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Adventure drama

The Old Testament (1963): Cast & Plot

The Old Testament (1963) movie poster

The Old Testament is a 1963 adventure drama directed by Gianfranco Parolini, starring Brad Harris as Simon, Ivano Staccioli and Philippe Hersent. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes.

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The Old Testament (1963) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Genres
Drama , Adventure , History
Original language
Italian
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Old Testament About?

The premise of The Old Testament without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The Jews of Jerusalem are driven out by their Syrian rulers. They gather their forces, and return to drive out their oppressors.

The Old Testament Themes & Keywords

· 3 tags
  • seleucid empire
  • jerusalem
  • jew
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Cast & crew

The Old Testament Cast & Characters

Brad Harris leads the cast as Simon, with Ivano Staccioli as Antioco and Philippe Hersent as Namele. Directed by Gianfranco Parolini; 17 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Gianfranco Parolini

More films directed by Gianfranco Parolini: Yeti: The Giant of the 20th Century, God’s Gun, We Are No Angels and Return of Sabata.

Full filmography
Plot

The Old Testament Plot Summary

What happens in The Old Testament from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film offers a loose, free retelling of the Maccabean Revolt, framing a faith-driven upheaval that tests tradition and freedom. It centers on Mattathias as the aging Jewish priest who calls his people to resistance after the Greek-Syrian rulers demand worship of Zeus within the Temple in Jerusalem. The confrontation pushes the community to flee into the desert, where the harsh wilderness becomes a proving ground for resolve and survival. In the opening chapters, the clash between Syrian forces and Mattathias’s followers grows in intensity, laying the groundwork for a long, drawn-out struggle.

Full summary

The whole story of The Old Testament, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Old Testament?

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
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Which historical uprising does the film loosely retell?

Details

The Old Testament Also Known As

Also known as “Der Kampf der Makkabäer”.

Also known as
  • Der Kampf der Makkabäer

Seen The Old Testament?

FAQ

The Old Testament FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Old Testament, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Old Testament?

The Old Testament runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was The Old Testament released?

The Old Testament was released on April 10, 1963.

Who directed The Old Testament?

The Old Testament was directed by Gianfranco Parolini.

More films by Gianfranco Parolini

Who is in the cast of The Old Testament?

The Old Testament stars Brad Harris as Simon, Ivano Staccioli as Antioco and Philippe Hersent as Namele, among 17 credited actors.

Does The Old Testament have a post-credit scene?

No. The Old Testament has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Old Testament in?

The original language of The Old Testament is Italian.

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