck in the door ,thanks to the patriarch's watchful eye (played by the director himself);Nemrod (a hardly recognizable Stephen Boyd)and the tower of Babel;Abraham whose segment is the most important in the whole movie (about one hour is given over to his alliance with God,Sara and Agar -the scene of the pieces of dried fruit is worth the price of admission-,Isaac,Jehovah asking the patriarch to kill Him a son );and Loth's adventures in Sodom where the Angel warns him :do not

look back when you escape from the doomed city .Poor wife! The cinematography is splendid ,particularly in the first sequences .But the most satisfying sequences are to be found towards the end: Abraham's sacrifice takes place in the desert among ruins and here Huston seems to transcend his subject whereas in the other segments ,he only makes a picture book.

Compared to Sergio Leone's "Sodom and Gomorrah",is it so bad?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (33 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Remake Suspected94
Visual representation just highlights the absurdity glenn-299
Great Film! radiantsapphire
History of the World - Part I vs The Bible sdm91559
Bill Cosby? stagebandman
How is this compared to 'The Ten Commandements' (1956)? AslakWerme
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Noah's Ark San Paolo The Belly of the Beast Solomon and Sheba The Ten Commandments
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.