The Greatest Story Ever Told 1965

type: Movie

language: English

duration: 191 min

genre: drama

theme: epic

director: David Lean

Score: 5 / 10

The Greatest Story Ever Told is a 1965 American epic religious film retelling the Biblical account of Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Produced and directed by George Stevens, with an ensemble cast, it features the final film performances of Claude Rains and Joseph Schildkraut.

Plot

Three wise men (Magi) follow a brightly shining star from Asia to Jerusalem in search of the newborn king it portents. They are summoned by King Herod the Great, whose advisers inform him of a Messiah mentioned in various prophecies. When Herod remembers that a prophecy names nearby Bethlehem as the child's birthplace, he sends the Magi there to confirm the child's existence, but secretly sends guards to follow them and to "keep [him] informed." In Bethlehem, the Magi find a married couple, Mary and Joseph, who are laying their newborn son in a manger. Mary states that the child's name is Jesus. As the local shepherds watch, the Magi present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant. After observing the distant spies' departure, the magi leave, then an angel's voice warns Joseph to "take the child" and "flee."

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Cast

More details

author	Carl Sandburg George Stevens James Lee Barrett
award	National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
contentLocation	Jerusalem
director	David Lean George Stevens
editor	Harold F. Kress
genre	drama historical
keywords	a sick woman who is cured when she touches his clothes a woman caught in the act of adultery a woman wipes his face agony in the garden an evening meal andrew andrew the apostle annunciation to the shepherds anointing jesus with expensive oil anointing of jesus arrest arrest jesus arrest of jesus ascension of jesus attack back to life baptism of jesus barabbas bartholomew the apostle behead beheading of john the baptist bethany bethlehem betray biblical magi blind man bread and wine bring jesus to the tired pilate brings lazarus back to life caiaphas capernaum carries his cross cave in census of quirinius christ carrying the cross church cleansing of the temple climb command confession of peter crowd are killed crucifixion crucifixion darkness crucifixion of jesus crucify darkness denial of peter dimas drives them and money changers away ecce homo end end of the world escaped into egypt even farewell discourse feeding five thousand people feeding the multitude fishers of men flight into egypt galilee georg frideric handel gestas golgotha great commission hallelujah chorus handel happen healing the paralytic at capernaum helps a crippled man to walk again hermit herod antipas herod\'s kingdom herod the great herodian kingdom herodian tetrarchy herodias his resurrection his wife his wife\'s hometown rejection of jesus impenitent thief jam james the less jesus jesus and the woman taken in adultery jesus ascends to heaven jesus at herod\'s court jesus goes to gethsemane to pray jesus healing the bleeding woman jesus is sent to herod jesus predicts his betrayal jesus walking on water john john the apostle john the baptist jordan river joseph joseph of arimathea judas iscariot judas kisses jesus jude the apostle judea kill kill the baptist king herod kiss of judas last supper lazarus lazarus of bethany luke 13 magi marriage at cana married couple martha martha of bethany mary mary magdalene mary of bethany massacre of the innocents matthew matthew the apostle messiah messiah part ii miraculous event mocking of jesus morning of nailed to the cross nathaniel nativity of jesus nazareth newborn son in a manger nicodemus one of them will betray him origin of the eucharist paint parable parables of jesus pass passover penitent thief personification of satan peter peter says that he believes that jesus is the messiah peter will deny three times that he even knows jesus pharisee pilate presents jesus before the assembled crowd pilate\'s court pontius pilate pontius pilate\'s wife pro-israel rebellion put on trial before the sanhedrin question refuse to believe in jesus and his miracles resurrection of jesus resurrection of lazarus rides on a donkey into jerusalem ridicule him rock saint joseph saint joseph\'s dreams saint peter saint veronica salome sanhedrin trial of jesus satan sermon on a mountain to a great crowd sermon on the mount simon of cyrene simon the zealot son of god speak summon synagogue tax collector teach temple temple in jerusalem temptation of christ tempts jesus three times tetrarch thaddeus the death of every new-born boy in bethlehem the local shepherds the lord\'s prayer thirty pieces of silver thomas thomas the apostle three wise men through jerusalem to remember triumphal entry into jerusalem turn turning water into wine via dolorosa walk walking on water warn where he prays who baptizes him wise men young man
musicBy	Alfred Newman
nomination	Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Color Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color Academy Award for Best Original Score Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
producer	George Stevens
productionCompany	George Stevens Productions
publisher	United Artists
recordedAt	Arizona Utah
theme	epic