DAVID AND GOLIATH (1960)

This digitally remastered Italian production offers a straightforward reminder of God’s work in David’s life and His protection of Israel. David remains obedient to his calling, prays for King Saul, and faces fear and danger without abandoning that calling.

The film has real biblical value, but its low-budget presentation limits the experience. The acting is weak, much of the dialogue is overdubbed and out of sync, and the script skims over character and story. Moderate violence includes battle scenes and David killing Goliath, while brief pagan worship appears on screen.

For a family seeking a polished biblical epic, this is likely disappointing. For a short, mildly entertaining reminder of God’s provision, watch it at home, with parents giving younger children appropriate discernment.

The Prophet Samuel warns King Saul that God is displeased with his rule and that a new king will come from Bethlehem. There, the shepherd David receives a startling prophecy about his future.

David leaves his family for Jerusalem, where he becomes Saul’s advisor and sees the nation’s godlessness and injustice. But a captain in Saul’s army begins plotting against him. David is sent to the battlefield, where the Philistine king challenges him to face the giant Goliath.

Two stars means this is a mildly entertaining film whose biblical foundation is stronger than its filmmaking. Orson Welles brings star power as Saul, but the movie feels low-budget and poorly acted. Much of the dialogue is overdubbed and out of sync with the actors’ mouths, while the sets and costumes look cheesy at times.

The script takes the biblical story seriously enough to remain inspiring and broadly accurate, but it has a superficial feel. It skims over character and story instead of giving them depth. Some scenes were cut from this DVD version, which may account for some of what is missing. As a rainy-afternoon time-filler, it is serviceable.

The film presents a strong biblical worldview centered on God as the King of Kings, whose people are to obey Him. Characters pray to God, and David remains faithful to his calling despite fear and danger. The story also emphasizes God’s work in David’s life and His protection of Israel.

The film takes some liberties with the biblical account, but the source review finds that these changes do not strongly skew the story away from the original biblical text. The main departure comes through the Philistine king’s pagan sacrificial ceremony and his declaration that “the only god is gold.” That idea directly opposes the film’s central affirmation that God alone is worthy of obedience.

The story’s longing for protection and faithful calling points beyond David to the Lord’s rule over His people. “The battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).

This short film preserves the biblical story’s central reminder of God’s provision and protection, even though its acting, dubbing, sets, and script are weak. Families who want to watch it should do so at home, with discernment for younger children. WAIT FOR HOME.