Solomon and Sheba (1959)

Yul Brynner: Solomon

Photos 

Quotes 

• Solomon : Nothing must come between us.

  Sheba : Not even our gods? I knew this moment would come, for the things we believe in are not the same.

  Solomon : I had hoped that in time you would come to accept Jehovah.

  Sheba : As King of Israel, would you abandon the god of your people for mine?

  Solomon : Still, I dared hope.

• Solomon : [holding Abishag dead in arms]  Oh, no. Oh, no. Why? The sin was mine. Why did you not strike me?

• Solomon : In the last few days, I have shown you much of Israel. But you have not told me anything of your own country.

  Sheba : At the moment, my own land seems as distant as the stars.

  Solomon : In my youth, I used to dream of visiting all the faraway kingdoms of the earth.

  Sheba : And now, instead, the rulers of those countries come to you.

• Solomon : Why did you come to Jerusalem?

  Sheba : Why do you ask me such a question now?

  Solomon : Because from the the first time you looked behind those lovely eyes is the brain of a very clever woman who would never have travelled 800 leagues without a purpose.

  Sheba : You have found me out. I will confess to you. The Pharaoh is paying me a fabulous price to spy on you. To deliver to him all of your secrets.

  Solomon : I have considered that, but Israel has no real secrets from Egypt. Pharaoh is aware of our weaknesses and our strength.

  Sheba : How could I hope to deceive you? I have been trying to entrap you. With these. To bind you to me in soft chains so that I may do with you as I will.

  Solomon : Now perhaps we are approaching the truth. Every woman exacts her price from a man.

• [Abishag enters Solomon's chambers, trying to dissuade him from attending Sheba's pagan ritual] 

  Solomon : My door was closed. Must you intrude upon my privacy?

  Abishag : Can you shut out your conscience by closing the door?

  Solomon : Say what you must, then please leave me alone.

  Abishag : I come seeking the man I once knew. The man who was noble, gentle and kind, the man who walked with God.

  Solomon : Those are mere words, Abishag.

  Abishag : I entreat you to listen. When I was a child, you were the world and I adored you. But time passed, and love changed even as I did. My love became that of a woman for a man. But the man became a king, and in his eyes, the woman was still a child. I know how strongly it calls to you. Listen to your people. Their love calls to you, as I call in my love. Listen to them if not to me.

  Solomon : Whether you or my people approve, I must go.

  [Solomon walks to the doors, while Abishag stands against the doors, barring his way] 

  Abishag : You cannot go. Do not destroy yourself! I beg of you!

• Solomon : Too long this soil has been bathed in blood.

  Adonijah : Have you lost your taste for blood now that the heat of battle is over?

  Solomon : After seeing the glory of victory, the greater glory of peace makes itself known.

  Adonijah : Peace is for women and children.

• Adonijah : The sword of victory, Solomon.

  Solomon : And the shield of God, Adonijah.

• Adonijah : Solomon! What are you doing here?

  Solomon : On my way to Jerusalem, we got word the Egyptians were on the prowl again. I thought you might need some help.

  Adonijah : You are better suited to singing songs than exploits on the field of battle.

  Solomon : Our father David was a singer of songs, but he's also a mighty warrior.

• Solomon : I know what is in your heart. All I ask is that you love your country as much as you hate me.

  Adonijah : That would make me the greatest patriot in the history of Israel.

• Solomon : Real wisdom lies in the ability to decide between the true and the false.

• Solomon : it interests me to learn what amuses you.

• Sheba : I want you to love me wholly, completely, and that love to be the most precious thing in your life.

  Solomon : I hope it is true, but if it is not, then let me remain blind to the truth.

• Solomon : At times, a man feels drawn toward the dangers that confront him, even at the risk of his own destruction. Like a moth approaches a flame.

• Sheba : If I do not prevent it, my people would stay and stare at you. The fabled Solomon.

  Solomon : The way I stare at you?

• Nathan : I charge you, Solomon, to cleanse yourself of this iniquity you have permitted to spawn in Israel. Abjure this woman of her idolatries. Tear down the abomination she has erected.

  Solomon : I have given her permission to hold the sacred rite of her own religion, in the privacy of the Vale of Seth.

  Zadok : A pagan revel. An orgy!

• Solomon : After what has come to pass between us, new words keep singing in my heart.

  Sheba : Tell them to me.

  Solomon : Behold, thou art fair, my love, Thine eyes are as doves, Thy lips are as pomegranates, How much better is thy love than wine.

• Solomon : Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.

• Solomon : No matter how few of us are left, we'll fight on. If I cannot live as a king with honor, at least I can die as a king with honor.

• Josiah : What has alarmed you, sire?

  Solomon : Not alarm, but hope. Hope that comes like a light in the midst of darkness. It is as though God had come to me - and showed me the way.

• [last lines] 

  Solomon : His anger is but for a moment. But his love is forever. Weeping may tarry for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

• Solomon : Set them to burnishing their shields. Let them shine like mirrors!