Review – Salome

Leave it to Hollywood in 1953 to suck all the sexuality right out of one of the racier parts of the Bible. Rita Hayworth in all her blondeness stars as the title character, which is scarcely the most egregious liberty taken with the story. Indeed, by the end the whole thing was so thoroughly upside down that I was starting to wonder if John the Baptist was even going to be executed. I don’t mind a little tinkering here and there, especially if it’s just additional back-story. But this goes too far. Further, I was surprised that a production that didn’t wince at rewriting scripture suddenly turned timid when approaching the erotic elements of the tale. In particular, Hayworth’s performance of the legendary dance looks better suited for a gymnastics competition than for a royal seduction. Even by the standards of the day, this is weak stuff. See if desperate