THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (Theatrical Release USA 1965)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

The Greatest Story Ever Told is more expansive than the Mel Gibson version, The Passion of the Christ. But this film shows its age mostly because of its slow pacing. The timing may be a matter of a desire to make an epic film or to show respect to the subject matter. The movie accesses the talents of Max Von Sydow and is a good academic study for a thesis on his earlier works. Watch for Charlton Heston as John the Baptist.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

 Storyline

 A documentation, through fiction, of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director George Stevens for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Frank I. Davis for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jesus (Max von Sydow), James the Younger (Michael Anderson Jr.), Veronica (Carroll Baker), Martha of Bethany (Ina Balin), Angel at the Tomb (Pat Boone), Sorak (Victor Buono), Barabbas (Richard Conte), Mary Magdalene (Joanna Dunham), Herod Antipas (Jose Ferrer), and Bar Amand (Van Heflin).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. It works overall as a good study for the life and times of Jesus Christ. It liberally quotes the words of Jesus, but does not provide explication of those words. On that level, for anyone outside of the Christian religion, it may be a bit confusing.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers