Apr 6th
The Greatest Story Ever Told**
US 1965. United Artists. 195m. Super Panavision 70

The life of Jesus.
Self-reverential epic which earnestly tries to portray a credible central character without descending into something resembling a series of religious lobby cards - which alas, it ultimately does. The infamous casting of stars in bit parts is not as bad as might be supposed (only John Wayne's cameo is truly risible) as some of the performances are actually quite moving, and the film is often stunning to look at, but also very pedestrian, shot like a very sombre Western, on a scale that seems rather rushed and studio-bound by the end.

Written by: James Lee Barrett, George Stevens, from the book by Fulton Oursler.
Producer/Director: George Stevens.
Starring: Max Von Sydow, Dorothy McGuire, Charlton Heston, Jose Ferrer, Claude Rains (his last film), Donald Pleasence, David McCallum, Sal Mineo, Gary Raymond, Ed Wynn, Van Heflin, Martin Landau, Roddy McDowall, Telly Savalas, Carroll Baker, Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters, John Wayne, and others.
Photography: Loyal Griggs, William C. Mellor.
Music: Alfred Newman.

+ the early scenes with Claude Rains as Herod were directed by David Lean