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Comedy drama

Simon of the Desert (1965): Cast, Box Office & Plot

Simon of the Desert (1965) movie poster

Simon of the Desert is a 1965 comedy drama directed by Luis Buñuel, starring Francisco Reiguera as The Devil as an Old Witch, Claudio Brook and Hortensia Santoveña. It runs 45 minutes and earned $1,843 worldwide.

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Simon of the Desert (1965) movie poster
Released
Runtime
45 min
Director
Luis Buñuel
Genres
Comedy , Drama
Original language
Spanish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Simon of the Desert About?

The premise of Simon of the Desert without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Simon, a devout 4th‑century hermit, seeks closeness to God by climbing a towering column in the desert. While he endures isolation and physical strain, the Devil appears, urging him to descend and offering worldly temptations, testing his faith and resolve.

Simon of the Desert Themes & Keywords

· 34 tags
  • dark humor
  • surrealism
  • temptation
  • amputee
  • bible
  • satire
  • religion
  • faith
  • female nudity
  • satire comedy
  • dark comedy
  • saint
+22 more
  • miracle
  • desert
  • devil
  • rock band
  • religious leader
  • religious fanatic
  • prophet
  • nightclub
  • hypocrisy
  • reference to god
  • goat
  • fasting
  • disguise
  • dancing
  • handicapped
  • christ figure
  • bread
  • pillar
  • title spoken by character
  • character name in title
  • female topless nudity
  • blasphemy
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Cast & crew

Simon of the Desert Cast & Characters

Francisco Reiguera leads the cast as The Devil as an Old Witch, with Claudio Brook as Simón and Hortensia Santoveña as The Mother. Directed by Luis Buñuel; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Simon of the Desert

· 8 more
From the director

More from Luis Buñuel

More films directed by Luis Buñuel, best-rated first: That Obscure Object of Desire, Tristana (re-release), The Golden Age and The Phantom of Liberty (re-release).

Full filmography
Plot

Simon of the Desert Plot Summary

What happens in Simon of the Desert from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The ascetic Simón Stylites Claudio Brook has spent six years, six weeks, and six days perched on a small pillar in the middle of the Syrian desert, a stark, sun-baked stage for a life of vigil. A crowd of monks and peasants gathers below, and they urge him to accept a taller pillar raised by a wealthy family to honor him for healing one of them. As the procession moves the short distance toward the new height, his aging mother Hortensia Santoveña steps forward with a quiet plea to remain nearby until she dies. He agrees, yet he makes it clear that he will not acknowledge her presence so as not to disturb his prayers.

Full summary

The whole story of Simon of the Desert, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Simon of the Desert Box Office

Simon of the Desert grossed $1,843 worldwide.

1965 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.8K

International
$1.8K
Videos

Simon of the Desert Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Simon of the Desert.

Simon of the desert | Trailer | Indiecinema
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Simon of the Desert?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who portrays the ascetic Simon Stylites in the film?

Details

Simon of the Desert Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “Simon pelarhelgonet” and “Simon i ørkenen”.

Also known as
  • Simon pelarhelgonet
  • Simon i ørkenen
  • 砂漠のシモン
  • Simon del deserto
  • Simon du désert
  • Simon in der Wüste
  • Симеон столпник
  • סיימון של המדבר
  • Симеон пустинникът
  • Simão do Deserto
  • Oszlopos Simeon
  • Szymon Pustelnik
+9 more
  • Simon pustinjak
  • Ο Σιμών της ερήμου
  • Simon na pousti
  • Simon ja viettelykset
  • 沙漠中的西蒙
  • Çöl Adamı Simon
  • 사막의 시몬
  • Simón del desierto
  • Simon din Deșert

Seen Simon of the Desert?

FAQ

Simon of the Desert FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Simon of the Desert, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Simon of the Desert?

Simon of the Desert runs 45 minutes.

When was Simon of the Desert released?

Simon of the Desert was released on August 27, 1965.

Who directed Simon of the Desert?

Simon of the Desert was directed by Luis Buñuel.

More films by Luis Buñuel

Who is in the cast of Simon of the Desert?

Simon of the Desert stars Francisco Reiguera as The Devil as an Old Witch, Claudio Brook as Simón and Hortensia Santoveña as The Mother, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Simon of the Desert make at the box office?

Simon of the Desert grossed $1,843 worldwide.

Does Simon of the Desert have a post-credit scene?

No. Simon of the Desert has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Simon of the Desert in?

The original language of Simon of the Desert is Spanish.

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