Sins of Jezebel is a 1953 production financed by Sigmund Neufeld and directed by Reginald Le Borg , the film was shot in Ansco Color for widescreen projection . Set in 9th century BC Israel, the prophet Elijah (John Hoyt) advises king Ahab (Edward Franz) not to marry Jezebel (Paulette Goddard) , an idolatrous princess of Phoenicia. Ahab sends for Jezebel, however, and commands Jehu (George Nader) , his captain, to escort her caravan safely to Jezreel. Once Jehu meets Jezebel, he immediately becomes attracted to her and she confuses him for Ahab . Jezebel finally arrives at Jezreel and is greeted by Ahab who , stunned by her beauty, provides her with an individual chamber until they marry. The aging Ahab, king of Israel, comes under the influence of a young and beautiful but scheming pagan woman . Against the advice of his advisers and the prophet Elijah, Ahab falls for her . On her wedding night, Jezebel evades Ahab and pursues Jehu , whom she seduces. Jezebel establishes the cult of Baal, her idol, in Israel and builds a temple. Her plan to introduce her pagan idols to Israel angers God, who decides to wreak vengeance on Israel. Jehovah, the God of the Israelites, delivers drought upon Israel because of the idolatry and sends his prophet Elijah to reprimand the people. Elijah prays to Jehovah and the drought ends.
Paulette Goddard was signed to star this Biblical film along with Edward Franz as Ahab , George Nader as Jehu and Margia Dean was cast as Deborah . The film began shooting on May 13 , 1953 , interior scenes were shot at KTTV Studios and exterior scenes were shot at Corriganville Ranch. Sins of Jezebel received mixed reviews from critics. Some reviewers described the film as "a spectacular Robert L. Lippert, Jr. Production in gorgeous new Ansco Color" . Other critics also commended and praised the film's color cinematography, but questioned the film's low budget by writing, "the desire was strong, but the cash was weak¨. For the film's cast, Paulette Goddard gives a riveting performance as she was "ideally cast" as Jezebel, while Edward Franz is nice as elderly king Ahab and John Hoyt provides a competent job as Elijah and narrator .
The film is inspired by Biblical writings , there are the following ones : Jezabel as the daughter of Ithobaal I of Tyre and the wife of Ahab, King of Israel, according to the Book of Kings of the Hebrew Bible . According to the biblical narrative, Jezebel, along with her husband, instituted the worship of Baal and Asherah on a national scale. In addition, she violently purged the prophets of Yahweh from Israel, damaging the reputation of the Omride dynasty. For these offences, the Omride dynasty was annihilated, with Jezebel herself suffering death by defenestration. Later, in the Book of Revelation, Jezebel is symbolically associated with false prophets. Her coronation as queen upset the balance of power between Yahwism and Baalism. As a worshiper of Baal, Jezebel had significant power and influence, which she used to both support Baal's cultus and eliminate its rivals, using methods that the Bible describes in brutal terms. Obadiah, a pro-Yahwist figure in Ahab's royal court, secretly protected the survivors of these purges in a cave. As a result, Elijah invited Jezebel's prophets of Baal and Asherah to a challenge at Mount Carmel. The challenge was to see which god, Yahweh or Baal, would burn a bull sacrifice on an altar. Jezebel's prophets failed to summon Baal in burning the bull sacrifice, despite their cries and cutting themselves. Elijah, however, succeeded when he summoned Yahweh, impressing the Israelites. He then ordered the people to seize and kill the prophets of Baal and Asherah at the Kishon River. After the prophets were slain, Jezebel swore to have Elijah become like her prophets , even if it meant embracing divine judgement upon herself if she failed to do so. Elijah fled for his life to the wilderness, where he mourned the devotion of Israel to Baal and lamented being the only Yahwist worshiper left. Three years later, Ahab died in battle. Elijah condemned Ahab for committing theft and murder. As punishment, God decreed Ahab's death and the annihilation of his royal line. Jezebel's death was also decreed, with her corpse to be devoured by dogs. His son Ahaziah inherited the throne, but died as the result of an accident and Ahaziah was succeeded by his brother, Joram. Elisha, Elijah's successor, commanded one of his disciples to anoint Jehu, commander of Joram's army, as king, to be the agent of divine punishment against Ahab's family. Jehu killed Joram, and his nephew Ahaziah . He later approached the royal palace in Jezreel to confront Jezebel. Knowing that Jehu was coming, Jezebel put on make-up and a formal wig with adornments and looked out of a window, taunting him. Bromiley says that it should be looked at less as an attempt at seduction than the public appearance of the queen mother, invested with the authority of the royal house and cult, confronting a rebellious commander. Jehu later ordered Jezebel's eunuch servants to throw her from the window. Her blood splattered on the wall and horses, and Jehu's horse trampled her corpse. He entered the palace where, after he ate and drank, he ordered Jezebel's body to be taken for burial. His servants discovered only her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands-her flesh had been eaten by stray dogs, just as the prophet Elijah had prophesied.
