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• The Big Fisherman

  • Bruce Reber
  • 5/20/13

  When I got home from work Thursday night 5/16/13 I turned on my TV (always tuned to TCM) and saw a movie playing. I'd never seen it before, so I checked my listing and saw that the title was "The Big Fisherman" (1959), starring Howard Keel (known for all those musicals he did at MGM), the story of Simon Peter and his conversion from a common fisherman to the first apostle of Jesus Christ. I've seen most of the other grand Biblical epics (i.e. "Samson & Delilah" (1949), "The Robe" (1953), "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "Ben Hur" (1959) and "King of Kings" (1961), but I don't know why I've never seen "The Big Fisherman". I watched it all the way through, and it compares favorably with the films I mentioned. There were one or two things wrong though; it looked very fuzzy and scratchy and was shown in pan/scan instead of widescreen. When it airs on TCM again I hope I'll see a better looking print in widescreen. This should be shown at both Christmas and Easter. TBF is a compelling story of the man of whom Jesus said "The rock upon which I will build my church".

• The Big Fisherman

  • David J Cunningham
  • 5/19/13

  I own the book but want a copy of this movie. Book is awesome!! Peter struggles with some of the same things we struggle with. I love God. I will pay 7 times what the movie is worth. Please sell me a copy. Thank you TCM for airing this movie. When will it be on again? I missed the first hour and a half!!

• What Gives???

  • Jimmy
  • 5/18/13

  When I read this was going to be shown I was excited that another Biblical epic was scheduled. What a disappointment! TCM is the advocate of showing wide screen movies in the way they are intended to be shown. What we got to see was a fuzzy pan and scan version. Come on TCM, your loyal fans expect better.

• Long-awaited movie

  • Bill Black
  • 5/16/13

  This movie with Howard Keel first came out in 1959. The book was written by Llloyd Douglas, who wrote The Robe. It may not be a classic, but it was well done. Is it available for purchase?

• Crushed By Ben Hur

  • Jake Spivins
  • 2/8/08

  Based on a book written by Lloyd Douglas (The Robe)Producer Rowland V Lee is supposed to have been inspired to produce this film as a result of his accepting Christ into his life. At great personal expense, Lee produced most of this Tale of St Peter (non-singing Howard Keel)on his own ranch in the North East portion of San Fernando Valley, California (with some additional scenes shot around the Salton Sea. Unfortunately all Lee's efforts were simply obliterated when Willim Wyler released his Ben Hur to qualify for the 1959 Oscars.Fisherman might have the same broad scope of Ben, but it lacks the depth, intimacy and suspense of Ben-Hur

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