The Giraffe in Piazza del Popolo

An Epic account of the Epic efforts that go into filming The Epic of Epics: Dino De Laurentiis’ story of the Bible. To read Mr. Sage’s account is to weep — for joy

The phone rang. “Bill? Bill! How are you? As if I really cared, ha-ha!” It was Dino de Laurentiis’ press agent. “You’re coming to Piazza del Popolo today.” It was more an order than an invitation. “We’re having the giraffe- blessed. By a cardinal.”