¨The greatest story ever told¨ is a colorful version of Jesus Christ's life with a true international all-star-epic treatment and being spectacularly shot in 1965 and profesionally directed by George Stevens with excellent cast giving larger-than-life interpretation , such as : Max Von Sidow , Charlton Heston , José Ferrer , Sidney Poitier , Claude Rains , and many others . It chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from the Annunciation , Crucifixion , Resurrection , and the Ascention . Interesting retelling at the life and teachings of Christ (Max Von Sidow) from a historical and religious view point , though overlong . The film includes all of the major events referred to in the New Testament with descriptive Biblical passages ; his birth in Bethlehem and visit by three Magician Kings who , subsequently , go to the Palace of Herodes the Great (Claude Rains). His existence in desert tempted by Satan (Donad Pleasence) , there he knows he has a destiny to fulfill ; his baptism by John the Baptist (Charlton Heston) ; the miracles , such as : cripples walking , blind men seeing ; the fishes and the loaves ; Lazarus' (Michael Tolan) resurrection , Simon of Cyrene's (Sidney Poitier) appearance ; his relationship to 12 apostles and so on . Jesus Christ's journey from Galilee to Golgotha is portrayed here in thought-provoking as well as enjoyable treatment . And usual scenes between John the Baptist , Herod (José Ferrer) , Herodias , and Salome and , of course , John the Baptist's beheading as Salome's price for dancing for Herod . In addition , Biblic roles as apostles Peter (Gary Raymond) , Judas Iscariote (David MacCallum) , Matthew (Roddy McDowall) , and Virgin Mary (Dorothy McGuire) , the political savvy Pontius Pilate (Telly Savalas) , Martha of Bethan (Ina Balin) , Mary of Bethan (Janet Margolin) , Lazarus (Michael Tolan) , Caiaphas (Martin Landau) , Claudia (Angela Lansbury), Thaddeus (Jamie Farr) , Simon the Zealot (Robert Blake) , John (Considine) , Philip (David Hedison) and Barrabbas (Richard Conte) . However , not completely reverential at some Biblical characters . And including holy sentences as "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"
This is lavish and impressive -though slow-moving- story of the life of Jesus Christ from his birth in Bethlehem to his Crucifixion and subsequent Resurrection . It is a religious and anguishing epic where the eternal questions of faith and doubt become resolved. An all-star, breathtaking Biblical movie filmed on a grand scale , being efficiently produced by the great George Stevens himself , along with his son George Stevens Jr . Life of Christ is intelligently told by prestigious screenwriter James Lee Barrett , based on the book Fulton Oursler and source writings by Henry Denker . Stars a serious and agreeable Max Von Sidow in exactly the right role , he gives a dedicated effort at the character , his acting has power , nobility and subtlety . This was the American movie debut of Max von Sydow, prior to this film , Max von Sydow was highly popular Swedish actor who appeared in Ingmar Bergman pictures , being perticularly known for his acting as The Grim Reaper in The Seventh Seal (1957) . Being a big budgeted production , there appears several top-notch actors in brief performances . As it displaysa very fine support cast , such as : David MacCallum as a furtive as well as shifty Judas , Charlton Heston plays a splendid John the Baptiste , José Ferrer as Herod Antipas , Dorothy McGuire as Mary , Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate , Martin Landau as Caiaphas , Gary Raymond as Peter , Joseph Schildkraut as Nicodemus, Paul Stewart as Questor and even John Wayne as a Centurion at Crucifixion , among others . Including glowing and evocative cinematography with an attractive visual style by Loyal Griggs and and William C Meyor who unfortunately suffered a heart attack, collapsed, and died on the set. Filmed on several locations in Lake Powell, Utah, Green River Overlook , Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Kanab, Utah , Ken's Lake, Utah, and Pyramid Lake Nevada . As well as enormous and majestic art design by Richard Day and David Hall . Sensitive and memorable soundtrack by the classical Alfred Newman . The motion picture was compellingly directed by George Stevens and it started in 1962 and was completed in 1963, but the film went unreleased until 1965. This is a Richly Rewarding Entertainment Experience for the Entire Family
Jesus life has been adapted several times , such as : ¨King of Kings¨ (released in 1927) , it is the yardstick by which all Jesus movies are to be measure , being first silent version by Cecil B. DeMille with H.B. Wagner . Other pictures dealing with his divine presence are the following ones :¨King of Kings¨(1961) by Nicholas Ray with Jeffrey Hunter , Robert Ryan , Ron Randel , Hurd Hatfield , Rip Torn , Frank Thring , Carmen Sevilla ; ¨Gospel according to Matthew¨ by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus ; ¨Jesus Christ Superstar¨(1977) by Norman Jewison with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson ; ¨Jesus de Nazareth¨(1977) by Franco Zeffirelli with Robert Powell , Olivia Hussey , James Mason , Laurence Olivier , Anne Brancfort , Fernando Rey ; ¨Last temptation of Christ¨ by Martin Scorsese with Willem Dafoe , David Bowie , Harvey Keitel , Ian Holm , Harry Dean Staton ; and ¨The Passion of the Christ¨ (2004) by Mel Gibson with James Cazievel , Maia Morgenstern and Monica Belucci .
This is lavish and impressive -though slow-moving- story of the life of Jesus Christ from his birth in Bethlehem to his Crucifixion and subsequent Resurrection . It is a religious and anguishing epic where the eternal questions of faith and doubt become resolved. An all-star, breathtaking Biblical movie filmed on a grand scale , being efficiently produced by the great George Stevens himself , along with his son George Stevens Jr . Life of Christ is intelligently told by prestigious screenwriter James Lee Barrett , based on the book Fulton Oursler and source writings by Henry Denker . Stars a serious and agreeable Max Von Sidow in exactly the right role , he gives a dedicated effort at the character , his acting has power , nobility and subtlety . This was the American movie debut of Max von Sydow, prior to this film , Max von Sydow was highly popular Swedish actor who appeared in Ingmar Bergman pictures , being perticularly known for his acting as The Grim Reaper in The Seventh Seal (1957) . Being a big budgeted production , there appears several top-notch actors in brief performances . As it displaysa very fine support cast , such as : David MacCallum as a furtive as well as shifty Judas , Charlton Heston plays a splendid John the Baptiste , José Ferrer as Herod Antipas , Dorothy McGuire as Mary , Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate , Martin Landau as Caiaphas , Gary Raymond as Peter , Joseph Schildkraut as Nicodemus, Paul Stewart as Questor and even John Wayne as a Centurion at Crucifixion , among others . Including glowing and evocative cinematography with an attractive visual style by Loyal Griggs and and William C Meyor who unfortunately suffered a heart attack, collapsed, and died on the set. Filmed on several locations in Lake Powell, Utah, Green River Overlook , Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Kanab, Utah , Ken's Lake, Utah, and Pyramid Lake Nevada . As well as enormous and majestic art design by Richard Day and David Hall . Sensitive and memorable soundtrack by the classical Alfred Newman . The motion picture was compellingly directed by George Stevens and it started in 1962 and was completed in 1963, but the film went unreleased until 1965. This is a Richly Rewarding Entertainment Experience for the Entire Family
Jesus life has been adapted several times , such as : ¨King of Kings¨ (released in 1927) , it is the yardstick by which all Jesus movies are to be measure , being first silent version by Cecil B. DeMille with H.B. Wagner . Other pictures dealing with his divine presence are the following ones :¨King of Kings¨(1961) by Nicholas Ray with Jeffrey Hunter , Robert Ryan , Ron Randel , Hurd Hatfield , Rip Torn , Frank Thring , Carmen Sevilla ; ¨Gospel according to Matthew¨ by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus ; ¨Jesus Christ Superstar¨(1977) by Norman Jewison with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson ; ¨Jesus de Nazareth¨(1977) by Franco Zeffirelli with Robert Powell , Olivia Hussey , James Mason , Laurence Olivier , Anne Brancfort , Fernando Rey ; ¨Last temptation of Christ¨ by Martin Scorsese with Willem Dafoe , David Bowie , Harvey Keitel , Ian Holm , Harry Dean Staton ; and ¨The Passion of the Christ¨ (2004) by Mel Gibson with James Cazievel , Maia Morgenstern and Monica Belucci .