The Silver Chalice (1954) on Netflix
Approved19542h 22mDramaRomance
Basil, an orphan raised by the Antioch artisan Ignatius, becomes a sculptor. When Ignatius dies, his brother Linus has Basil enslaved. The evangelist Luke buys him and takes him to Jerusalem.
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- Netflix1.5/5
- IMDb4.6/101,993 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes13%
Trailer
Plot summary
In Antioch, the wealthy artisan Ignatius adopts an orphan and gives him the name Basil, who grows up to be a sculptor. When Ignatius dies, his brother Linus disputes the adoption and sells Basil as a slave. The evangelist Luke purchases him, and Joseph of Arimathea sets him to make a silver chalice for the Grail, its rim carved with the faces of Jesus and the Apostles. Helena, Basil's childhood companion, serves as assistant to Simon the Magician. Impressed by Simon's magic, Mijamin asks him to travel to Jerusalem.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Silver Chalice (1954)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Paul Newman took out an advertisement in a Hollywood trade paper in 1966 apologizing for his performance in The Silver Chalice and asking people not to watch its television broadcast; the gesture backfired and the broadcast drew unusually high ratings.
- Martin Scorsese said The Silver Chalice was one of the reasons he hired Boris Leven to design New York, New York, pointing to Leven's work on it and on Giant as proof that he had to have him.
- Paul Newman once screened The Silver Chalice at his home for guests, handing out pots, wooden spoons and whistles so the audience could offer noisy critiques; he had called it the worst motion picture produced during the 1950s.
- Saranac Lake, New York, a small town that won a competition selling Christmas Seals, hosted the film's world premiere; director Victor Saville and stars Virginia Mayo, Pier Angeli and Jack Palance attended and took part in a parade during the town's winter carnival.
