{"id":88058,"date":"2022-10-16T19:29:59","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T02:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=88058"},"modified":"2024-06-16T17:41:05","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T00:41:05","slug":"greatest-story-ever-told-the-1965","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=88058","title":{"rendered":"Greatest Story Ever Told, The (1965)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Come with me; I will make you fishers of men.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-88060\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Poster.png 629w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDespite a proclamation by King Herod (Claude Rains) to kill all newborn boys in Bethlehem, Mary (Dorothy McGuire) gives birth to her son Jesus, who grows up to become a spiritual leader (Max von Sydow).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Angela Lansbury Films <\/li>\n<li>Biblical Stories<\/li>\n<li>Carroll Baker Films<\/li>\n<li>Charlton Heston Films<\/li>\n<li>Christianity<\/li>\n<li>Claude Rains Films<\/li>\n<li>Donald Pleasence Films<\/li>\n<li>Dorothy McGuire Films<\/li>\n<li>Ensemble Cast<\/li>\n<li>George Stevens Films<\/li>\n<li>Janet Margolin Films<\/li>\n<li>John Wayne Films<\/li>\n<li>Jose Ferrer Films <\/li>\n<li>Martin Landau Films<\/li>\n<li>Max von Sydow Films<\/li>\n<li>Paul Stewart Films <\/li>\n<li>Richard Conte Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Blake Films<\/li>\n<li>Roddy McDowall Films <\/li>\n<li>Sal Mineo Films <\/li>\n<li>Shelley Winters Films<\/li>\n<li>Sidney Poitier Films<\/li>\n<li>Telly Savalas Films <\/li>\n<li>Van Heflin Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIn between helming <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81913\"><em>The Diary of Anne Frank<\/em> (1959)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39444\"><em>The Only Game in Town<\/em> (1970)<\/a> (his final film), George Stevens directed this lengthy, meticulously crafted ensemble tale about the life of Jesus Christ, filmed largely on location in the American Southwest. Anyone who&#8217;s attended Sunday School will instantly recognize all the tales told here, especially given how much of the language seems to be taken directly from the Scriptures &#8212; and it&#8217;s easy to see how Christians would appreciate this sincere and visually impressive dramatization of their holy book. Indeed, this film&#8217;s scale is truly epic, featuring gorgeous Ultra Panavision cinematography by William C. Mellor, and cameo roles for seemingly dozens of big-name Hollywood stars. <\/p>\n<p>Swedish actor Max von Sydow made his American debut as the lead figure, offering an impressively human portrayal as perhaps the most famous and beloved individual of all time. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow-1024x372.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"233\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow-1024x372.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow-300x109.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow-128x47.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow-768x279.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow-604x219.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-von-Sydow.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other relatively significant roles in the narrative are played by Jose Ferrer as King Herod&#8217;s son, Herod Antipas: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2-1024x381.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"238\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2-1024x381.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2-300x112.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2-128x48.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2-768x286.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2-604x225.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ferrer2.png 1262w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Charlton Heston as John the Baptist: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston-1024x365.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"228\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston-1024x365.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston-768x274.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston-604x215.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Heston.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Telly Savalas (who shaved his head for this role, and continued doing so ever after) as Pontius Pilate: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3-1024x377.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"236\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3-1024x377.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3-300x110.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3-128x47.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3-768x283.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3-604x222.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Savalas3.png 1287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Gary Raymond as Peter. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3-1024x370.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"231\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3-1024x370.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3-768x277.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3-604x218.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Raymond3.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other appearances &#8212; some for several scenes, others for literally seconds (if that) &#8212; include Dorothy McGuire as Mary: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire-1024x364.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"228\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire-1024x364.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire-768x273.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire-604x215.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Maguire.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Donald Pleasence as the Devil (who tries to tempt Jesus during his fast in the desert): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon-1024x365.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"228\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88075\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon-1024x365.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon-768x274.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon-604x215.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Moon.png 1282w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Sal Mineo as a crippled man cured by a miracle: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3-1024x374.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"234\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3-1024x374.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3-300x110.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3-128x47.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3-768x281.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3-604x221.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Mineo3.png 1286w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Claude Rains (in his final role) as King Herod: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains-1024x402.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"251\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains-1024x402.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains-300x118.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains-128x50.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains-768x301.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains-604x237.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Rains.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Sidney Poitier as Simon of Cyrene: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2-1024x366.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"229\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2-1024x366.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2-768x274.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2-604x216.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Poitier2.png 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and, perhaps most infamously, Shelley Winters as a &#8220;Woman Who Is Healed&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters-1024x368.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"230\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters-1024x368.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters-768x276.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters-604x217.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Winters.png 1306w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; plus John Wayne speaking a single line in his iconic drawl near the end of the film: &#8220;Truly, this man was the Son of God.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne-1024x373.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"233\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne-1024x373.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne-300x109.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne-128x47.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne-768x280.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne-604x220.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Wayne.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other than von Sydow, my favorite performance is by David McCallum as a sorrowful Judas (though, as is the case across the board in this film, we don&#8217;t learn enough about him). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas-1024x386.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"241\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas-1024x386.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas-300x113.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas-128x48.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas-768x289.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas-604x227.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Judas.png 1296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>See the list of Actors above (or on IMDb) for an even more exhaustive list of who appears at some point. <\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, while Stevens&#8217; film is entirely earnest &#8212; and gorgeous to look at &#8212; it&#8217;s lengthy, often slow, and not all that compelling as a cinematic narrative (there are no &#8220;plot twists&#8221; for anyone reasonably familiar with the arc of Jesus&#8217;s life). According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3656\/the-greatest-story-ever-told#articles-reviews\">TCM&#8217;s article<\/a>, the film wasn&#8217;t commercially successful at all &#8212; in fact, &#8220;audiences stayed away in droves, making <em>The Greatest Story Ever Told<\/em> the greatest financial flop ever made until the release of <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19\"><em>Heaven&#8217;s Gate<\/em><\/a> in 1980.&#8221; However, the film was nominated for five Academy Awards, and, not surprisingly, became &#8220;a popular rental film at churches, schools, and film societies in the non-theatrical market.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Max von Sydow as Jesus Christ<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8-1024x372.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"233\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8-1024x372.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8-300x109.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8-768x279.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8-604x219.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Sydow8.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Beautiful Panavision cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels-1024x375.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"234\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels-1024x375.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels-300x110.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels-128x47.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels-768x282.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels-604x221.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Camels.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper-1024x406.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"254\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper-1024x406.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper-128x51.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper-768x304.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper-604x239.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Last-Supper.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses-1024x370.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"231\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses-1024x370.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses-300x109.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses-128x46.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses-768x278.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses-604x218.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Greatest-Story-Crosses.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Alfred Newman&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended simply for von Sydow&#8217;s performance, and for its historical significance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0059245\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1965\/02\/16\/archives\/screen-the-greatest-story-ever-toldmax-von-sydow-stars-in-biblical.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-greatest-story-ever-told\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3496told.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3656\/the-greatest-story-ever-told#articles-reviews?articleId=12795\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Come with me; I will make you fishers of men.&#8221; Synopsis: Despite a proclamation by King Herod (Claude Rains) to kill all newborn boys in Bethlehem, Mary (Dorothy McGuire) gives birth to her son Jesus, who grows up to become a spiritual leader (Max von Sydow). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Angela Lansbury Films Biblical Stories Carroll Baker Films Charlton Heston Films Christianity Claude Rains Films Donald Pleasence Films Dorothy McGuire Films Ensemble Cast George Stevens Films Janet Margolin Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=88058\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88058"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97963,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88058\/revisions\/97963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}