The film actually begins with the roman invasion by pompey in 65 b. The best aspect of the film is its handling of the days after the resurrection. Demilles masterwork, the king of kings 1927, tells the story of christs final experiences, from his meeting with mary magdalene, to his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. The original version of king of kings, 1927 was a silent film i saw as a child on television at easter time. Pontius pilate judges jesus in cecil b demille s king of kings pt 1 by goldensilents. Years after the films release, a specially prepared 60minute version of the 18reel king of kings was making the rounds of religious groups, church basements, and easterweekend telecasts. The end product is a compelling and visually striking entertainment that benefits. In my opinion, demilles the king of kings in this full version is the finest rendering of the life of christ ever put on film. Whether youre religious or not, king of kings is a monumental technical achievement of its era. Among his notable films are the king of kings, cleopatra, the greatest show on earth, and the ten commandments. Ten commandments used some artistic embellishments which diminished it to me, yet still a great motion picture. Demille hypes his 1927 spectacle, magnificently portrayed by an inspiring cast of 5000. Demille, never honest on the subject of jews, mentions that h. Demilles the king of kings 1927, a filmed passion play, for what they believed was the films antisemitic caricatures of the jewish high priest, the pharisees, and judas iscariot, as well as the films presentation of the jewish role in the crucifixion all common elements of passion plays that jewish leaders believed were even more dangerous when they.
Featuring text drawn directly from the bible, a cast of thousands. Featuring the opening and resurrection scenes in twocolor technicolor, the film is the second in demilles biblical trilogy, preceded by the ten commandments 1923 and followed by the sign of the cross 1932. The companys last film and his last silent film, the godless girl 1929, was about atheism sweeping through a high school and was also. All my life, ive wondered how many have been turned away from christianity by the effeminate, sanctimonious, machine. This beloved and criticallyacclaimed 1961 classic starring jeffrey hunter, begins in 63 bc, when the romans, in a bloody rebellion, conquer judea, and the jews suffer merciless persecutions at the hands of king herod. You can discover total description of the king of kings below original title.
In 1927, working with one of the biggest budgets in hollywood history, demille spun the life and passion of christ into a silentera blockbuster. In reality, of course, the jewish attack was vicious and unrelenting, as always. After driving the sin out of mary magdalene jacqueline logan and raising lazarus kenneth thomson from the dead, jesus h. Overview of the king of kings, 1927, directed by cecil b. King of kings movie tv listings and schedule tv guide. Demilles followup to his successful the ten commandments 1923 has. To me, it is the first of and forerunner for all biblical spectacles. Demille s followup to his successful the ten commandments 1923 has portions filmed in technicolor and was remade in 1961. Tikker 1931 version behindthescenes footage from the making of the king of kings. In 1927, working with the biggest budget in the history of hollywood, demille spun the life and passion of christ into one of the highestgrossing films of all time.
Demilles 1927 silent epic the king of kings is the first truly great movie about jesus christ, and few have surpassed it since. The criterion collection is proud to present this beloved film in a twodisc. The king of kings 1927 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Directed by nicholas ray, the film is a dramatization of the story of jesus of nazareth from his birth and ministry to his crucifixion and resurrection, with much dramatic license. Featuring text drawn directly from the bible, a cast of thousands, and the great showmans singular cinematic bag of tricks, the king of kings is at once. The king of kings is a 1927 american silent epic film produced and directed by cecil b. The king of kings was first released in the spring of 1927, and it was the middle chapter in a sort of informal biblical trilogy that demille produced, beginning with the original, silent version. See the full list of the king of kings cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. King of kings is a 1961 american biblical epic film made by samuel bronston productions and distributed by metrogoldwynmayer. The true story behind the netflix movie the king time. Demilles hollywood, production notes, and a new essay by film. The movie relates the final days of jesus before his crucifixion the triumphant entrance into jerusalem, the last supper, the betrayal of judas, and jesus trial and execution. Other articles where the king of kings is discussed.
Hunting down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the cecil demille directed movie via. Find release information for the king of kings 1927 cecil b. Years after the films release, a specially prepared 60minute version of the 18reel king of kings was making the rounds of. It depicts the last weeks of christ until his crucifixion. Demille directed andor produced more than 70 movies in a career that spanned more than four decades, and is remembered for such spectacles as the ten commandments, king of kings. The king of kings 1927 one of the cinemas most important religious epics, cecil b.
With the vast number of movies that are always being made about religious subjects, no doubt it will only be silent movie fans who will seek out this version of the king of kings, but thats unfortunate because it is nicely made and has many positives that make it worth seeing. King of kings trailer 1 this excellent biblical epic was produced by the legendary samuel bronston and directed with a skillful mix of spiritual reverence and cinematic imagination by nicholas ray. King of kings tells the life story of jesus of nazareth. I mention ten commandments because this film of king of kings was also directed by cecil b. A roman soldier becomes torn between his love for a christian woman and his loyalty to emperor nero. Hunter was the original captain kirk on star treks uss enterprise, before the role was recast and william shatner was chosen. Released march 14th, 2004, the king of kings stars h. The king of kings is the best adaptation of the life of.
During his career, he made around 70 feature films, including the ten commandments 1923, the king of kings 1927, the sign of the cross 1932, and samson and delilah 1949. His debut film, the squaw man, 1914 was the first film ever to be shot in hollywood. Demille, in full cecil blount demille, born august 12, 1881, ashfield, massachusetts, u. Apr 01, 20 king of kings was the first significant life of christ movie since the silent era another sign of bronstons ambition, no doubt, and knowing only that fact about its content going in, its a real shock how much jesus of nazareth, as played by prettyboy jeffrey hunter, isnt a prominent character, or at least no more prominent than anyone. The king of kings is the best adaptation of the life of jesuschrist. The king of kings 2004 stream and watch online moviefone. Warner, the actor who starred as jesus, was shadowed in his offhours during the films production and postproduction period. With the king of kings, he also retold the story of jesus christ in a serious and emotionally powerful way that has effectively helped spread the gospel for over seventyfive years.
Demilles the king of kings 1927, a filmed passion play, for what they believed was the films antisemitic caricatures of the jewish high priest, the pharisees, and judas iscariot, as well as the films presentation of the jewish role in the crucifixion all common elements. The american filmmaker is considered as the most successful director and producer in the history of films. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Dont miss this uniquely moving depiction of the life of christ. Demilles biblical silent masterpiece the king of kings, until now available in home video only in demilles shortened 112minute 1928 cut, is now. The companys last film and his last silent film, the godless girl 1929. In 1927, working with one of the biggest budgets in hollywood history. Looking to feast your eyes on the king of kings on your tv or mobile device at home. On a scale of excellent, good, fair, and poor, the king of kings rates.
Demille began his journey as a stage actor in 1900, but soon his focus shifted to filmmaking. The squaw man to the godless girl the most commercially successful was the king of kings 1927, a life of christ that was one of the most popular films of the silent era. The first and everlasting king catholic world report. Jan 01, 2004 despite being a silent film itself, the king of kings remained popular well into the sound era, so much so that no other major hollywood movie about the life of christ was made for over 30 years. Demille s classic silent film king of kings with live accompaniment provided by organist christian elliott. It depicts the last weeks of jesus before his crucifixion and stars h. Criterion, known as the leader of fine dvds, has done it again. Warner enters into jerusalem, where judas joseph schildkraut conspires to have him turned over to the authorities. Demille, american motionpicture producerdirector whose use of spectacle attracted vast audiences and made him a dominant figure in hollywood for almost five decades.
His pious, dignified and serene son of god in the silent the king of kings has been the template ever since. Demille could well get the credit for forming the dominant vision of jesus christ for the 20th century. Dont hesitate on picking up a copy of this if you love great movies and want a spiritual experience. The biblical story of jesus christ from his early years through. After the last supper, jesus goes to gethsemane, where he is taken prisoner, and thereafter tried under pontius pilate victor varconi and crucified.
Jewish author felicia herman writes, in the late 1920s several jewish organizations and communal leaders criticized cecil b. Demille hoped to top this success with his 1927 the king of kings. Demille s 1927 silent epic the king of kings is the first truly great movie about jesus christ, and few have surpassed it since. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the king of kings 1927 near you. Having scored bigtime box office with his first biblical epic, the ten commandments 1923, cecil b. Avengers and game of thrones rule 2019 mtv movie and tv awards. This movie here is silent and comes mostly in black and white with some sections of scenes in color for effect of circumstance at time. The revolt led by barrabas is also included and john the baptists beheading as salomes price for dancing for herod. King of kings the bible on screen pictures cbs news. Demille may be well known for his legendary blockbuster hit the ten commandments. Dec 07, 2004 the king of kings was first released in the spring of 1927, and it was the middle chapter in a sort of informal biblical trilogy that demille produced, beginning with the original, silent version. Watch the king of kings online stream full movie directv. Demille s flawed but powerful film remains one of hollywoods most remarkable achievements.
Mar 24, 2004 a cooperative effort of the first congregational church music committee, the waterbury chapter of the american guild of organists and classic movie cinema will present the showing of the silent film, king of kings. It concentrates on the last days of his life, including the passover entry into jerusalem, the last supper, his betrayal by judas, and his crucifixion. Prepared to mercilessly lambaste the king of kings, demille s critics were disarmed by his reverent, tasteful approach to the subject. Its difficult, of course, to summarize the life of. April, 2020 nick olszyk the dispatch 0 print a scene from the 1927 silent film the king of kings youtube the king of kings. The king of kings 1927 is a biblical epic telling the story of jesus, directed by cecil b. Demille s hollywood, production notes, and a new essay by film. The king of kings is the second in demilles biblical trilogy, preceded by the ten commandments 1923 and followed by the sign of the cross 1932. Viewed as a whole, however, such harsh responses to king of kings seem unwarranted.
Music at saint cyrils is proud to present a screening of cecil b. Demille s 155minute roadshow version and his subsequent 112minute general release. Demilles biblical silent masterpiece the king of kings, until now available in home video only in demilles shortened 112minute 1928 cut, is now available in a new restored dvd edition from criterion that includes both the original 155minute 1927 roadshow version and. King of kings was previously filmed in 1927 by cecil b. New, restored digital transfers of both versions of the king of kings. Demille is known as the founding father of cinema in the us. It depicts the last weeks of jesus before his crucifixion and stars. The most commercially successful was the king of kings 1927, a life of christ that was one of the most popular films of the silent era. Demilles biblical silent masterpiece the king of kings, until now available in home video only in demilles shortened 112minute 1928 cut, is now available in a new restored dvd edition from criterion that includes both the original 155minute 1927 roadshow version and the shorter general release version.
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