Product Details

• Released on: 2004-07-06
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 2.55:1
• Formats: NTSC, Import
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: Spanish, French
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 199 minutes

From Amazon.com
The life of Christ got an excessively long treatment (260 minutes, later trimmed to 195) in this 1965 film directed by George Stevens (The Diary of Anne Frank). Max von Sydow does beautiful work as Jesus--his spontaneous mourning at discovering his friend Lazarus has died is not like anything in other New Testament epics--and Stevens renders the familiar tale with a handsome authenticity. But the project is nearly undone by an unwise gimmick in which seemingly half of Hollywood's living stars at the time make brief (often very brief) cameo appearances, some of which are ridiculous. But there is a lot to like in the film, and Von Sydow's sensitive nobility sticks in the memory. --Tom Keogh

Additional Features
For any fan of George Stevens's expansive epic on the life of Christ, this restored version returns the film to its cinematic splendor. The print quality is magnificent. In one important way, the film even plays better decades after it was produced in 1965: the bevy of cameos is not as distracting. This mellowing-over-time approach was apparently part of Stevens's plan as revealed in one of two documentaries. A 20-minute segment made in 1965 is thinly veiled public relations but works as an intriguing time capsule capturing how massive moviemaking once was, with its large tent cities built to house cast and crew--in this case, in the remote areas of the Southwest. The new documentary is longer but is pieced together from the older featurette and interviews made for the 1984 documentary George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey. This film--labeled the "Roadshow Edition"--plays 199 minutes, just a smidgen longer than the standard cut. It's still an hour shorter than Stevens's rarely seen original cut. --Doug Thomas

On the DVD
Screen format: 16 x 9 widescreen (2.75:1)
English: 5.1 surround, stereo sound
French: 5.1 surround
French & Spanish subtitles

Customer Reviews

a majestic, beautifully filmed epic
This film is often compared with the 1961 "King of Kings", and "Jesus of Nazareth", but this one is by far my favorite of the three, because of the exquisite beauty of it, and Max von Sydow's powerful portrayal of Jesus; his performance has a strength and boldness that is lacking in the other two, and therefore for me much more believable. Sydow was only known to fans of Ingmar Bergman's films at the time, having starred in the Swedish director's "The Seventh Seal" among others, and was a surprise choice to play Jesus, and a good one. He does a marvelous job, and I especially like the scene after Lazarus has died...it is brilliant, and very moving.

George Stevens' vision of the story has a stark majesty, and is taken at a leisurely pace; it is also quite verbal, with some of the major events in the gospels not pictured, but spoken of instead.
Filmed in Arizona and Utah, the cinematography by Loyal Griggs, who took over from William Mellor when Mellor passed away during filming, is glorious. There are scenes that have the composition and balance a fine painting, with extraordinary detail, often framed by doorways or windows, and it's a film I never tire of just looking at. Graphic artists should make a point to see this film, as there is much that can be learned from it. Alfred Newman also wrote a lovely score (with a little help from G. F. Handel) which adds to the aesthetic appeal of this film.

In the huge star-studded cast, some performances are truly memorable, like Claude Rains as a bitter and devious Herod, and Jose Ferrer excellent as his son Herod Antipas; Charlton Heston's ferocious, wild-man John the Baptist is impassioned and perhaps more like the actual Baptist than some of the tamer portrayals.

With its huge budget (over 20 million in 1965 dollars) it was a critical and commercial failure when it was released, but it has had a long life, and is being watched today while some successful films of the mid-'60s quite forgotten, and will continue to be appreciated by everyone who likes Bible epics. It was however, nominated for 4 Academy Awards: Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Color Cinematography, Costume Design, and Original Score, losing out in all those categories to "Doctor Zhivago". There is "artistic license" taken with the story, but overall, it is a reverential, fairly accurate telling.
Total running time is 196 minutes.

Greatest Portrayal of Jesus
This is a great companion to "The Passion of the Christ" that focuses on the teachings and man that was Jesus Christ. Max von Sydow's Jesus has a commanding presence that is missing in the other portrayals. His voice can boom with the voice of God when it wants to, and can also grow soft and soothing. His appearance is also more believable than the surfer dude Christ of "King of Kings," or the waif-like, wimp that was "Jesus of Nazerath." Von Sydow tows the line between a carpenter who is afraid of his power in some places, and God on earth, who has the ability to perform miracles and move the masses.
A criticism of this movie is all the cameos that take place, but that's rubbish. It doesn't affect the movie at all, mostly becasue the cameos are not distracting on account that the actors are not as recognizeable in this day and age. Charlton Hesston gives the definitive John the Baptist, intimidating, slightly mad, but ultimately a mysterious tool of God calling out to Herod even after death.
The scenery and music is also breathtaking, and if you're not moved by this movie there is something wrong with you. Watch this movie after "The Passion." The Greatest Story Ever Told is the best portrayal of Jesus and a deserves more credit for being ahead of it's time.

MY FAVORITE TREATMENT OF THE LIFE OF JESUS
I prefer this movie to the garish, strident, and overdone Jesus of Nazareth precisely because of its understated and almost minimalist presentation. This is an admirable rarity in Old/New Testament films, many of which strain so much for the pretentious "Biblical" scope that they totally sacrifice their humanity.

One particular scene I found thoroughly original, even brilliant: Pilate's asking Jesus, "What is truth?" Here, Telly Savalas as Pilate delivers up the line rhetorically, not ranting like his counterpart in J of N.

The exchanges between the great Claude Rains (Herod) and the Magi are also excellent.

There is humor as well, such as Pilate and Herod Antippas sizing each other up; John the Baptist (Charlton Heston) dunking Herod's soldiers in the Jordan bidding them to "repent"; and several other instances.

The movie is filled with many, many likewise appealing vignettes. Not that The Greatest Story Ever Told has no flaws; there are quite a few. But it does hold up well after almost forty years.

This DVD includes fascinating behind-the-scenes features and interviews.

I highly recommend this movie.