even when they weren not very good and those widescreen biblical epic of the 1950 be usually fun in a campy sort of way . this leviathan from mgm pile on the lavish set and costume but manages to evoke little more than polite boredom mixed with the occasional snicker . there no historical atmosphere here everything be soundstage and there no chemistry between it leading man and lead lady . some worthy player do pop up in the support cast louis calhern and cecil kellaway and joseph wiseman and etc . but theyre usually stick in silly headdress which look like overturn wastebasket . james mitchell probably deliver the lively performance in the movie and he play a mute . poor edmund purdom . he star in 20th big production of 1954 and the egyptian after marlon brando turn down the part and then star in this and mgm big production of 1955 and and yet this almost unprecedented and one two whammy of multimillion dollar spectacle fail to ignite his act career . this be puzzle inasmuch a he be a good look fellow with a fine voice and real acting talent but perhaps the cold and cynical nature of his two major role keep audience from warm to him . he soon wind up in italian b movie . the flogging he suffer while chain in a dungeon in the prodigal do and however and win him a bit of unexpected honor . it rank 66th in the book and lash . the hundred great scene of men be whip in the movie .