The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Directed by

David Lean, George Stevens

Genre

drama film, epic film, sword-and-sandal film, Christian film

Country

United States

Runtime

3h 11m

Rated

G

Rating

6.4 of 10 from 215 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This film retells the story of Jesus of Nazareth from his birth to his ascension into heaven. It follows the major events of his life as described in the Gospels.

solemngrandioseslow-pacedreverentepicbiblicalstatelyformaldramatic

What happens

The Greatest Story Ever Told is a 1965 American epic religious film that retells the Biblical account of Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Produced and directed by George Stevens, the film features an ensemble cast and includes the final film performances of Claude Rains and Joseph Schildkraut. The origins of The Greatest Story Ever Told trace back to a half-hour radio series in 1947, inspired by the four canonical Gospels. The series was later adapted into a 1949 novel by Fulton Oursler. In 1954, Twentieth Century Fox acquired the film rights to Oursler's novel, but development stalled for several years. In November 1958, Stevens joined the project, agreeing to write and direct. However, in September 1961, Fox withdrew due to concerns over the film's projected cost and its thematic similarities to King of Kings (1961), another religious biopic about Jesus. A few months later, Stevens moved the project to United Artists. He opted to film in the Southwestern United States rather than the Middle East, and principal photography began on October 29, 1962. Filming fell behind schedule due to Stevens' meticulous shooting techniques, prompting David Lean and Jean Negulesco to assist with some sequences. Production concluded on August 1, 1963. The film premiered at the Warner Cinerama Theatre in New York City on February 15, 1965, receiving a polarized response from critics. It was also a box office disappointment, earning $15.5 million against a $20 million budget. Despite this, it received five Academy Award nominations. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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