King of Kings, the

 

 

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This 1927 silent movie The King of Kings directed by celebrated film director Cecil B. Demille was on Turner Classic Movies a couple of nights ago and I watched it and taped it and it was a pretty good movie. At first I was taken aback by all of the heavy theatrical makeup that was used on some of the actors, a look that was very popular at the time and I first thought that the actor who played Jesus looked a lot older then the 33 years old that I believe Jesus was at the time but after awhile you get past that and the story of Jesus really shines through and the actor who played Jesus really gave a moving, inspirational performance and I very greatly recommend this movie. Has this version been put out on DVD yet? If not it really should be transferred to DVD! The only negative thing about this movie is the bizarre and overly theatrical depiction of Mary Magdalene and her riding in on a carriage driven by zebras and I almost gave up on the movie because of that but the scenes with the actor playing Jesus made up for the Mary Magdalene scenes. Btw: This movie is mostly in black and white with one color scene. There is a remake of this movie from 1961 and that is being shown on TCM today and I will tape and watch that one too!

Cecil B. DeMille never overestimated public taste, and his films tend to be overblown to the point of garish vulgarity. True to form, he splashes his 1927 silent film of the life of Christ with sex and violence, and he never misses an opportunity to emphasize the obvious. But KING OF KINGS has a simplicity and reverence that transcends DeMille's tendency to overt display, and it is to my mind the finest of his silent films.

This is not a "line for line" translation of the scripture to the screen, and DeMille makes no effort to turn the Gospels--which occasionally disagree with each other re sequence and detail--into the seamless story typically found in later films about Christ. Instead, the film moves in episodic manner, highlighting various events in the life of Christ: the woman taken in adultery, driving the money changers from the temple, the last supper, the betrayal, the encounter with Pilate, and ultimately the crucifixion.

As is typical of the era, there is not a single member of the cast that looks distinctly Middle Eastern; indeed H.B. Warner, who plays Christ, is very blonde. Interestingly, though, the film falls all over itself to avoid even the barest hint of anti-Semitism, placing blame for Christ's crucifixion squarely on the shoulders of high priest Caiaphas, who is carefully shown to be intolerably corrupt. While this is not precisely scriptural, I personally found it a breath of fresh air in the wake of the rather problematic THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

While some of the performances are excessively broad, on the whole they are within the boundaries of what was considered realistic in the silent era, and some of them are quite fine. H.B. Warner has a quiet elegance; the actor who plays Pilate gives what I consider a definitive performance of the role, easily surpassing later sound-film interpretations; and the actress playing an improbably scripted Mary Magdalene (who would have thought she was having an affair with Judas and had a chariot drawn by zebras?) is also extremely memorable.

Is this a truly great film, a film for the ages, the perfect cinematic vision of the last days of Christ? No. DeMille takes far too many liberties with the material. But in watching it, you sense that every one involved had good intentions in making the film; it was not intended to stir controversy, but to provide a vision of Christ that is at once reverent, human, and Godly. And that is perhaps more than other filmmakers have accomplished to date.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Calling The King of Kings a cinematic masterpiece barely begins to do it justice, and this Criterion Collection release is absolutely beautiful, turning the widespread notion of silent movies completely on its head. This print looks like it could have been made yesterday, not 1927, boasting some incredible special effects for its time. Cecil B. DeMille was a genius who helped turn moviemaking into an art form. 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 seventy-five years. This Criterion Collection release is itself a heavenly release that gives viewers the chance to own the film in its original, uncut form for the first time.

While DeMille's film is a reverent retelling of life and heavenly mission of Jesus, it does take some liberties with the Gospel accounts, sometimes combining different events into one and introducing several of its own elements in an attempt to emphasize the linear nature and importance of the story. Mark, for example, is presented as a child healed by Jesus who is there to witness the ministry and ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Judas Iscariot is constantly shoved to the forefront of events, heavily emphasizing his misinterpretation of the Messiah's mission and ultimate betrayal of Jesus. He is depicted as a selfish and ruthless man who only joined Jesus' band of followers because he expected to be made a great man in the traditional kingdom he expected Jesus to found on earth. Most interestingly, Mary Magdalene is depicted as a consort to Judas who first comes to Jesus in order to confront Him for having stolen Judas' attention away from her. The film also shows Judas witnessing the events his kiss of betrayal set in motion, hanging himself only after witnessing Jesus' death on the cross.

The film begins strangely, with an extended scene of Mary Magdalene living lavishly among a group of male admirers and then zooming out on her zebra-driven chariot to steal her man Judas back from Jesus. As for Jesus, His first appearance could not be more beautifully done, as we first see His face through the eyes of an adorable blind girl as she is healed by the Master. H.B. Warner looks a little too old to be playing Jesus, but he gives a masterful performance, one heightened by the constant aura of slight luminescence DeMille gives him throughout the film. One of the most memorable scenes is the release of the seven demons from Mary Magdalene - the special effects are just incredible and seemingly decades ahead of their time. Speaking of incredible special effects, one has to mention the earthquake scene that follows Jesus' death on the cross - again, it's just incredible to watch. The resurrection scene is also memorable for the Technicolor aspects DeMille gave it to emphasize the awe-inspiring magnificence of Jesus' victory over death.

The 1928 general release of The King of Kings was 112 minutes long, but the film that first debuted at the opening of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1927 was 155 minutes. Both versions of the film are included in this set, and I must say the original, uncut version of the film, rarely seen by the public over the decades, is the definitive version presenting a much richer, detailed account of Jesus' ministry. This Criterion Collection release boasts a number of extras, including new film scores alongside the originals, documentary materials on the making of the film and its reception by the public, trailers, portrait galleries, and a 40-page commemorative booklet on this Biblical masterpiece. Have I mentioned how pristine the digital transfer is? This film looks better than many films I've seen from the 1970s and 1980s.

Christians will be awe-struck and inspired by the wonderful message of The King of Kings, but no one can watch this film and not be impressed by the cinematic artistry and genius on full display. This is easily the most impressive silent movie I have ever seen.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Jesus Christ Never Existed.
'King of Kings' made in 1927 is a famous film some people have seen or at least heard about. Most people fail to realize all of that doesn't matter because Jesus Christ never... Lisez davantage

Published on Jun 14 2004 by Dhaval Vyas

1.0 out of 5 stars nubian slaves, harness my zebras!
H.B.Warner plays Jesus as a hallmark card and Magdalene has a romance with the traitorous Judas. When she gose to look for him, she rushes out to her chariot, looks at her slaves... Lisez davantage

Published on April 22 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars a silent classic
Cecil B. DeMille stated that "King of Kings" was his most important film, and it is a remarkable work that continues to have a world-wide impact. Lisez davantage

Published on April 10 2004 by Alejandra Vernon

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