The Greatest Story Ever Told

~ Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding... ~

Overview:

From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.

Director:

George Stevens

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$20,000,000.00

Revenue:

$15,500,000.00

Key words:

epic
christianity
religion and supernatural
crucifixion
bible
biography
resurrection
religion
religious film
jesus christ
christian film

Cast

Max von Sydow

~ as ~

Jesus

Michael Anderson Jr.

~ as ~

James the Younger

Carroll Baker

~ as ~

Veronica

Ina Balin

~ as ~

Martha of Bethany

Victor Buono

~ as ~

Sorak

Richard Conte

~ as ~

Barabbas

Joanna Dunham

~ as ~

Mary Magdalene

José Ferrer

~ as ~

Herod Antipas

Van Heflin

~ as ~

Bar Amand

Charlton Heston

~ as ~

John the Baptist

View full cast & crew

Reviews (2)

John Chard
Written 9 year(s) ago
7
Repent!

Sue me, but I like it plenty, all 3 hours plus of ass numbing is not a problem to me. It has been called a cumbersome bore, amongst other things, but some of the technical craft is amazing. The story itself is enthralling, building to the shattering Crucifixion parts of the tale, while for every pointless star cameo shoehorned into the production, there's also a Savalas, a Baker and a Heston. Then of course there's Sydow, giving a beautifully intense turn as Jesus, a magnetic portrayal that holds the attention throughout.

Ironically director George Stevens struggled with his own ills during production, a cross to bear as it were, but just as Jesus had Sidney Poitier to share the burden, so to did Stevens, who had David Lean to help carry the load. Now that's a deity if ever there was one. It's a gorgeous film, grand and epic, sensitive and astute. Flaws? Plenty for sure, yet it harks back to a time of blunderbuss epic film making, when story telling meant something, when a musical score rattled the ears and the heart, and when cinematography soothed the eyes as if cool lemon slices had been placed upon the optical nerves.

Yeah, I'm a fan. If you are not then I forgive you, for you know not what you do. 7/10
CinemaSerf
Written 9 month(s) ago
6
Max von Sydow is Jesus in George Steven's take on the "King of Kings" story and aside from a suitably effective contribution from José Ferrer as Herod Antipas, gives the only decent performance in this epically long, plodding, depiction of the life of Christ. Clearly money was spent - the photography is epic, as is Alfred Newman's score and a first-rate cast of Hollywood A-listers ought to have delivered better. Sadly, it is hampered by a static script - producing some seriously stultifying dialogue; authentic but murky lighting and a paucity of action that makes the film drag. Aside from a good, if brief, performance from Claude Rains as Herod the Great at the start, the acting is at best disjointed - too many people trying to impose themselves at the expense of any considered approach to the narrative. It may well be the greatest story ever written, but this is certainly not the best telling of it...