Movie for a Sunday afternoon: "King of Kings"(1961)

You Tube ^ | 1961 | Nicholas Ray

[ReformationFan]

The presidential election this week prompted my pick for this week's feature. Regardless of how Tuesday's elections will turn out, in the end the true ultimate Leader and King of Kings remains on the throne of the universe regardless.

This playlist includes all of Samuel Bronston's 1961 epic biography of Christ with 2 trailers at the end.

[ReformationFan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfEtySFCh8g&list=PL9pRcaYn5SdzgEpd1wJ5JTrxZWarhfnPT&feature=plcp

[muir_redwoods]

I believe the actor playing Christ never blinks on camera during the movie

[mware]

They interviewed Jim Caviezel after playing Christ, in Passion of the Christ.

He said you do not appear in a movie about Christ's passion without some of it being given to you.

[Celtic Conservative]

Jeffrey Hunter?

CC

[vladimir998]

Jeffrey Hunter died way too young.

[vladimir998]

Lockridge, That’s My King, short version (less than 4 mins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ZF6FVcSdQ

A nice version set to rock music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wL1IvMuWo

[Fiji Hill]

I haven’t seen that version, but I liked the 1927 version, starring Henry Warner as Jesus.

[muir_redwoods]

My mistake, I’m thinking of Robert Powell in “Jesus of Nazareth”

[Sans-Culotte]

I’ve never really cared for the 1961 version of KING OF KINGS. Jeffrey Hunter, usually a passionate actor, sleepwalks in the role of Jesus. Robert Ryan is terrible as John the Baptist. And way too much time is spent on Pilate, Herod Antipas, and Barabbas and the Zealots. Christ is basically a guest star in the movie. And they never really explain the purpose of Christ’s life and suffering. Good things in the movie include a great music score by Miklos Rozsa.

[ReformationFan]

Miklos Rosza’s beautiful score is moving and unforgettable and one of the picture’s greatest strengths. I absolutely love his main title theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PabhBbNQOd0

I wonder if the composer(”Ben-Hur” and “El Cid” also) was himself a believer.

The movie itself isn’t perfect but then again no movie about the life of Christ ever is. As has been said, this is the most obvious case of the original book being better than any film version possibly could be. Still, I think the Bronston-Ray KOK is one of the better attempts at it. Interesting also that it was the only Bronston production he made in conjunction with MGM. Some of the “Ben-Hur” sheen seems to have been held over for it and that’s a plus in my book.

Really like the Sermon on the Mount scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvjTbfxa-pw

[PJ-Comix]

Jeffrey Hunter died way too young.

Jeffrey Hunter died so that William Shatner's career would live.

[Sans-Culotte]

I think it has a big following because it was the first big budget film about Christ in the sound era that actually showed his face and showed him walking and talking. Also, director Nicholas Ray has a cult following. However, I think THE ROBE does a better job of explaining redemption though belief in Christ. I also prefer THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD over KING OF KINGS. My favorite 'life of Christ' films are JESUS OF NAZARETH and THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. You can't beat JESUS OF NAZARETH in the crucifixion scene in which Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus follows the crucifixion while quoting from Isaiah.

Most movies about Christ (including KING OF KINGS) depict the life of a great and good man who is unfortunately put to death. I think most fail to explain the purpose of Christ's suffering. PASSION OF THE CHRIST also succeeds in this as well.

[ReformationFan]

In its defense, KOK does clearly show Jesus physically resurrected at the end. Clearly it takes more than being just a good man to accomplish that feat. I’ll need to watch “The Robe” again. Haven’t seen it in years. I do remember and love the scene where the beautiful Jean Simmons tells off Caligula and bravely marches to her death.

“Jesus of Nazareth” is probably the best film about Jesus I’ve seen though its length makes it definitely one for more than one afternoon.