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.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Jesus: Max von Sydow
• James the Younger: Michael Anderson Jr.
• Veronica: Carroll Baker
• Martha of Bethany: Ina Balin
• Sorak: Victor Buono
• Barabbas: Richard Conte
• Mary Magdalene: Joanna Dunham
• Herod Antipas: José Ferrer
• Bar Amand: Van Heflin
• John the Baptist: Charlton Heston
• Caiaphas: Martin Landau
• Claudia: Angela Lansbury
• Angel at the Tomb: Pat Boone
• Mary of Bethany: Janet Margolin
• Judas Iskarioth: David McCallum
• Matthew: Roddy McDowall
• The Virgin Mary: Dorothy McGuire
• Uriah: Sal Mineo
• Shemiah: Nehemiah Persoff
• The Dark Hermit – Satan: Donald Pleasence
• Simon of Cyrene: Sidney Poitier
• King Herod: Claude Rains
• Simon Peter: Gary Raymond
• Pontius Pilate: Telly Savalas
• Nicodemus: Joseph Schildkraut
• Questor: Paul Stewart
• Centurion at crucifixion: John Wayne
• Woman who is healed: Shelley Winters
• Old Aram: Ed Wynn
• Aben: John Abbott
• Captain of lancers: Rodolfo Acosta
• Herod’s commander: Michael Ansara
• Simon the Zealot: Robert Blake
• Andrew: Burt Brinckerhoff
• Emissary: Robert Busch
• John: John Considine
• Chuza: Philip Coolidge
• Alexander: John Crawford
• The tormentor: Frank De Kova
• Melchior: Cyril Delevanti
• Thaddaeus: Jamie Farr
• Philip: David Hedison
• Scribe: Russell Johnson
• Balthazar: Mark Lenard
• Joseph: Robert Loggia
• Speaker of Capernaum: John Lupton
• Nathanael: Peter Mann
• Thomas: Tom Reese
• Herodias: Marian Seldes
• James the Elder: David Sheiner
• Caspar: Frank Silvera
• Dumah: Joseph Sirola
• Joseph of Arimathaea: Abraham Sofaer
• Gen. Varus: Harold J. Stone
• Theophilus: Chet Stratton
• Lazarus: Michael Tolan
• Annas: Ron Whelan
• Drunken Soldier – Herod Antipas’ Court: Jay C. Flippen
• Woman Behind Railings: Celia Lovsky
• Archelaus: Joseph V. Perry
• Bad Thief on Cross: Marc Cavell
• Pilate’s Aide: Johnny Seven
• Philip: Dal Jenkins

Film Crew:

• Director: George Stevens
• Director of Photography: Loyal Griggs
• Screenplay: James Lee Barrett
• Editor: J. Frank O’Neill
• Casting: Lynn Stalmaster
• Editor: Harold F. Kress
• Stunt Coordinator: Henry Wills
• Editor: Argyle Nelson Jr.
• Original Music Composer: Alfred Newman
• Production Design: William J. Creber
• Director of Photography: William C. Mellor
• Art Direction: Richard Day
• Costume Design: Vittorio Nino Novarese
• Art Direction: David S. Hall
• Producer: George Stevens Jr.
• Novel: Fulton Oursler
• Matte Painter: Albert Simpson
• Special Effects: Clarence Slifer
• Sound Recordist: Charles E. Wallace
• Stunts: Charlie Picerni
• Second Unit Director: David Lean
• Second Unit Director: Jean Negulesco
• Stunt Coordinator: Paul Baxley
• Stunts: Carol Daniels
• Stunts: John Epper
• Stunts: Jerry Gatlin
• Stunts: Bob Folkerson
• Stunts: Johnny Hagner
• Stunts: Victor Paul
• Stunts: Loren Janes
• Stunts: Neil Summers
• Stunt Double: Bob Terhune
• Stunts: Norm Taylor

Movie 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