The Greatest Story Ever Told( 1965)

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Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding...

Overview

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.

Top Billed Cast

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

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A review by John Chard

Written by John Chard on Sat Dec 05 2015

*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...