The Big Fisherman

Infobox Film
name = The Big Fisherman


caption =
director = Frank Borzage
producer = Rowland V. Lee
writer = Lloyd C. Douglas (novel)
Howard Estabrook
Rowland V. Lee
narrator =
starring = Howard Keel Charlotte Fletcher
music = Albert Hay Malotte
cinematography = Lee Garmes
editing = Paul Weatherwax
distributor = Buena Vista Distribution
released = 1959
runtime = 180 min.
country = U.S.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0052627

"The Big Fisherman" is a 1959 American film directed by Frank Borzage about the life of St. Peter, one of the three closest disciples of Jesus.

The film is adapted from a novel written by Lloyd C. Douglas. The novel is closely related to Douglas' previous book, "The Robe", which was also adapted as a movie. "The Robe" introduced "the Big Fisherman" as a nickname for Peter.

Production

The film 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 (composed in 1935, and introduced on radio that year by John Charles Thomas) of The Lord's Prayer. The film was distributed by Walt Disney's distribution company, Buena Vista, making it one of the few religious films ever associated with Disney.

Plot

In one scene, two men approach Peter (played by Howard Keel) asking if he believes in turning the other cheek. When he says he does, one of them hits him on the cheek to test him.

Casting

Peter is one of Keel's few non-singing roles before his portrayal of Clayton Farlow on the long-running TV series "Dallas". Up to then, he had been primarily known as an actor-singer with a beautiful baritone voice, who had appeared in such MGM musicals as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Kiss Me, Kate" and the 1951 film version of "Show Boat".

Reception

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards: Lee Garmes for Cinematography, Renié for Best Costume Design and John DeCuir for Best Art Direction (color).

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0052627|title=The Big Fisherman
*" [http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks04/0400641h.html The Big Fisherman] " (e-book) available freely at the "Project Gutenberg of Australia" website.