The Seventh Veil of Salome

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, cursing, substance use, and sexual content.

Joe Kantor, a former Hollywood screenwriter, is being interviewed for a documentary. He thinks back to 1955 and recounts working as a writer for a film called The Seventh Veil of Salome, directed by Max Niemann. At this time, Hollywood was controlled by several powerful film studios, and film projects based on biblical stories were popular. Kantor recalls learning that Niemann had finally cast an actress in the lead role of Salome and getting his first glimpse of her. He was struck by the young woman’s beauty and charisma, which made her perfect for the role of “temptress and vestal maiden in one” (4). Joe alludes to a tragedy that would eventually befall her.

The narrative moves to Galilee (a region part of present-day Israel and Lebanon) in about 30 CE. Salome is a princess from the Herodian dynasty, who rule as client kings of Rome. She lives in the lavish royal palace with her mother, Herodias, and her stepfather, Herod Antipas (referred to as the tetrarch, or king). The marriage between Herodias and Herod is marred by scandal because they were both initially married to other people but left their respective spouses to be together.