Queen Esther's 13th Day (1979)

In high hopes that this movie may some day again be televised and/ or released on DVD, this posting is dedicated to that cause.

Universal TV's production The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther originally aired in the U.S. on ABC Television in 1979, starring Shakespearean actress Olivia Hussey in the lead role with Tony Musante as King Ahasuerus (left). Hussey is also famous for her work with Director Franco Zeffirelli portraying the Virgin Mary in ITC/ Radiotelevisione Italiana and NBC TV's mini-series Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and portraying Juliet in Dino de Laurentiis and Paramount Pictures' production of Romeo and Juliet (1968). As a side note of interest, Hussey's man "Romeo" from Romeo and Juliet, Leonard Whiting, went on to portray Biblical hero Jacob in Loraglade/ Allied Artists' independent film Rachel's Man (1976). [Click photo to enlarge it.]

Pioneering authorities on Biblical epics, authors Richard Campbell and Michael Pitts, describe the movie as follows:

"Aired as a one-hour special on ABC-TV, this drama told the Old Testament story of a young queen who had to defend both herself and her people after a power-mad advisor convinces her husband that she must die. The story had Jewish girl Esther marrying King Ahasuerus, whose minister Haman tried to kill him. The plot was thwarted by a Jew. To get revenge, Haman convinces the king that the Jews are a threat to his throne, although neither man knows that beautiful young Esther is also Jewish. Since the king's order to kill her people cannot be reversed, the queen has to find a way to save her people and at the same time reveal to the king the true nature of the treacherous Haman. A well-done television drama, the program's familiar plot line had been used before for the features Queen Esther [1948] and Esther and the King [1960]."

See also the Internet Movie Database's listing for the movie at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0330983/.

[Actor Ted Wass (right) portrayed Simon.]