The Greatest Story Ever Told
(C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
1965's 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' is director George Stevens' crack at a 4+ hour biblical epic. From his miraculous birth in Bethlehem, to his grisly death & eventual resurrection, the short-lived life of Jesus Christ (Max von Sydow) is given the grandest of treatments in this gargantuan re-telling. Major highlights of Jesus' life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by wicked King Herod (Claude Rains); Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist (Charlton Heston, who loves his biblical epics; and the ultimate betrayal by Judas (David McCallum) after 'The Last Supper' that leads to Jesus' crucifixion ... and magical return.
This is one long, lonng, lonnggg motion picture. I know that Hollywood had a penchant for making these biblical epics in the 1950s/60s and, they WERE successful. But by trying to make the ultimate epic about Jesus Christ and all that encompasses him ... it just comes across as too overblown. That said, there is plenty in this movie to praise. This is a sincere, reverential & opulent re-telling of the Bible with some scintillating moments sprinkled throughout.
Much credit should be given to William C. Mellor & Loyal Griggs' beautiful Technicolor cinematography, the vast ancient sets, the period costumes, & Alfred Newman's ethereal score to evoke a mood. Mellor's nomination for Cinematography is posthumous, as he passed away from a heart attack during production; Griggs came in to finish the shoot. This film was rightfully nominated for 5 Academy Awards for those crafts, plus visual effects.
Max von Sydow brings great dignity & nobility to his portrayal of Jesus Christ. And the rest of the cast do what they can; some are in the film for a spell, others have one line, like John Wayne. Other members of this vast cast: the aforementioned Claude Rains, Charlton Heston & David McCallum. There's also Dorothy McGuire, Jose Ferrer, Sidney Poitier, Carroll Baker, Pat Boone, Donald Pleasance, Angela Lansbury, Roddy McDowall, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Van Heflin, Sal Mineo, Telly Savalas, Ed Wynn, Victor Buono, Ina Balin, Rochard Conte, Martin Landau & others. Phew!
The problem with all that is: the succession of star cameos undercuts what the movie is trying to do - immerse you in this epic story. Instead, we're pointing at the screen for 4 hours saying "oh, look who it is!" I also feel that the tone of the film is a bit too solemn; which makes the 4 hours feel a bit lugubrious. Too often, we're sitting in lethargy, waiting for the next admittedly awesome sequence, or maybe, some insights/illuminations on Jesus' story that we hadn't prior known. And so, with a sedate pace & sprawling length ... the cast, rousing scenes, & great biblical detail aren't quite enough to overcome the movie's deficiencies.
This is one long, lonng, lonnggg motion picture. I know that Hollywood had a penchant for making these biblical epics in the 1950s/60s and, they WERE successful. But by trying to make the ultimate epic about Jesus Christ and all that encompasses him ... it just comes across as too overblown. That said, there is plenty in this movie to praise. This is a sincere, reverential & opulent re-telling of the Bible with some scintillating moments sprinkled throughout.
Much credit should be given to William C. Mellor & Loyal Griggs' beautiful Technicolor cinematography, the vast ancient sets, the period costumes, & Alfred Newman's ethereal score to evoke a mood. Mellor's nomination for Cinematography is posthumous, as he passed away from a heart attack during production; Griggs came in to finish the shoot. This film was rightfully nominated for 5 Academy Awards for those crafts, plus visual effects.
Max von Sydow brings great dignity & nobility to his portrayal of Jesus Christ. And the rest of the cast do what they can; some are in the film for a spell, others have one line, like John Wayne. Other members of this vast cast: the aforementioned Claude Rains, Charlton Heston & David McCallum. There's also Dorothy McGuire, Jose Ferrer, Sidney Poitier, Carroll Baker, Pat Boone, Donald Pleasance, Angela Lansbury, Roddy McDowall, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Van Heflin, Sal Mineo, Telly Savalas, Ed Wynn, Victor Buono, Ina Balin, Rochard Conte, Martin Landau & others. Phew!
The problem with all that is: the succession of star cameos undercuts what the movie is trying to do - immerse you in this epic story. Instead, we're pointing at the screen for 4 hours saying "oh, look who it is!" I also feel that the tone of the film is a bit too solemn; which makes the 4 hours feel a bit lugubrious. Too often, we're sitting in lethargy, waiting for the next admittedly awesome sequence, or maybe, some insights/illuminations on Jesus' story that we hadn't prior known. And so, with a sedate pace & sprawling length ... the cast, rousing scenes, & great biblical detail aren't quite enough to overcome the movie's deficiencies.