The Greatest Story Ever Told


The Greatest Story Ever Told

Overview:

All-star epic retelling of Christ's life.

Votes 41 (6.5/10)

Runtime: 199 minutes

Release Date 1965-02-15

Budget: $20,000,000.00

Revenue: $15,473,333.00

Production company:

  • George Stevens Productions

Production country:

  • United States of America

Genres:

  • Drama
  • History

Trailer

Further Information

Jesus
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
James the Younger
Michael Anderson Jr.
Michael Anderson Jr.
Veronica
Carroll Baker
Carroll Baker
Martha of Bethany
Ina Balin
Ina Balin
Sorak
Victor Buono
Victor Buono
Barabbas
Richard Conte
Richard Conte
Mary Magdalene
Joanna Dunham
Joanna Dunham
Herod Antipas
José Ferrer
José Ferrer
Bar Amand
Van Heflin
Van Heflin
John the Baptist
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Caiaphas
Martin Landau
Martin Landau
Claudia
Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angel at the Tomb
Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Mary of Bethany
Janet Margolin
Janet Margolin
Judas Iskarioth
David McCallum
David McCallum
Matthew
Roddy McDowall
Roddy McDowall
The Virgin Mary
Dorothy McGuire
Dorothy McGuire
Uriah
Sal Mineo
Sal Mineo
Shemiah
Nehemiah Persoff
Nehemiah Persoff
The Dark Hermit - Satan
Donald Pleasence
Donald Pleasence
Simon of Cyrene
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
King Herod
Claude Rains
Claude Rains
Simon Peter
Gary Raymond
Gary Raymond
Pontius Pilate
Telly Savalas
Telly Savalas
Nicodemus
Joseph Schildkraut
Joseph Schildkraut
Questor
Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart
Centurion at crucifixion
John Wayne
John Wayne
Woman who is healed
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters
Old Aram
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Aben
John Abbott
John Abbott
Captain of lancers
Rodolfo Acosta
Rodolfo Acosta
Herod's commander
Michael Ansara
Michael Ansara
Simon the Zealot
Robert Blake
Robert Blake
Andrew
Burt Brinckerhoff
Burt Brinckerhoff
Emissary
Robert Busch
Robert Busch
John
John Considine
John Considine
Chuza
Philip Coolidge
Philip Coolidge
Alexander
John Crawford
John Crawford
The tormentor
Frank De Kova
Frank De Kova
Melchior
Cyril Delevanti
Cyril Delevanti
Thaddaeus
Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr
Philip
David Hedison
David Hedison
Scribe
Russell Johnson
Russell Johnson
Balthazar
Mark Lenard
Mark Lenard
Joseph
Robert Loggia
Robert Loggia
Speaker of Capernaum
John Lupton
John Lupton
Nathanael
Peter Mann
Peter Mann
Thomas
Tom Reese
Tom Reese
Herodias
Marian Seldes
Marian Seldes
James the Elder
David Sheiner
David Sheiner
Caspar
Frank Silvera
Frank Silvera
Dumah
Joseph Sirola
Joseph Sirola
Joseph of Arimathaea
Abraham Sofaer
Abraham Sofaer
Gen. Varus
Harold J. Stone
Harold J. Stone
Theophilus
Chet Stratton
Chet Stratton
Lazarus
Michael Tolan
Michael Tolan
Annas
Ron Whelan
Ron Whelan
Drunken Soldier - Herod Antipas' Court (uncredited)
Jay C. Flippen
Jay C. Flippen
Woman Behind Railings (uncredited)
Celia Lovsky
Celia Lovsky
Casting
Lynn Stalmaster
Lynn Stalmaster
Editor
Harold F. Kress
Harold F. Kress
Production Design
William J. Creber
William J. Creber
Original Music Composer
Alfred Newman
Alfred Newman
Art Direction
Richard Day
Richard Day
Director
George Stevens
George Stevens
Screenplay
George Stevens
George Stevens
Producer
George Stevens
George Stevens
Director of Photography
William C. Mellor
William C. Mellor
Screenplay
James Lee Barrett
James Lee Barrett
Director of Photography
Loyal Griggs
Loyal Griggs
Editor
Argyle Nelson Jr.
Argyle Nelson Jr.
Editor
J. Frank O'Neill
J. Frank O'Neill
Costume Design
Vittorio Nino Novarese
Vittorio Nino Novarese
Sound Recordist
Charles E. Wallace
Charles E. Wallace
Stunts Coordinator
Henry Wills
Henry Wills
Producer
George Stevens Jr.
George Stevens Jr.
Art Direction
David S. Hall
David S. Hall
Novel
Fulton Oursler
Fulton Oursler

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

The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ
Votes 199 (7/10)
Release Date 8/12/1988

Details »

Life of Brian
Life of Brian
Votes 1190 (7.7/10)
Release Date 8/16/1979

Details »

Risen
Risen
Votes 290 (5.7/10)
Release Date 2/19/2016

Details »

The Straight Story
The Straight Story
Votes 303 (7.7/10)
Release Date 10/15/1999

Details »

Girl with a Pearl Earring
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Votes 369 (6.4/10)
Release Date 8/31/2003

Details »

Into the Wild
Into the Wild
Votes 3012 (7.8/10)
Release Date 9/11/2007

Details »

GoodFellas
GoodFellas
Votes 3095 (8.2/10)
Release Date 9/12/1990

Details »

Patton
Patton
Votes 321 (7.3/10)
Release Date 1/25/1970

Details »

Agora
Agora
Votes 388 (6.9/10)
Release Date 5/17/2009

Details »

Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Votes 364 (7.2/10)
Release Date 11/18/1992

Details »

The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
Votes 856 (6.9/10)
Release Date 2/25/2004

Details »

Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich
Votes 706 (7.1/10)
Release Date 3/17/2000

Details »

My Week with Marilyn
My Week with Marilyn
Votes 398 (6.6/10)
Release Date 10/17/2011

Details »

Dallas Buyers Club
Dallas Buyers Club
Votes 2845 (7.9/10)
Release Date 9/7/2013

Details »

Wild
Wild
Votes 944 (7/10)
Release Date 12/5/2014

Details »

Sully
Sully
Votes 2026 (7/10)
Release Date 9/7/2016

Details »

Jobs
Jobs
Votes 1153 (6/10)
Release Date 8/16/2013

Details »

Foxcatcher
Foxcatcher
Votes 943 (6.5/10)
Release Date 5/19/2014

Details »

J. Edgar
J. Edgar
Votes 731 (6/10)
Release Date 11/9/2011

Details »

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Votes 224 (6.5/10)
Release Date 12/6/2013

Details »