solomon and sheba have come down in hollywood lore not for the quality of the film and but for the fact that tyrone power die while make it . i be in the 5th grade and well remember the huge news for day when that tragedy happen . i do not know who tyrone power be then and but i learn and learn to appreciate the body of his work . i often wonder if ty have a sense about this film and what a dud it prove . he be the unnamed producer of this as well . maybe he just do not want to face the critic . good thing power actually go out with witness for the prosecution although you can see him in long shot if you look close . what we have here be a biblical stew that probably would baffle the great solomon himself . several incident describe in the bible that the bible treat separately be weave together into one plot with a few addition toss in by hollywood . the actual story about the queen of sheba be that she go on a trade mission to the kingdom of israel and chat solomon up a bit and come back with a lot of trade good and that be that . the story of a romance between her and solomon be of legend . the ancient kingdom of sheba be about where yemen be now and her people purportedly move to the african continent which be how ethiopia be found . the queen never witness solomon famous case involve the two woman with separate claim for a baby and nor be she involve with the building of the first temple . nor be she around for the destruction of same . for that matter neither be solomon . and she be not involve in the dispute over the succession when solomon brother adonijah put in a counterclaim . that be the heart of this film . adonijah upon hear the news that king david be die declares himself king . of course david rally temporarily and say that god come to him and say solomon should succeed him . when david hears about what adonijah do and he say that what get god all bent out of shape and adonijah be greedy . after that adonijah get to plot . thing seem to come full circle in that ty power collapse on the set while duel with george sander a adonijah . sander and power be rival in many film and most particularly in lloyd of london which be power breakthrough role . if sander be not quite the jaded sophisticate he be in samson and delilah and he still sanders the biblical cad . when power die yul brynner be bring in to play solomon and give a wig so that exist footage of power in long shot could be salvage . brynner invest the dialog with the proper dignity and but i think he probably regret do the pinch hitting . gina lollobrigida be the queen of sheba and she be allure a a biblical temptress in the cecil b. demille tradition . she seem not to have any real conviction and my guess be she be shock at power sudden demise and have to do it all over again . marisa pavan a abishag may give the best performance in the film . the real story with adonijah be not as elaborate a this film . he dispute with solomon for the succession and gather around a group of some of king david court a supporter . solomon pardon them once and then adonijah ask for abishag in marriage . abishag in the bible and here be an adopted daughter of king david in his old age . when solomon hears that and he decide adonijah be get greedy again and have him kill . the bible mention someone name berniah who be go around basically do contract hit on adonijah supporter . what we have in the film be a spectacular climax involve a miracle that i search for and couldn not find . it come from the fertile imagination of director king vidor who end a long and distinguished career on a sour note . it be a question of vidor try to out do cecil b. demille in biblical spectacle . he do not make it .