主演:Humphrey,Bogart,Kim,Hunter,Ed,Begley
导演:Richard,Brooks
简介:Ed Hutcheson, tough editor of the New York 'Day', finds that the late owner's heirs are selling the crusading paper to a strictly commercial rival. At first he sees impending unemployment as an opportunity to win back his estranged wife Nora. But when a reporter, pursuing a lead on racketeer Rienzi, is badly beaten, Hutcheson is stung into a full fledged crusade against the gangster, hoping Rienzi can be tied to a woman's murder...in the 3 issues before the end of 'The Day.'
主演:艾弗·诺韦洛,琼·特里普,玛丽·奥尔特,阿瑟·切斯尼,马尔科姆·基恩,雷金纳德·加德纳,阿尔弗雷德·希区柯克,艾玛·雷维尔,Daisy,Campbell,Maudie,Dunham,Eve,Gray
导演:阿尔弗雷德·希区柯克
简介:一位新房客(艾佛•诺维洛饰)被房东太太(玛丽•奥尔特饰)和她丈夫(阿瑟•切斯尼饰)怀疑有可能是恶名昭著的“连环杀手”,但他们当时装模特的女儿黛西•邦廷(琼•特里普饰)却被他深深吸引。黛西的男友警探乔•贝茨(马尔科姆•基恩饰)产生了嫉妒,于是在房东太太的教唆下获得了搜查令闯入了他的房间。然后警察找到了一把手枪和一张标明以往杀人地点的地图,以及一张第一个受害人的照片。房客辩称那个女孩是她的妹妹,他只是在寻找杀人凶手,可是警察还是逮捕了他。在黛西的帮助下,他逃了出来,但因为戴着手铐在酒吧被人发现,于是,他被逼入了墙角。本片有一个难忘的镜头被希区柯克称为是在默片时代替声音的拍法,就是镜头里出现“房客戴着手套的右手在楼梯扶手上慢慢下滑。
主演:迈克尔·阿斯普,Peter,Graham
导演:彼得·沃特金
简介:1 9 6 4年,在中苏援助下的北越军队大举攻入南越,苏军跨过柏林墙占领西柏林,东西方两大阵营顿时剑拔弩张,核战一触即发。英国政府一边积极备战,一边教导人们怎样应付核打击,无奈普通人既无恰当科学防范知识,对他们而言最简陋的防核设施也似乎太贵。然后核战就爆发了:一颗战术热核弹降落伦敦附近的肯特郡,百万人立即幸福地化为灰烬,活着的人们开始了漫长的人间炼狱。二战后,英国政府有过三次公然干预BBC(英国广播公司)节目的事件,一次是1954/55年关于氢弹的报道,一次是1956年苏伊士运河危机期间,还有一次,就是1965年关于彼得·沃金斯的这部电影《战争游戏》。该片本受BBC电视台委托而作,原是为纪念广岛长崎原子弹悲剧二十周年,摄制完成后,却因为其过于真实强大的冲击力、感染力和对英国完全无用的核政策的全面否定,而被政府视为核裁军运动的宣传品,从而干预BBC,先是要求大规模删减,最后干脆下了软禁令,导致该片被一向以开明公正而闻名的BBC禁播达二十年之久。
主演:埃里克斯·肯德里克,莎丽·里格比,普里西拉·C·夏勒,本·戴维斯,霍莉·A·莫里斯,肯德里克·克罗斯,雅琳·赖特-汤普森,卡梅伦·阿内特,杰克·斯特纳,伊丽莎白·贝卡,米卡·林恩·汉森,格伦·博尔斯,米凯·霍姆斯,大卫·布莱米
导演:埃里克斯·肯德里克
简介:教练约翰·哈里森(Alex Kendrick饰)的生活一夜之间发生了变化,他的高中篮球队和州冠军梦想在意外消息的重压下破灭了。在勉强同意担任越野教练后,约翰和他的妻子艾米(Shari Rigby饰)遇到了一位有抱负的运动员,她在通往发现的旅程中突破了自己的极限。在一位新朋友的话语和祈祷的鼓舞下,约翰成为最不可能的教练,帮助最不可能的跑步者在一年中最大的比赛中尝试不可能的事情。
主演:严屹宽,李晟,高梓淇,李建义
导演:征长张
简介:2019年末,一种新型病毒在全世界陆续被发现,武汉某医院重症医学科副主任郑直临危受命,全面负责新冠肺炎的收治工作。病人数量暴增、医疗物资紧缺,郑直面临巨大的压力……一向不苟言笑的郑直依靠集体的力量解决着各种问题,但麻烦总是接踵而来:患者成大海认为医疗费过高,病床的紧缺让患者越发焦虑,郑直信任的青年医生林军担任流调员工作,在救助一名60岁智力有缺陷患者时被患者刺伤,郑直父亲也被感染,医生们的体力已经到达极限几乎崩溃……至暗时刻,医护们终于听到了第一支医疗队驰援武汉的消息,而此时,郑直也为病危的孕妇接生成功,婴儿响亮的啼哭与市民们“武汉加油!中国加油!”的呐喊汇成了一首动人的主旋律。
主演:孙波,
导演:成卫平,
简介:金庆与林媛是一对中年夫妻,因为邻居每晚噪声较大,林媛一直想换个房子一日金庆带着女儿金倩出门寻找家里丢失的狗,因种种误会金庆被小区居民认成虐狗的变态,后来无数爱狗人士的骚扰威胁让整个家庭生活变得困扰不堪。金庆工作上的项目又被停掉,与好兄弟被一起开除,林媛又想着换房子,重压之下林媛想出利用假离婚获得购房优惠,夫妻二人又因假离婚导出许多矛盾。然而就在这关键时刻,林媛又怀了孕,换房迫在眉睫。金庆再次求职失败,决定于黄小贝一起创业,林媛为了支持自己老公,问家里借钱作为金庆启动资金。在经过一番努力后,金庆的事业开始走上正轨,金庆也放弃在城里买房,与妻子女儿狗狗一起幸福的生活在乡下,远离城市房价的压力。
主演:凯伦·阿伯克龙比,普里西拉·C·夏勒,T·C·斯托林斯,特纳·唐宁,阿勒娜·皮特,贝思·摩尔,小迈克尔,雅丹·哈里斯,诺埃尔·贝克
导演:埃里克斯·肯德里克
简介:托尼(T·C·斯托林斯 T.C. Stallings 饰)拥有着收入不菲的工作,妻子伊丽莎白(普里西拉·C·夏勒 Priscilla C. Shirer 饰)美艳动人,孩子丹尼尔(阿勒娜·皮特 Alena Pitts 饰)乖巧可爱,一家人住在装修考究的大房子里,过着平静而又幸福的生活,托尼是朋友和同事们眼中人生赢家的楷模。然而,虽然托尼的婚姻生活金玉其外,但内里却早已经充满了败絮,夫妻两人在外和睦,回到家关起门后便势同水火,他们将彼此视作自己人生的阻碍,宛如仇敌。一次偶然中,伊丽莎白结识了名为克拉拉(凯伦·阿伯克龙比 Karen Abercrombie 饰)的老人,克拉拉教会了伊丽莎白何为信仰。在信仰的带领下,伊丽莎白决定和人生和解。
主演:孔宪珠,陈锐,冯狄青
导演:张泽鸣
简介:60年代初,广州西关一条狭窄、旧陋的小巷中居住着区老枢父子。50开外的区老枢是旧社会过来的老艺人,他酷爱广东音乐,编写过不少优美动人的曲谱。他毕生最大的心愿便是发表自己的曲集,可惜这个愿望至死未能实现。他的儿子冠仔颇具音乐天赋,并一直受到父亲的熏陶。但由于从小失去母爱,生活的负担使他过早地成熟,养成了耿直的性格。在他们父子周围居住着形形色色的邻居,有热爱广东音乐而又心地善良的盲人;有与冠仔青梅竹马、两小无猜的慧女。小巷里人与人之间洋溢着友爱的暖流。但是,"文革"的狂风暴雨打破了小巷的平静。人们喜爱的音乐被禁止了,曲谱虽然被区老枢藏了下来,但小冠仔却因在批斗区老枢的大会上听到父亲婚变"丑史"而深受刺激,一气之下,离家出走,串联、下乡,一去就是多年……10年后,变得高大、粗犷、面容冷漠的冠仔回到了物是人非的小巷,见到了消瘦、苍老的父亲。父亲仍念念不忘那包下落不明的曲谱,冠仔既是怜悯,又不以为然。但他们却没有想到这包曲谱后来的命运--大部分被焚烧,少数珍品在海内外发表了,有的竟变成了广东音乐四大天王之一何大傻的佚曲。区老枢积劳成疾,离开了人间。在他死后,他最钟爱的《雁飞云天》被改编为钢琴协奏曲,登上大雅之堂,轰动一时。而他的名字依然被埋没着。生活又把冠仔和他昔日的亲人、朋友重新聚集到一起。另嫁他人的生母、粤剧名旦小红棉对冠仔怀着深深的内疚,但冠仔始终没能理解母亲内心的痛苦;少时的女友慧女现已有了家庭、孩子,虽然对冠仔仍旧情难忘,但也只能默默地为他祝福;同母异父的妹妹、音乐学院钢琴系毕业生韵芝不避前嫌、不计较冠仔的冷落,几访区家,取得了区老枢的残迹遗稿,一曲成功……冠仔从这些纠葛中看到父亲曲谱的价值所在,真正认识了父亲对粤剧音乐做出的贡献,同时也对社会和人生有了新的、更为深刻的理解。
主演:克里斯托斯·路易斯,Alexandros,Bourdoumis,乌尔里希·图库尔,丹·史胡曼斯,瓦莱丽亚·戈利诺,赫里斯托斯·斯泰尔伊约格卢,Dimitris,Tarloou,Thanos,Tokakis,奥雷利安·雷克因,Josiane,Pinson,文森特·内梅斯,科内利乌斯·奥博尼亚,乔治·兰茨,亚历山德罗斯·洛戈蒂斯,瑟米斯·帕诺,Nikos,Psarras,弗朗西斯科·阿克夸利,科林·斯廷顿,乔治斯·科拉菲斯,阿克斯·萨克拉里欧,丹·弗雷登堡,Duncan,Skinner,科斯塔斯·安达洛普洛斯
导演:科斯塔-加夫拉斯
简介:改编自「希腊前财政部长」雅尼斯瓦鲁法克斯同名政治回忆录。2015年的希腊面临经济不景气,国家濒临破产危机,欧元集团会议因此频繁召开,然而,这些「闭门会议」却成为毫无益助的残酷循环,希腊当局政府迫使实行紧缩专政,不仅罔顾人权,更抹煞政府对人民的同理心;随著国家经济危机越演越烈,希腊财政部长雅尼斯瓦鲁法克斯即将揭开欧元集团会议「门内」的丑陋斗争……
主演:罗伯特·德尼罗,迈克尔·莫里亚蒂,文森特·加迪尼亚,菲尔·福斯特,安·韦奇沃斯,帕特里克·麦克维,希瑟·麦克雷,塞尔玛·戴蒙德,芭芭拉·巴布科克,莫里斯·罗森菲尔德,汤姆·利根,汤姆·西尼奥雷利
导演:约翰·D·汉考克
简介:故事发生在纽约,一个专业棒球队里两个球员的故事。Henry是明星投手,Bruce Pearson是普通投手,Bruce和其他球员十分友好,但与Henry投手却十分隔漠,这甚至开始影响球队的命运……◎简介Henry Wiggen是纽约长毛象队( New York Mammoths based on NYY)的明星投手。(那是自由球员制还未施行的年代,球员的薪水并不高,即使像Henry Wiggen这种明星球员,还得兼营一些副业。在电影中,可看出他还是保险经纪人,而且对理财颇有一套,另外,他还是曾出过书的作家——这就是他 Author 这个绰号的由来。)而他的室友——也是他保险的客户—— Bruce Pearson,则和他刚好相反。他球技普通,生活习惯又差,平时一副蠢样,在队上根本没人理他。(Henry 本身也很讨厌他,有一次,Henry 逮到Bruce在洗手檯便溺,气得向总教练Dutch投诉。)但,就在这一年春训之前,一切都改变了。因不幸而变成好友Bruce感到身体不适,经医师诊断是何杰金氏淋巴瘤(Hodgkin's disease, or Hodgkin's lymphoma),这在当时是绝症。Bruce的保险是向Henry投保的,在Henry 的陪伴之下,他们一起到专门的医院做进一步诊疗,并得到医院的确认。Henry听从Bruce的要求,保守著这个秘密。两人回到春训集训地,当时 Henry 和球团的谈薪陷入僵局,Henry 正在「罢训」。但不久他得到消息,球团打算要释出Bruce,於是他接受球团提议的薪资,只不过要加入一条附加条款——他的命运必须和Bruce绑在一起,球团不管要交易还是释出Bruce,都得连他一块送走。球团答应这个条件。但总教练觉得事有蹊蹺,如之前所述,Henry曾向他抱怨Bruce的不良生活习惯,但怎么突然间,又像是情人一样不可分离呢?总教练私下想尽办法要查个水落石出。总教练一直找线索,想要知道之前Henry和Bruce到了什么地方、做了什么事,而 Henry就不断扯谎,想出各种理由来掩饰他和Bruce去过医院。脱胎换骨的表现Henry还以他的理财知识当条件,和一位老爱奚落Bruce的队友达成协议,希望他不要对Bruce那么刻薄。Henry告诉这位队友Bruce罹患绝症的秘密,并要他守口如瓶。但这种「秘密」,很快就在队友之间秘密流传,没多久,大多数球员都知道了。忽然间,大家对 Bruce 都特别包容,人人都愿意与他交友。原本这支球队,充满了球技一流的球星,但人人各自为政,谁也不服谁,现在因为Bruce的不幸,球队的向心力竟因而凝聚了起来,此后球队连战连胜。Bruce原本只是替补捕手,上场机会不多,表现也不理想;因为队友的接纳,他开始有了自信,各项表现都创下生涯新高,到了七月,他已是主战捕手了。球队最终拿下第一,季后赛一路横扫,夺得世界大赛冠军。而Bruce在球季结束前,就因病重离队,於不久后便病逝了。电影在Henry的旁白中结束。Bruce的丧礼,球队只有送花,没有代表到场。◎幕后Bang the Drum Slowly ,中译名为「战鼓轻敲」。不过首先要说明的,这个Drum,并不是战鼓,而是送丧时的哀鼓;Slowly,也非「轻」敲,而是「慢」敲。这个鼓声,就像是丧鐘,沉重地、缓慢地敲击著,像是死神逐渐走近的脚步……本片改编自 Mark Harris 的同名小说 Bang the Drum Slowly 。Mark Harris 总共写了四本棒球小说,这「四部曲」分别是:The Southpaw (1953)、 Bang the Drum Slowly (1956)、A Ticket for a Seamstitch (1957),和 It Looked Like For Ever (1979),书中的主角,都是投手 Henry Author Wiggen。Bang the Drum Slowly 这个书名,是从一首美国的传统牛仔歌曲 Streets of Laredo (或称为「牛仔悲歌」 Cowboy's Lament )中的歌词改编而来,这首歌,唱的是一位垂死牛仔的临终遗言,原先的歌词,有些用语比较古老一点,而在电影里,歌词有小小的更动,以下是和书名有关的副歌部分:O bang the drum slowly and play the fife lowly,Play the dead march as they carry me on,Put bunches of roses all over my coffin,Roses to deaden the clods as they fall啊,哀鼓慢慢击,横笛低声奏,当他们抬我灵柩时,演奏那送丧曲,在我棺木上,覆满成束玫瑰,让那玫瑰,舒缓落下的土块。
主演:章贺,刘筠燃,梁天,张海燕
导演:刘国权
简介:抗疫斗争惊险万分,2020年海京因疫情封城,深呼吸康复机构老板程阳肾移植术后持续低烧,但仍为了查清捐赠口罩过期一事奔忙,潜入了药店老板范总的家中。范总家保姆马飞燕身为密接人员却从医院逃离,主治医师陈扬为找回她也来到范总家中,却扑了空。因发烧被误认为新冠患者的程阳经历了种种惊险的时刻,误打误撞中揭开了范总售卖过期口罩背后的罪行,并与前女友陈扬重逢。最终这场因疫情和人性纠葛而起的闹剧该如何收场?
主演:白金,夏广炎
导演:李金林
简介:“它不是宠物狗,甚至不是一条狗,它很有可能是......很有可能是战士!”部队训犬师出身的退伍军人武鹏这么评价一条流浪狗。无家可归的流浪狗身份扑朔迷离,命运多舛,直至遇到刚刚告别大学校园的李旭帆,一人一犬相互陪伴和依赖,建立起深厚的感情,得名“微笑”。职场的艰难和现实的矛盾都没有使她放弃对微笑的关爱和责任。李旭帆与武鹏相识后,共同守护着微笑最后的尊严与骄傲,二人也“因犬生情”。李旭帆在职场崭露头角,而微笑也因旧病复发,病重期间盼望李旭帆能领着它回到从小长大的、训练过的、战斗过的军营去,可是出差在外的李旭帆来不及回到微笑身边,微笑已经在大雨中永远闭上了双眼。
主演:麦克·辛,塞缪尔·杰克逊,凯瑞-安·莫斯,布兰登·罗斯,Necar,Zadegan,斯蒂芬·鲁特,吉尔·贝罗斯,马丁·唐文,Yara,Shahidi
导演:格雷格·乔丹
简介:前美军特种部队炸弹专家史蒂芬·阿瑟·杨格(麦克·辛 Michael Sheen 饰)正走向一条危险之途,作为穆斯林他不满美国对待阿拉伯国家的政策,于是策划发动恐怖袭击。他宣称在三个城市中分别安放了三颗小型原子弹,美国本土危在旦夕。FBI反恐部门女探员海伦·布洛迪(凯瑞-安·莫斯 Carrie-Anne Moss 饰)负责调查此案,却在紧要关头发现军方以及一个神秘部门介入其中。她的小队连同极度危险的谈判专家亨利·汉弗莱斯(塞缪尔·杰克逊 Samuel L. Jackson 饰)受命审讯史蒂芬。绰号H的亨利手段残忍严酷,加上政府高层的纵容他愈加有恃无恐。海伦反感这样惨无人道的非法手段,她想尽办法争取史蒂芬的信任,终于让他说出其中一颗炸弹的暗访地点。
主演:娜塔莉·伍德,克里斯托弗·普卢默,罗伯特·雷德福
导演:罗伯特·马利根
简介:出身贫寒的戴茜·克洛弗(娜塔莉·伍德 饰)心怀明星梦,终于有一天受到制作人雷蒙德·斯万(克里斯托弗·普卢默 饰)的赏识如愿以偿进入演艺圈,但公司不仅将其精神失常的母亲关进疯人院,还要其伪装成一个她不喜欢的乖乖少女形象。正当她沮丧不已意志消沉之时,韦德·刘易斯(罗伯特·雷德福 饰)出现在她面前,俩人迅速成为好友关系日渐亲密,最终一起走入婚姻的殿堂。在蜜月之旅中,戴茜全心全意地沉浸在新婚的喜悦之中,韦德却忽然消失了。
主演:姚安濂,汤嬿,赵炬,黄精一
导演:张唯
简介:曾经,林大林(姚安濂 饰)亦是一位默默无闻的打工仔,然而,多年过去,凭借着自己的努力和坚持,林大林终于翻身做了老板,拥有了一间属于自己的玩具工厂。然而,老板却并不是这么好当的,林大林的命运并非掌握在自己的手中,他的成败完全由手握订单的外商所决定。随着时间的推移,林大林的工厂渐渐办不下去了,没有生产,就没有盈利,没有盈利,林大林就无法给手下的工人们发工资。某日,林大林接到了一笔数量可观的订单,但是,时间紧迫,工人们必须加班加点完成任务。与此同时,一位名叫艾晶(汤嬿 饰)的记者潜伏在林大林的工厂之中,她此行的目的,是为了曝光林大林“血汗工厂”的真相。
主演:张智霖,汤镇业,潘虹,苏有朋,范冰冰
导演:钟澍佳
简介:年幼的张家泽、张家聪、张燕青三兄妹之父母被黑帮份子蛇哥(汤镇业饰)杀害,三兄妹流落街头,幸有“儿童之家”福利院院长(潘虹饰)收留了他们。在家泽的坚持下,可爱的弟妹分别被人家收养。十五年后,被台湾富商收养的张家聪(苏有朋饰)已经毕业并与女友订婚,改名为志华的家聪希望在婚礼上由当年失散的兄长和妹妹做自己的证婚人,与未婚妻南下寻找兄妹。在广州,家聪很快找到了已经成为教师的妹妹燕青(范冰冰饰),但是在香港的大哥家泽却下落不明,一行人赴港,找到曾和家泽一起的黑道分子“野鸡”(张智霖饰),后者声称家泽已死,其实野鸡就是家泽本人,他为了替父母报仇,加入了蛇哥一伙,家泽不想连累弟妹,不想蛇哥却主动找上了他们……
主演:乔恩·哈姆,乔什·卢卡斯,罗娜·迈特拉,詹姆斯·范德比克,杰西卡·查斯坦,乔安娜·卡西迪,吉米·本内特,莫蕾娜·巴卡琳,迈克尔·库立兹,安迪·米尔德,霍特·麦克卡兰尼,祖德·塞克利拉,里克·戈麦斯,马库斯·托马斯,格拉汉姆·菲利普斯
导演:Anders,Anderson
简介:儿子汤米(Ty Panitz 饰)的失踪让警长汤姆(乔·哈姆 Jon Hamm 饰)陷入了悲伤和自责之中,为了缓解失去儿子的痛苦,他只能把自己全部投入到繁忙的工作中去。一具男孩尸体的被发现让汤姆的心吊到了嗓子眼,经过调查和鉴定,男孩已经死了50年了,他并非汤米。这一结果让汤姆既高兴有悲伤,高兴的是这具尸体并不是汤米,悲伤的是汤米至今仍然生死未卜。汤姆自愿接手了这一棘手的案件,随着调查的深入,一个名叫马修(乔什·卢卡斯 Josh Lucas 饰)的男人和马修的儿子约翰(吉米·本内特 Jimmy Bennett 饰)的身影浮出了水面,令汤姆震惊的是,他正在调查的这个案件与在自己身上发生的不幸竟然惊人的相似。
主演:钟宜谆,李谷一,彭复光,凌国康,李小嘉
导演:王为一
简介:《补锅打铜锣》由《打钢锣》、《补锅》两剧组成。前者写收成季节,生产队派蔡九打锣通知各户关好鸡鸭,不要放它们出来吃队里的谷子。林大娘明知故犯,蔡九对之进行教育,使她认识错误。后者写刘大娘对补锅行业缺乏正确认识,不愿将女儿嫁给补锅匠,后经事实教育,提高了认识。
主演:Ben,Cross,Anouk,Aimée,Vivica,A.,Fox
导演:罗杰·扬
简介:David, now an old man, is still king of Israel. Among his sons, the ambitious Adonijah and the clever Solomon. The two young men are fierce rivals, since both are prospective heirs to the throne and only one can be successful. During a hunting expedition, Adonijah challenges his younger brother Solomon to a chariot race. While Solomon, though brave, still retains a modicum of caution, the daredevil Adonijah is eager to win at all costs -- and loses control of his chariot. Solomon takes the seriously injured Adonijah back to Jerusalem. On the way there they meet the attractive Abishag, who despite her youth is versed in the use of healing herbs. She actually succeeds in helping the prince. Adonijah falls in love with Abishag -- but Bathsheba arranges things so that she works for David, hoping that her youth, her beauty and her healing powers will soothe the old king's suffering. Several members of the influential priesthood and also the respected army general Joab, who served David loyally for many years, support Adonijah's claim to the throne-- even though David has still not made any decision with regard to a potential successor. The battle-experienced Joab regards Solomon as an indecisive weakling, under whose leadership the kingdom would soon fall apart. When the prophet Nathan finds out about Adonijah's conspiracy he informs Bathsheba and Solomon, who urge David to take immediate action. And so it comes to pass that preparations to anoint the future king of Israel are made both at the Spring of Enrogel, where Adonijah and his men are encamped, as well as in Jerusalem. The festive procession for Adonijah has already been assembled and the people enticed with delicious delicacies to cheer him on, when the news of Solomon's coronation reaches Enrogel. The people promptly acknowledge the will of King David and stream off to Jerusalem in their hordes to greet Solomon, their future ruler. Adonijah remains behind with a handful of loyal followers. He realizes that he has lost -- for the time being. Humbly he places his life in his brother's hands. Adonijah is forgiven on one condition: that he always remains loyal to his brother Solomon. The great King David is dead, and his son Solomon has succeeded him as the rightful ruler of Israel. Adonijah now has a request to make of Bathsheba: he wants to marry Abishag. Solomon hears about this seemingly innocent wish, and recognizes it as a renewed ploy on behalf of his brother to reclaim the throne -- Adonijah's marriage to the last woman to share King David's bed would strengthen his political position considerably. Solomon knows that he has to act quickly and decisively if he is to secure his own power. He has his brother Adonijah and the latter's closest associate Joab executed. After this radical decision, Solomon withdraws to present sacrifices. In a dream the Lord appears to him and grants him the fulfillment of a wish, whatever it may be. Solomon merely asks for wisdom -- in order to become a good ruler and judge. War with Egypt is looming. To arm his kingdom against the territorial ambitions of its powerful neighbors, Solomon not only introduces several reforms but also decides to marry the daughter of the pharaoh. The Egyptian princess does not remain Solomon's only wife, however: as time goes by the king marries numerous noble women from many different countries for political and economic reasons. In this way he preserves peace for his people, and creates great prosperity. By allowing the women to continue practicing their domestic customs and religious rituals in Jerusalem as well, he comes into regular conflict with the priesthood, who see the foreign religions as endangering Israel's sole covenant with the Lord. The wisdom granted to Solomon by God becomes fully evident when the king sits in judgment. One day two harlots each claim to be mother of the same baby. Solomon's decision seems utterly cruel: he says that the child should be cut in two so that each woman receives half. Solomon can now determine who the real mother is from her reaction: she will not allow her child to be harmed. Solomon hands the child back to its true mother amid cheers of approval. One of the most important tasks handed down to Solomon by his father David is building the great Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. It has to be larger and more magnificent than all other temples in the world, and Solomon now sets about fulfilling his father's wish. He places Jeroboam in charge of the Israelite workers as chief overseer. Seven years later, the work is completed. The expensive construction materials have been brought from far-off lands, and the people of Israel have paid exceedingly high taxes without complaint in order to finance the construction work. The Ark of the Covenant can now finally be taken to the Temple in a triumphant procession. After so many years of wandering, the Israelites' most sacred possession now has a fixed home of its own. People stream to Jerusalem from across the entire country to celebrate the great day. Abishag, now married, comes too and brings her family. Solomon has decided to mingle among the people in disguise, and he and Abishag are overjoyed when they accidentally meet again after so many years. The Temple makes Jerusalem and its king famous throughout the world. Even the dark-skinned Queen of Sheba sets off with a large retinue to visit the wise and cultivated Solomon and admire his magnificent city. The admiration turns out to be mutual: Solomon, captivated by her beauty, falls deeply in love with her. The two of them have a child, Menelik, but one day the Queen of Sheba decides to leave. She does not want Menelik to be deprived of the regal dignity awaiting him in his home country. Solomon stays behind, with a heavy heart. The king has now achieved everything he set his heart on, but with the passing of the years the wise Solomon gradually becomes a melancholy, skeptical old man who regularly questions his very existence. Material things seem to represent the only reality for him. He also refuses to adopt any kind of steady policy, especially in religious matters. With his foreign wives, Solomon sacrifices to foreign gods, and this incurs the wrath of the priesthood. The loyal Jeroboam appeals to his king's conscience, but to no avail. During one of Solomon's sorties in disguise among his people, a simple farmer reminds him of the first of the Ten Commandments revealed by the Lord to Moses: "You shall have no other gods before me." At another decisive moment, God Himself speaks to Solomon and announces the punishment for his sinfulness: the kingdom will collapse after Solomon's death. The king has grown old and weary. He has lost touch with the people of Israel, who are suffering from heavy taxation and forced labor. Solomon has treated his long-standing companion Jeroboam, to whom he entrusted the administration of the northern tribes, with murderous anger ever since a prophet predicted the division of the kingdom to him. The king no longer has the strength to change things -- he just leaves them as they are. The consequences of this become clear shortly after his death. Solomon's son and successor Rehoboam treats the country's leaders with arrogance, and provokes the division of the kingdom into two parts: the only tribe still loyal to him is that of Judah, while all the others unite under Jeroboam. The prophecy has been fulfilled. The kingdom that Solomon received from his father David, and invested with such might and magnificence, is now divided.