Disturbing yet enthralling

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Yikes, this was a bad movie! The color cinematography was hideous, the dialog laughable, music was overbearing, sets were cheesy. Oh, and every "B" list actor was in it, except for Howard Keel who only made musicals at the time.I was certain that this was one of those movies shot in Italy cheaply, then re-dubbed in English. To my shock, it was not only made here in the U.S., but by the Walt Disney Company....with a larger budget than the far superior "Nun's Story." Did Disney really make this to actually compete with "Ben Hur?" Unbelievable.The fact that it made it to the nomination stage is actually because no other good movies were set to compete against "Ben Hur" and "Nun's Story." They knew they would lose hands down.When did Walt Disney pass away? Anyway, we usually have Turkey for Christmas day. Turner Classic Movies served this up to our family on Christmas Eve. We had a good laugh.

With this epic,this is FRank Borzage ,one of the most important director America has ever had ,saying goodbye to directing;he was to live only three more years and had little time to enjoy his retirement.But ,what a filmography! Circa 1959,it was epic time ("the ten commandments" ,"Ben Hur","Cleopatra" "kings of kings" ) and it was only natural for Borzage ,whose best works are in essence Christian :his heroes and heroines are prepared to sacrifice everything for the others (often the one they love: "the river" " lucky star" )or what they think is their duty : " no greater glory" or simply humanity (the scientists in "green light" and" doctor's wives" ,the social worker in "stranded").Actually ,"The Big fisherman" is closer to the spirit of Finnish writer Mika Waltari (Curtiz's "the Egyptian" 1954)and even "Ben Hur" : fictitious characters bump into historical or biblical figures such as Herod Antipas,Herodias or Simon Peter (check the title:Christ's famous sentence "you'll be fisher of men" is included)and John The Baptist.Christ also briefly appears ,but like in "Ben Hur" ,we can't see his face.The central character is Fara (played by Susan Kohner who is best remembered for Sarah Jane ,the girl who refused to be black in "imitation of life" ,the same year) whose mother was repudiated by Herod Antipas and who decides to kill him (her father).Borzage generally avoids the usual Hollywood traps :for instance,the dance of the seven veils and the death of the Baptist are filmed shadow show style ;and by the way ,where is Salome? SPOILER: The ending of the movie (and of Borzage's career) is faithful to the director's spirit;the young princess sacrifices (or seems to sacrifice ) her love for Voldi (John Saxon) because she has found a greater love which involves the whole humanity ;perhaps she will become one of the holy women who followed Jesus...

This was by far one of the most powerful and entertaining movies I have ever seen. I saw it on the Disney Channel many years ago and I was lucky enough to tape it on my VCR because it has never been released on DVD or VHS tape. It's like it was forgotten. It is not a musical but a very well acted drama about the life of the Apostle Peter. Fara a princess who is the daughter of Herod Antipas and an Arabian princess who he discarded to marry Herodias learns what her father did just minutes before her mom dies. She vows to go back and kill her father to avenge her mother. She ends up in the house of Simon Peter just before he is called and converted by Christ. Peter protects and cares for Fara. When she is about to kill Antipas he intervenes and stops her. At the end of the movie she gives up the great love of her love "VOLDI" who is named prince of Arabia because she is not a true Arabian. I wish this movie had been released on DVD or Tape because I would recommended to anyone. It's truly a beautiful and Spiritual story.

This was a great film, and it ought to be put on DVD. I remember seeing it and thinking that it was far better than 'Quo Vadis' and many other of the religiously connected biopics, and much better than things like 'Jesus of Nazareth' which I have seen more recently. It is terrible that things like this should become unavailable for people to see, and I for one would very much like to see it again. There is less sloppiness and sentimentality than in some of the early biopics, and lots of good actors acting well. I do really think that this one should be pushed hard and someone persuaded to put it on DVD. I think it was influenced by the novel by Sholem Asch, who was a great novelist about various Jewish and Christian religious figures.