Italy Movie Tour 
50 years ago the John Huston's film The Bible: the locations in Italy
In 1966 was released in cinemas the movie The Bible: In the Beginning, the film directed by John Huston and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. In late September in the United States. The European premiere at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.
The draft of De Laurentis to produce a film on the Bible had been started since 1960, but it had proved very difficult.
Initially, the producer had called several directors including Fellini and Kurosawa, to achieve a complete film on the Bible. Subsequently, limiting the project to only the book of Genesis, he involved Luchino Visconti, Orson Welles and Robert Bresson. Even these, however, they gave up. Finally in 1964 he took over John Huston, who completed the enterprise.
The film covers the first 22 chapters of the book of Genesis in the Old Testament: the Creation, Adam and Eve and the expulsion from Eden; Cain, Abel, and the first human crime; Noah's Flood; the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah; the sacrifice of Isaac; Abraham's faith.
Locations
The Bible was shot mostly in Italy. The opening scenes of the Creation were shot in various parts of the world. Those relating to the struggles between the tribes of Israel and the Tower of Babel, set in desert areas, were shot in Egypt.
As for Italy the interiors were filmed in Dinocittà, of Dino De Laurentis properties.
The film was shot in many locations in central and southern Italy and in the islands.
In Abruzzo the slopes of Monte Velino and Massa d'Albe (AQ).
In Lazio the Odescalchi estate in Palo Laziale, in the municipality of Ladispoli (RM).
In the South Pontine countryside, in the town of Itri (LT) in the Magliana district
In Campania, the slopes of Vesuvius was filmed the scene of the condemnation of Cain by God.
On the Corrasi mountain in the territory of Oliena (NU) in Sardinia was filmed the scene of the sacrifice of Isaac.
In Sicily, on the slopes of Etna, they were shot the scenes of Abraham and Isaac among the ruins of Sodom. The older of the place still remember the beautiful Ava Gardner, who played Sarah, wife of Abraham who was staying in the Grand Hotel San Domenico in Taormina, her whims and her furious arguments with the American actor George C. Scott, who played in the movie just Abraham.
Cast
Richard Harris, Stephen Boyd, George C. Scott, Peter O'Toole, Franco Nero, John Huston, Ava Gardner, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Gabriele Ferzetti, Gabriella Pallotta, Pupella May, Adriana Ambesi, Claudie Lange, Michael Parks, Ulla Bergryd, Maria Grazia Spina
Credits
The screenplay is by Christopher Fry, Vittorio Bonicelli, Ivo Perilli, Mario Soldati, Orson Welles
The photograph of the first sequences of Creation is by Ernst Haas; for the rest of the film it is by Joseph Rotunno. Mounting by Ralph Kemplen and Alberto Galliti. Music by Toshiro Mayuzumi. The set design by Mario Chiari.
Awards
David of Donatello (1966) to Dino De Laurentis (best producer) and to John Huston (best foreign director).
Silver Ribbon (1967) with Mario Chiari (best set design).
Trailer
