Walt Disney arranged for Buena Vista Distribution (a company formed to release Disney films instead of RKO) to release the film as he wanted a long biblical epic to compete with the other major studios. In particular, he wanted to cash in on their successes, particularly that of BEN-HUR.

THE BIG FISHERMAN was nominated for several Oscars, a testament to the quality of the film and its technical professionals.

The Big Fisherman 1959

The Big Fisherman 1959

My own view is that Howard Keel somehow did not have Box Office appeal and although he is always pretty good – as he was here – he never got film fans rushing to the Cinema for one of his films.

This one lost money as did ‘Jupiters Darling’ with Esther Williams – in fact the only Esther Williams film that did not succeed – and then ‘Kismet’ with Ann Blyth that also did badly so after these two he was released from his contract by MGM

He had been to England in 1957 for ‘Floods of Fear’ which was quite good and later ‘The Day of the Triffids’ again made in England.

Susan Kohner had the female lead in ‘The Big Fisherman’- I remember her so well in one of my favourite Westerns ‘The Last Wagon’ – she was strkingly good looking I thought.

She didn’t have a long career in films – probably active for a decade – after which she married and raised her family having retired from the film world.

Probably her best known and best remembered film was the classic ‘Imitation of Life’ – according to a poll by the BBC, this film came 37th on the ‘Greatest American Movies ever made’ poll. As she looks back now, she must be very proud of that film and her role in it.

Most of us well remember seeing Ben–Hur, which came just before The Big Fisherman, and  Spartacus, which came just after it, but there not many who have a clear recollection of seeing Howard Keel in his only Biblical role.

It was shot in 65mm Super Panavision, had a huge cast, spectacular sets – everything, in fact that you would expect to see in such a film at that time – and yet it made virtually no impact.

The Big Fisherman begins with the half-Judean, half-Arabian Fara (Susan Kohner), and Arabian prince Voldi (John Saxon), who’s love is blighted by rival prince Deran (Ray Stricklyn) revealing that Fara’s father – whom she has never known – is the evil Herod Antipas (Herbert Lom).

The truth of this is confirmed by her mother, Arnon (Marion Seldes) on her death-bed, and in a rage, Fara swears vengeance on Herod for deserting her mother for the infamous Herodias (Martha Hyer). Consumed with anger, she disguises herself as a boy and leaves, vowing to kill Herod. Voldi is given permission to find her and bring her back, but in Judea he is detained by Roman soldiers under Proconsul Mencius. Fara, is befriended by John The Baptist (Jay Barney), who tells her, “ Seek Him.

You have need of Him”. Later, tired and bedraggled, she is discovered on the shores of the Sea of Galilee by Simon – the Big Fisherman, who takes her to the home of his mother-in-law, Hannah (Beulah Bondi), who soon discovers that Fara is really a girl and gives her some suitable clothes.

Fara and Simon are both greatly affected by the Sermon on the Mount, though Fara at first rejects Jesus’ message of “Love thine enemies”. Simon is overwhelmed when a blind baby he is holding in his arms is cured by the touch of Jesus’ hand, and is soon called to become one of the first disciples.

Though Voldi has managed to escape from captivity in Judea, he is once again arrested by the Romans, with orders to return him to Arabia, where his enemy Deran is now king. John The Baptist’s death has plunged Herod Antipas into a deep fear of retribution. He is confronted by Fara who reveals her true identity as she goes to kill him with a dagger, but her hand is stayed at the last moment as she recalls Jesus’ words, “Thou shalt not kill”.

Hastening to Arabia to help Voldi, they arrive just in time to prevent his flogging. Deran, crippled by paralysis, begs Simon to heal him, promising the release of Voldi and justice for all. Simon heals him, but Deran renages on his promise, which causes the paralysis to return with fatal results.

Voldi is acclaimed king, but destiny decrees that Voldi and Fara must first bring peace to their two countries before they can find happiness together.

The producer of The Big Fisherman, Rowland V. Lee, had met Douglas back in 1942, on the very day that he had completed the last chapter of TheRobe. On enquiring as to the subject matter of the completed story, Lee sat enthralled as the gifted speaker described his story, which ends with the robe of Jesus being passed to an old man with the closing words: “For the Big Fisherman”

I have to admit that I haven’t seen the film and the above is gleaned from other people who have. I must make an effort and view this as I have a feeling that I would like it

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