The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
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.
- George Stevens
- Paul Baxley
- David Lean
- Jean Negulesco
- James Lee Barrett
- George Stevens
- Fulton Oursler
Rating: 6.4/10 by 180 users
Alternative Title:
A Maior História De Todos Os Tempos - BR
La historia más grande jamás contada - ES
La plus grande histoire jamais contée - FR
A Maior História Jamais Contada - BR
Die größte Geschichte aller Zeiten - AT
La más grande historia jamás contada - AR
Най-великата история на света - BG
La plus grande histoire jamais contée - CA
La más grande historia jamás contada - CL
La mas grande historia jamás contada - CO
Mies Nasaretista - FI
Die größte Geschichte aller Zeiten - DE
Η ωραιότερη ιστορία του κόσμου - GR
I oraioteri istoria tou kosmou - GR
La più grande storia mai raccontata - IT
偉大な生涯の物語 - JP
Pasaules dižākais stāsts - LV
Didžiausia visu laiku istorija - LT
La más grande historia jamás contada - MX
Mannen fra Nasaret - NO
Największa historia, jaką kiedykolwiek opowiedziano - PL
Opowieść wszech czasów - PL
Najveća priča ikad ispričana - RS
Cea mai măreaţă poveste spusă vreodată - RO
A Maior História de Todos os Tempos - PT
Величайшая из когда-либо рассказанных историй - SU
Mannen från Nasaret - SE
George Stevens Presents The Greatest Story Ever Told - US
La más grande historia jamás contada - UY
En büyük hikâye - TR
Найвеличніша історія з коли-небудь розказаних - UA
Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 03 hour 19 minutes
Budget: $20,000,000
Revenue: $15,500,000
Plot Keyword: epic, christianity, religion and supernatural, crucifixion, bible, biography, resurrection, religion, religious film, jesus christ, christian film
*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
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...
