The Prodigal
| The Prodigal | |
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Theatrical release lobby card
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| Directed by | Richard Thorpe |
| Produced by | Charles Schnee |
| Written by | Maurice Zimm |
| Starring | Lana Turner Edmund Purdom Louis Calhern Joseph Wiseman |
| Music by | Bronislau Kaper |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Edited by | Harold F. Kress |
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Production
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| Distributed by | MGM |
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Release dates
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Running time
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112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,783,000[1] |
| Box office | $4,143,000[1] |
The Prodigal is a 1955 Biblical epic film made by MGM starring Lana Turner. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Charles Schnee.
The Maurice Zimm screenplay was adapted by Joseph Breen, Jr. and Samuel James Larsen from the New Testament story of the selfish son who leaves his family in search of riches. The music score was by Bronislau Kaper, with cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg.
The film also features Edmund Purdom, Louis Calhern, James Mitchell, Joseph Wiseman, Cecil Kellaway and Walter Hampden. The dancer Taina Elg made her film debut.
The Prodigal was satirized in Mad #26 (November 1955) as "The Prodigious".
Plot summary
The story is loosely based on Jesus Christ's parable of the prodigal son, from the Biblical New Testament Gospels, although considerable liberties are taken with the source material, chief among them being the addition of a female lead in the form of the high priestess of Astarte, Samarra (Turner). Micah (Purdom), a young Hebrew farm boy, sees Samarra and says he will have her. He demands that his father give him his inheritance and journeys to the city of Damascus. There Samarra seduces him into losing his inheritance and betraying his religious faith. Enduring a number of difficulties, Micah finally realizes where he belongs and returns home to his father, who forgives Michael all of his sins and orders a lavish celebration of his return.
Cast
- Lana Turner as Samarra
- Edmund Purdom as Michael
- Louis Calhern as Nahreeb
- Audrey Dalton as Ruth
- James Mitchell as Asham
- Neville Brand as Rhakim
- Walter Hampden as Eli
- Taina Elg as Elissa
- Joseph Wiseman as Carmish
- John Dehner as Joram
- Cecil Kellaway as the Governor
Reception
According to MGM records the film earned $2,153,000 in the US and Canada and $1,990,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $771,000.[1]
