The Greatest Story Ever Told

DramaHistory
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.
Budget : 20000000USD
language : en
Runtime : 199 min
Release Date : 1965-04-09
Imdb ID : tt0059245
Status : Released

Cast

Max von Sydow
Jesus

Michael Anderson Jr.
James the Younger

Carroll Baker
Veronica

Ina Balin
Martha of Bethany

Victor Buono
Sorak

Richard Conte
Barabbas

Joanna Dunham
Mary Magdalene

José Ferrer
Herod Antipas

Van Heflin
Bar Amand

Charlton Heston
John the Baptist

Martin Landau
Caiaphas

Angela Lansbury
Claudia

Pat Boone
Angel at the Tomb

Janet Margolin
Mary of Bethany

David McCallum
Judas Iskarioth

Roddy McDowall
Matthew

Dorothy McGuire
The Virgin Mary

Sal Mineo
Uriah

Nehemiah Persoff
Shemiah

Donald Pleasence
The Dark Hermit - Satan

Sidney Poitier
Simon of Cyrene

Claude Rains
King Herod

Gary Raymond
Simon Peter

Telly Savalas
Pontius Pilate

Joseph Schildkraut
Nicodemus

Paul Stewart
Questor

John Wayne
Centurion at crucifixion

Shelley Winters
Woman who is healed

Ed Wynn
Old Aram

John Abbott
Aben

Rodolfo Acosta
Captain of lancers

Michael Ansara
Herod's commander

Robert Blake
Simon the Zealot

Burt Brinckerhoff
Andrew

Robert Busch
Emissary

John Considine
John

Philip Coolidge
Chuza

John Crawford
Alexander

Frank De Kova
The tormentor

Cyril Delevanti
Melchior

Jamie Farr
Thaddaeus

David Hedison
Philip

Russell Johnson
Scribe

Mark Lenard
Balthazar

Robert Loggia
Joseph

John Lupton
Speaker of Capernaum

Peter Mann
Nathanael

Tom Reese
Thomas

Marian Seldes
Herodias

David Sheiner
James the Elder

Frank Silvera
Caspar

Joseph Sirola
Dumah

Abraham Sofaer
Joseph of Arimathaea

Harold J. Stone
Gen. Varus

Chet Stratton
Theophilus

Michael Tolan
Lazarus

Ron Whelan
Annas

Jay C. Flippen
Drunken Soldier - Herod Antipas' Court

Celia Lovsky
Woman Behind Railings

Joseph V. Perry
Archelaus

Marc Cavell
Bad Thief on Cross

Johnny Seven
Pilate's Aide

Dal Jenkins
Philip

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Reviews

John Chard
*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
Geronimo1967
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 but 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...

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