The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

A sweeping religious epic retells the Biblical account of Jesus of Nazareth from his birth to his ascension.

The story

The film opens with Three Wise Men following a celestial star to Jerusalem, seeking the prophesied newborn King of the Jews. After revealing the Messiah’s birth to the paranoid King Herod, they find Mary and Joseph in a humble stable. The family flees to Egypt to escape Herod's decree. Years later, in Judea under Roman rule, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist and retreats to the wilderness. He eventually begins gathering disciples and performing miracles, attracting large crowds and alarming the religious leaders. As his fame spreads, Jesus faces rejection in his hometown and performs the resurrection of Lazarus, further heightening the tensions with Jerusalem's authorities.

First release year

1965

Runtime (minutes)

199

Production countries

United States

Original languages

English

Directors

George Stevens

Writers

George Stevens · screenplay; James Lee Barrett · screenplay

Cast and characters

Max von Sydow · Jesus; Dorothy McGuire · Mary; Robert Loggia · Joseph; Charlton Heston · John the Baptist; Telly Savalas · Pontius Pilate; John Wayne · Roman centurion; Angela Lansbury; Pat Boone

Genres

epic; religious; historical drama

Themes

faith; spiritual evil; divinity; sacrifice

Tone and mood

reverent; austere; solemn

Premise and plot tags

Biblical; Jesus of Nazareth; Nativity; Ascension; Miracles

Source material / true-story basis

four canonical Gospels, a 1947 radio series, and a 1949 novel by Fulton Oursler

Reception

The film received a polarized response from critics and was a box office disappointment, earning $15.5 million against a $20 million budget. Critics praised its cinematic resources and von Sydow's performance but criticized its repetitive preaching scenes and the use of many cameo roles.

Reported review scores

Rotten Tomatoes · score: 42% · review count: 24; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 4.8 · scale: 10

Production trivia

The film was the most expensive film shot in the United States at the time of its release.; George Stevens commissioned 352 oil paintings of Biblical scenes to use as storyboards.; Telly Savalas shaved his head for the role and continued shaving it for the rest of his life.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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