King of Kings
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Movie Reviews of King of Kings
Movie Review: "I am fire, he is water! How can we ever meet?"
Summary: 5 Stars
For all its low reputation, Samuel Bronston's much-mocked King of Kings is easily the best and most intelligent of the `devotional' versions of the life of Christ, largely because it sets Jesus as a historical figure and, to a degree, a victim of history and politics in troubled times. More importantly, it manages to do it without being as relentlessly dreary and one-note as George Stevens' The Greatest Story Ever Told, which becomes more of an endurance test with each passing year. Even the vigorously-staged battle scenes serve a real dramatic purpose, pitting Barabbas' Davidic warrior would-be Messiah against Jesus' spiritual deliverer ("I am fire, he is water - how can we ever meet?") that is many ways the real conflict of the film: the fight between material pragmatism (the Romans, Herod, Barabbas) and spiritual idealism (Jesus and his followers). Even Caiphas is given a very modern reading, not as a black-hearted villain but as an unpopular Roman-appointed religious leader who genuinely cares for his flock, fearing that Jesus' popularity could be used by the Romans to start a Holocaust that will destroy his people.
There's much imagination at work too: while Jeffrey Hunter's Messiah suffers from MGM's insistence on redubbing the part in more `masterful' tones, he proactively interacts with the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount, played almost like a press conference, while the Last Supper takes its visual design not from Da Vinci but from the CND's peace symbol. The casting IS variable - Robert Ryan's John the Baptist, Hurd Hatfield's Pontius Pilate, Harry Guardino's Barabbas, Ron Randell's centurion, Guy Rolfe's Caiphas and Gregoire Aslan and the great Frank Thring as Herod Sr. and Jr. are fine, but Rip Torn is surprisingly awkward as an otherwise well-conceived Judas Iscariot doomed by compromise, Royal Dano's Simon Peter is a better idea on paper than onscreen (particularly when given dialog) and Siobhan McKenna's eminently punchable misty-eyed Mary is a tad too Oirish Catlic for my tastes. Yet despite its weaknesses and the virtual sidelining of Jesus for much of the running time - this is more a film about His times and His effect on those around Him than His life - it's never less than totally involving, and often genuinely moving.
Despite reputedly losing interest in post-production, Nicholas Ray's direction is excellent, his mastery of the wide screen making great use of the 70mm format and showing real inspiration in his handling of some of the miracles, scenes greatly enhanced by Miklos Rozsa's superlative score. Even Ray Bradbury's poetic narration, beautifully delivered by Orson Welles, originally intended as a quick fix to paper over the cracks in the narrative, genuinely adds to the film's complex political picture of an occupied territory. Not that some of the cracks aren't still visible, as in the meaningful exchange of looks on the Temple steps between Jesus and Richard Johnson (whose constantly changing part - one day a freed gladiator, the next an Arab, the next a Romanized Jew - was otherwise totally deleted). But they're minor complaints in an extraordinary epic that achieves more of its ambitions than its given credit for.
Incidentally, how on earth did they get the obscene graffiti on the barracks walls past the censors in 1961? Less obvious on the DVD copy, you can't miss it on the 70mm prints!
Warner's DVD is a beautiful transfer and, unlike MGM/UA's slightly cropped laserdisc issue, in the correct aspect ratio. Extras are thin, though - a teaser trailer and brief newsreel footage.
Movie Review: Maybe the finest life of Christ on film
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought George Stevens' impeccably crafted and literate THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965) was the finest life of Jesus Christ on film. Then I took another look recently at director Nicholas Ray's KING OF KINGS (1961) and changed my mind. I don't know what the best life of Jesus is, but KING OF KINGS has a charismatic and sympathetic Christ (Jeffrey Hunter in the performance of his career), a great John the Baptist (Robert Ryan), the definitive Salome's dance (luscious Brigid Bazlen) and the ultimate Sermon on the Mount (with 7,000 extras on a Spanish hillside), a striking Last Supper with disciples sitting at a Y-shaped bench, a strong Crucifixion, and a reverent Resurrection. At 171 minutes (including ten minutes of Miklos Rozsa music), Samuel Bronston's production seems the ideal length to tell the story of Christ. The screenplay is by Oscar winner Philip Yordan.
I have often had trouble with Ron Randell as the Roman Lucius; he is a major character here and only a cameo in other Biblical epics. Same with Harry Guardino as Barabbas. They are, in actuality, the second and third most important characters in Ray's film. But both actors are magnificent. Lucius lets us inside the Roman power circle to understand the Roman way of thinking, so it is nice to have his role be big. And Barabbas answers the question a lot of viewers may ponder, namely who was this convicted killer whom the crowd chose to live while Jesus died.
The movie, narrated by Orson Welles, starts the story with Pompey in Judea in 63 B.C. This helps give us information on what Judea was like in the several decades before Jesus was born. Among a superb supporting cast are Siobhan McKenna as Mary, Royal Dano as Peter, Hurd Hatfield as Pontius Pilate, Viveca Lindfors as Herod Antipas' mistress, Frank Thring as Herod Antipas, and many more. The sets and costumes are gloriously colorful; what was the Academy thinking when they were not nominated for Oscars in 1961, along with no cast mermbers or screenplay? Rozsa's music is glorious. And the movie is presented on DVD in about a 2.2 ratio for 70mm Super Technirama.
KING OF KINGS is powerful, intelligent, colorful, and reverent. I think Jesus himself would be impressed by it.
Movie Review: the definitive "King of Kings"
Summary: 5 Stars
I first bought "king of Kings" in 1984 (VHS) when it was new to video.There was no widescreen presentations in those days and so the
video was good. Then came several more releases which were similar to the first,this time Dolby encoded. The laser disc came next and then the first letterboxed edition. I was disappointed because the sound was still not up to par and the
apect ratio was incorrect for a 70mm production.
Thank you Warner Bros and George Feltenstein imparticular for
finally presenting "King of Kings" as it was meant to be seen,
with 2.35:1 aspect ratio (the correct one) and 5.1 Dolby Digital
sound.
The transfer is state of the art, probably one of the finest in
short life of the DVD medium. The Technicolor is bright and clear as if you were watching the film in the theatre. There is
no grain in the film .One couldn't ask for a better presentation of any film. Goes hand in hand with the fully restored complete film score on Rhino/ Turner Classic Movie Music
CDs.
Movie Review: I have liked this movie since I was a child
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always loved this movie, my favorite scene being the sermon on the mount. I know a lot of people have complaints about the historical inaccuracies and constantly compare it to "The Greatest Story Ever Told". I think people misunstand the main point of this movie, it is about the kingdom of Heaven, not so much a biography of Jesus. It centers around Herod, Pilate, Barabas and Jesus. They are four subplots are tied together by the Roman soldier Lucius who at the end of the movie says that Jesus must be the son of God. The movie basically asks what is the Kingom of Heaven? It contrast Herod kingship, Pilate's roman governership, Barabas idea of a free kingdom, and Jesus' kingdom of Heaven. The most beautiful scene in the movie was when Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount. Where Jesus is in a way explaining the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is finally crucified for being a King. I hope this made sense, it is a little hard to explain. God Bless!Movie Review: All I ever had and still a sentimental favorite
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw the King of Kings as a young girl on the big screen where everything seems to translate better, for example; those close-ups of Hunter's piercing blue eyes but since I have become a more 'mature, well-read person' this rendition of the life of Christ is pretty heavy handed with Roman history, for example, Tiberius never had a daughter as portrayed by Viveca Lindfors. The Romans were invited in to settle a dispute/civil war that had been ensuing over the appointment of High Priest and this underscores what a long bloody graveyard Israel has been for sometime. BUT the absolute beauty, 50% of the movie is the score written by the genius Miklos Rozsa and though the Zefferelli masterpiece "Jesus of Nazareth" is a far more intelligent portrayal, the King of Kings carries great emotional weight for me personally. I highly recommend it. It still holds itw own desite its shortcomings.