King Herod - most sympathetic character

That's what I think when I watch the film - he's surrounded by plotting, conniving women and agitating religious fanatics (this is a film which could put you off Christianity just on its own!), and all he wants is a reasonable, quiet, pleasant, life. Charles Laughton's performance makes the king an even more sympathetic figure than he'd have been if played by a lesser actor.

Alan Badel should have been ashamed of his pop eyed emoting as the baptist. He was actually usually a fine actor, though caught up in the hysterical atmosphere of cod religiosity of "Salome" you'd take him for the hammiest of hams if you only knew him from this role.