The Silver Chalice (film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Silver Chalice

| image_size = 120px
caption = An early VHS cover for the film
imdb_id = 0047494
writer = Thomas B. Costain (novel),Lesser Samuels (screenplay)
starring = Virginia Mayo
Pier Angeli
Jack Palance
Paul Newman (debut)
director = Victor Saville
producer =
distributor = Warner Bros.
released = December 20, 1954
runtime = 135 min.
music = Franz Waxman
awards =
country = United States
language =English

"The Silver Chalice" is a 1954 historical epic film from Warner Bros., based on Thomas B. Costain's 1952 novel of the same name.

Plot

A Greek artisan is commissioned to cast the cup of Christ in silver and sculpt around its rim the faces of the disciples and Jesus himself. He travels to Jerusalem and eventually to Rome to complete the task. Meanwhile, a nefarious interloper is trying to convince the crowds that he is the new Messiah by using nothing more than cheap parlor tricks.

Cast

It marked the film début of Paul Newman as an artist named Basil (né Ambrose), who was given the task of making a silver chalice to house the Holy Grail. It also featured Virginia Mayo as Helena, Pier Angeli as Deborra, Jack Palance as Simon Magus, the villain, Joseph Wiseman as Mijamin, Alexander Scourby as Saint Luke, Walter Hampden as Joseph of Arimathea, Lorne Greene as Peter, and an appearance by Natalie Wood, who plays Helena as a child. Victor Saville was the director.

tyle

Apart from being Paul Newman's first film, this film, intended to be a Biblical epic, is remembered chiefly for the curious domes in the unusual set designs, resembling something that might be seen in a sci-fi film; and for its film score by Franz Waxman, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Premiere

The film had its world premiere in the small town of Saranac Lake, New York, which won a competition selling Christmas Seals. Saville, Mayo, Angeli and Palance attended, and participated in, a parade around the time of the town's annual winter carnival. The premiere itself was hosted by television personality Art Linkletter.

Newman's view on the movie

Paul Newman was apparently not proud of his performance. When the film was broadcast on television in 1966, he took out an advertisement in a Hollywood trade paper apologizing for his performance, and requesting people not to watch the film. This backfired, and the broadcast received unusually high ratings. The film is sometimes referred to as "Paul Newman and the Holy Grail". Newman allegedly called the film "the worst motion picture produced during the 1950s". He once screened it for guests at his home, handing out pots, wooden spoons, and whistles and encouraging the audience to offer noisy critiques.

DVD release

So far, Warner Home Video has only released "Chalice" on VHS format; no plans for a DVD version have been yet announced.

External links

*imdb title|id=0047494|title=The Silver Chalice